Welcome Yule!
“Blessed the baby, holy child
Blessed the Virgin mother mild
Come close and worship the King,
To praise his precious name let your voices ring!”
Christmas carols often tell a small portion of the Christmas story. Some draw their text directly from scripture, and others look at a part of the story, or a specific person, from a different vantage point. Some are bright, exuberant and celebratory while others are quiet, reflective or awestruck. Many of the carols chosen for the choirs this year tell of gatherings long ago.
In the year of Jesus’ birth, at the decree of Caesar Augustus a census was taken, and all the world gathered, each into his own city. On the night of Jesus’ birth shepherds left their flocks to gather by the cradle in the manger. In the days of Herod the king wise men from the east gathered to worship the child born King of the Jews.
The music of Christmas tells these stories and reminds us to gather among friends. The shared traditions and common values of our community are never more clear than during the Christmas season. We are glad for the chance to gather here with all of you in celebration of the Christmas season.
Processional: O Come All Ye Faithful
Quem vidistis, pastores? Daniel Pinkham
(Mvt. 1, Christmas Cantata)
Whom did you see? Shepherds, tell us!
Proclaim to us: who has appeared on the earth?
“We saw the new-born child and choir of angels praising the Lord.”
Scots Nativity Alan Bullard
The Alma Choir
Bogoróditse Djévo Arvo Pärt
The Alma Choir
Rejoice, O virgin Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee:
Blessed are thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb,
For thou hast borne the Saviour of our souls.
Pipers’ Carol Will Nichols and Anthony Patterson, arrs.
Women’s Glee Club
Go Tell it on the Mountain John Work, arr.
College Chorale
Go, Pretty Child Jack M. Jarrett
The Alma Choir
Mary Was the Queen of Galilee Wendell Whalum, arr.
The Alma Choir
The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy Stephen Hatfield, arr.
Women of the Alma Choirs
O Magnum Mysterium Daniel Pinkham
(Mvt. 2, Christmas Cantata)
O great mystery and wondrous sacrament,
That animals should see the new-born Lord lying in their manger.
Blessed is the Virgin whose womb was worthy to bear the Lord Jesus Christ.
Noel (sung in the African Kituba dialect) Todd Smith / Brad Homes, arr.
Combined Choirs
Noel! Noel! If you want to know the Child, you have to come and kneel.
An Angel’s Share Paul O’Neill and Robert Kinkel
Pretty in Plaid
Ideo Gloria in excelsis Deo David Kraehenbuehl, arr.
College Chorale
La Virgen lava panales Robert DeCormier, arr.
Women’s Glee Club
Sing We Noel Noël Goemanne
College Chorale
The Little Drummer Boy Anthony J. Patterson, arr.
Percussion Ensemble
Rejoice and be Merry John Rutter
The Alma Choir
Deck the Halls Robert Shaw, arr.
The Alma Choir
Gloria in excelsis Deo Daniel Pinkham
(Mvt. 3, Christmas Cantata)
Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth to men of good will.
Sing joyfully to God all the world, serve the Lord with gladness.
Enter into his presence with great joy.
Know that Lord alone is God. He has made us and not we ourselves.
Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth to men of good will.
The Many Moods of Christmas Robert Shaw and Robert Russell Bennett, arrs.
What Child Is This?
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella
Angels We Have Heard on High
