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| 2009-2010 Season | |
2005 Christmas Concerts
First Baptist Church of Hyattsville, December 10
Chevy Chase United Methodist Church, December 11
O Magnum Mysterium
O Great mystery,
and wondrous sacrament,
that the animals should see
the newborn Lord
lying in the manger.
O blessed Virgin,
whose womb was worthy
to carry the Lord Jesus Christ,
Alleluia
The connecting theme of our 2005 Christmas concerts -- the ancient text O Magnum Mysterium -- has inspired composers throughout musical history. We heard how three composers from different eras treated this text: the Spanish composer Christóbal de Morales writing in the early 16th century, the French composer Francis Poulenc in 1952, and the American composer Morten Lauridsen in 1994. While their concepts and musical styles are very different, all treated the subject with reverence and awe.
We also presented two arrangements of traditional Christmas carols by our 2005 composer-in-residence Paul Criswell. We performed the first of these - Lo, How a Rose E're Blooming - on our very first concerts in December 2000. The second - Sussex Carol -- was newly completed and received its first performances on these concerts. It is dedicated to Jesse Parker and VOICES XXI.
Two other traditional carols arranged by prominent Washington-area musicians were also featured. They were the Appalachian carol Jesus, Jesus, Rest Your Head arranged by Leo Nestor of Catholic University, and the Spanish carol A La Nanita Nana arranged by Roger Folstrom, formerly of the University of Maryland, now retired.
And, in a departure from our usual practice of performing only a cappella, harpist Melissa Tardiff Dvorak joined us for several pieces on these programs.
These concerts were performed on Saturday, December 10 at 7:30 pm at First Baptist Church of Hyattsville in Hyattsville, Maryland, and on Sunday, December 11 at 3:00 pm at Chevy Chase United Methodist Church in Chevy Chase, Maryland.