A Celtic Christmas
by Gary Wood, Interim Music Director
"A Celtic Christmas" was performed on December 4 & 5, 2004

“A Celtic Christmas” is Cantemus’ theme for the season, as our December concerts’ featured composers were raised in and around the Celtic traditions, and our repertoire selections reflect these influences.

We begin the program with extended works for chorus with harp, and chorus with organ, starting with the dance-like “Gabriel’s Message” by Stephen Paulus and concluding the first half with Benjamin Britten’s “Ceremony of Carols” featuring the women of Cantemus and our guest harpist Anna Solovieva. Between these beautiful works, with Robert Littlefield at the organ, the chorus will sing Gerald Finzi's “Magnificat,” which offers a lyrical approach combined with contrapuntal writing and terrific drama.

The second half includes several carols linked with the lands of England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, along with a reading of Dylan Thomas’ delightful “A Child’s Christmas in Wales,” an evocative narrative read for us by Thomas Stumpf. Balancing the women’s voices of Britten’s “Ceremony,” the tenors and basses of Cantemus will sing carols arranged by Donald Campfield. Carols for keyboard and chorus by John Rutter will also be featured, along with a cappella settings of “Coventry Carol,” “A Welsh Lullaby,” and “Silent Night.”

This concert will offer aural delights for everyone. We look forward to sharing the richness of the season in the variety of Celtic and other texts, tunes, and harmonies, and in the instrumental and choral timbres that resonate throughout this music of celebration and joy. Please join us for “A Celtic Christmas” in December.