The Department of Fine Arts at Carroll College will perform a concert of choral music for Christmas on Sunday, December 13, 2015. The concert will be held at 4 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Helena. The performance includes the Carroll College Choir, Chamber Choir and Women’s Choir. The public is welcome and admission is free.
The theme of the concert is “A Celebration of Christmas,” as many of the selections are songs in joyful thanks for the birth of Christ. The concert will feature choral works by composers Andrea Gabrieli, Camille Saint-Saëns, and Johan Sebastian Bach. Other selections include a lush setting of the “Ave Maria” text by Daniel Elder, a lively setting of the “Our Father” by Czech composer ZdenÄ›k Lukaš, and a metrically challenging “A little child there is yborn” by Alan Bullard. Students Natalie Husband, Zane Badger and Kathryn Stein will be featured as soloists in a setting of “Astiterunt reges” by Tomas Victoria.
The Chamber Choir will present “Quem vidistis, Pastores” which is one of four beautiful Christmas motets by French composer Francis Poulenc. This work portrays the dialogue between shepherds and others as they spread the word of the newborn Christ. Rounding out the Chamber Choir’s section of the program will be a setting of the “Gloria” text by Lithuanian composer Vytautas Miškinis. This modern work is stunningly beautiful and complex.
The Carroll College Women’s choir will present an arrangement of the French carol “Noel Nouvelet,” and a beautiful setting of “Hodie” by Northwest composer Joan Szymko.
Special guest of the concert will be Mr. Dale Fleck, Cathedral of St. Helena organist, who will play organ accompaniment for Bach’s “Crown Him King of Kings.”
Admission to the concert is free, but a freewill offering will be taken to benefit the music fund at the Cathedral of St. Helena. The Carroll College Choirs are directed by Dr. Robert Psurny Jr., Professor of Music at Carroll. For more information on this concert, contact Dr. Psurny at 447-4807.