The New England Conservatory Concert Choir is doing a striking program: the Boston premiere of Nuits by Xenakis and the world premiere of a Peyton piece. The "standard" works are cantatas one and three from Bach's Christmas Oratorio.

Harvard Band. The same Harvard Band that performs unnatural acts on the football field also has an excellent concert organization. This Saturday, they are playing Walter Piston's Tunbridge Fair in honor of the composer's eightieth birthday. They also will have saxophonist Donald Sinta as a guest soloist in pieces by Benson and Whitney. But I'd really like to hear the Bach C Minor Passacaglia transcription.

Ariadne auf Naxos. Another Lowell House Opera--cast and orchestra of thousands for an expansive score by Richard Strauss. Gerry Moshell, conducting. A required piece for all musical romantics. --Kenneth Hoffman

JORDAN HALL (N.E. CONSERVATORY)

Choral music of Bach, Xenakis, Peyton. Free. Thursday, March 14, 8:30 p.m.

DUNSTER LIBRARY

Chamber music for recorders and continuo. Works of Telemann, Barsanti, Van Eyck. Free. Friday, March 15, 5:30 p.m.

KIRKLAND JCR

Lucile Clotfelter, pianist, in recital. Bach: Partita in C Minor; Schumann: Carnaval. Free. Friday, March 15, 8:30 p.m.

DUNSTER LIBRARY

John Major, guitarist, in recital. Works of De Falla, Martin, Norman, Fricker Turina. Free. Saturday, March 16, 5:30 p.m.

SANDERS THEATER

H.U. Band. Works of Vaughan Williams, Piston, Hanson, Benson. Tickets: $1.50 (students: $.75). Saturday, March 16, 8 p.m.

LOWELL DINING ROOM

Ariadne auf Naxos, opera by Richard Strauss. Tickets: $2.50-$3.50. Saturday through Monday, March 16-18, 8:30 p.m.