The Seasons of Advent and Christmas are filled with music. Familiar hymns and songs fill us with “comfort and joy” this time of year. The music of Christmas is all around us, and that is a marvelous thing…unless the music becomes merely background “noise,” and we forget to listen.

The songs in today’s concert challenge us to pay attention. They encourage us to remember the events, people, words – and even songs – that are part of the story of Jesus’ birth.

The program opens with Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Break forth, O beauteous heavenly light,” from the Christmas Oratorio (1734). Its words and music recall the appearance of the archangel and bright angelic chorus to the shepherds in the hills outside Bethlehem. The strains of Bach’s chorale will probably still be echoing as the accompaniment starts for Dan Forrest’s arrangement of “O Come, All Ye Faithful.” The hymn builds in intensity and dynamic as it invites us all to gather with all the faithful and sing in “adoration.”

The centerpiece of the program is Magnificat, by Taylor Scott Davis. This five-movement work was commissioned by Saint John’s United Methodist Church (Albuquerque, NM) and premiered in 2016. Since then, it has been performed in numerous concert halls around the world and recorded by the renowned Voces8 ensemble. The first, third, fourth, and fifth movements take most of its texts from the Latin translation of Luke 1:46-55, Mary’s song of praise (“my soul magnifies the LORD”). The work focuses on Mary’s perspective, and Davis has captured her anxiety and her humility, as well as her sense of this great honor that is both exciting and bewildering. The second movement (“Shall I Rejoice?”) combines a new English text written by Dr. Terry York with achingly beautiful musical setting.

The second part of the program begins with another Dan Forrest arrangement – “Joy to the World.” This setting of the familiar hymn brings is an exuberant celebration of Christ’s birth. It is followed by two pieces that explore the “mystery” of God become human. Craig Hella Johnson’s “Lo, how a Rose/The Rose” sets ‘the lines of Amanda McBroom’s timeless song next to the pristine beauty of the “Lo, How a Rose” chorale tune.’ “O Magnum Mysterium” (“O great mystery”) is a modern setting of this ancient text by Morten Lauridson, long time Composer-in-Residence for the Los Angeles Master Chorale. In the composer’s words, “The affirmation of God’s grace to the meek and the adoration of the Blessed Virgin are celebrated…through a quiet song of profound inner joy.”

David Willcocks’ rollicking arrangement of Jingle Bells is a lighthearted offering. Sarah Quartel’s setting of Sara Teasdale’s poem, “Before the Song was Done,” returns us to the creche to find the baby Jesus sleeping peacefully…even while shepherds and magi visit and angels sing. The program concludes with a gospel spiritual – “Mary Had a Baby” (William L. Dawson) – and the Chorale’s traditional presentation of G. F. Handel’s “Hallelujah!” from Messiah.

Board of Directors

Dr. Donald Stafford
Founder

Scott L. Martin
Principal Conductor &
Artistic Director

Steven Sheeley
President

Linda Lokey
Secretary

Michael Ishmael
Treasurer

David Engleman
Finance Director

Charlie Cleneay
Librarian

Kelly Skinner
Marketing/Public Relations Director

Rod Kirby
Membership Director

Charles Claiborne
Policy Director

Dan Sweet
Performance Director

Jean Tafoya
Print Media Director

Jane Gunter
Director At Large

Justin Davis
Director At Large

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