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Program notes - "Christmas with St Martin's Chamber Choir" |
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A Note from the Artistic Director Asked by Colorado Public Radio’s Dan Drayer recently on the air what I myself listened to during the holidays, I cited a handful of albums that grace my stereo frequently, but I couldn't really answer what is played most often at the Krueger household: A Marian Christmas. Despite the self-serving ring of this admission, I feel safe in confessing it to my own St. Martin's audiences! This Christmas, however, that earlier CD is being challenged by the appearance of A Marian Christmas II. I believe this second disc to be every bit the companion of the earlier one, and it is naturally my hope that it become every bit as popular with you, too! This year's Christmas concert celebrates the release of this new recording by reprising a handful of selections from both the first and second Marian Christmas CDs. Then we present a variety of new works in "A Christmas Cornucopia," representing an unrelated but rich selection of works that I hope will appeal to you. After this we are trying something new to St. Martin's concerts: A Christmas Carol Sing-Along, where two familiar carols will be sung, inviting audience participation on familiar and unaltered melodies while the choir accompanies you with ethereal harmonies. One is an old favorite of St. Martin's audiences -- Terry Schlenker's arrangement of "O come, O come Emmanuel," featured on our disc A Glimpse of Heaven; and another arranged specifically for tonight's performance, "'Twas in the Moon of Wintertime." Finally, we conclude with "A Ceremony of Carols," where the women of the choir join harpist Don Hilsberg in presenting Medieval English Christmas texts set to hauntingly timeless melodies by Benjamin Britten. From all of us on stage to all of you who support us throughout the year, the happiest of holiday seasons, and all the best in the coming new year!
© 2007 Timothy J. Krueger |