The Department of Fine Arts at Carroll College will present a FREE concert of choral music for Christmas on Sunday, December 10, 2017. The concert will be at 4:00 P.M. in the Cathedral of St. Helena, and is given by the Carroll College Choir, Chamber Choir, and Women’s Choir.
The theme of the concert is “Full Circle,” as many of the choral selections on the program are contemporary musical settings of ancient texts. Notable examples of this are a setting of the 10th century text “ubi caritas” by Spanish composer Josu Elberdin, and Ola Gjeilo’s setting of “Ave Generosa,” a text by the 12th century Mystic and Abess, Hildegard of Bingen. The concert will also feature Hindegard’s “O Antiqui Sancti,” a meditative exploration of the mystical union with and adoration of the Lord.
The theme of cyclical re-birth is also represented with the concert’s presentation of two settings of the text “Cantate Domino,” sing a new song to the Lord. The first setting is by Hans Leo Hassler, and was first published in 1601. The contemporary setting was written in 2007 by Lithuanian composer Vytautas Miskinis. The concert will also feature a motet by Anton Bruckner, and a lively Romanian Christmas Carol arranged by Katie Melua and Bob Chilcott.
The Chamber Choir will present a joyous setting of “Ad Amore” by Lee R. Kesselman, which uses a text from Dante to paint the picture of infinite love descending and making radiant all those who experience it. Francis Poulenc’s “Ave Verum Corpus” is a beautiful motet for women’s choir which portrays the mystery of the incarnation as well as the suffering of Christ.
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.