“St. Olaf Christmas Festival” on “The Evening Concert” on WILL-FM

Tonight at 7:00 on the "The Evening Concert" on WILL-FM, it's the "St. Olaf Christmas Festival". On the program: carols, hymns, and excerpts from works like Aaron Jay Kernis' Musica Celestis, and Vaughan Williams' Antiphon from the 'Five Mystical Songs' performed by the more than 500 student musicians from five choirs and the St. Olaf Orchestra.

The 2013 St. Olaf Christmas Festival

A service in song and word that has become one of the nation's most cherished holiday celebrations. Tickets to the event, which takes place at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, are always gone months in advance. The festival includes hymns, carols, choral works, as well as orchestral selections celebrating the Nativity and featuring more than 500 student musicians in five choirs and the St. Olaf Orchestra; hosted Alison Young.

Program: "Heaven and Earth, Awake and Sing"

 

Aaron Jay Kernis Musica Celestis (Excerpt)
St. Olaf Orchestra (Steven Amundson)

 

Narration Pastor Matthew Marohl

Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy Lift Thine Eyes to the Mountains (Elijah)
Women of the Massed Choirs (Sigrid Johnson)

Carolyn Jennings Climb to the Top of the Highest Mountain
Massed Choirs and St. Olaf Orchestra (Sigrid Johnson)

Processional Hymn: Prepare the Royal Highway
Swedish Folk Tune, arr. John Ferguson (World Premiere) Tune: Bereden Vag For Herran
Massed Choirs, Audience, and St. Olaf Orchestra (Steven Amundson)

Ralph Vaughan Williams Antiphon (Five Mystical Songs)
Massed Choir and St. Olaf Orchestra (Christopher Aspaas)

Johann G. Ebeling, arr. Christopher Aspaas (World Premiere)This Night
Viking Chorus (Christopher Aspaas)

Kenneth Jennings Noel: Christmas Eve, 1913
St. Olaf Choir (Anton Armstrong); Charles Gray, Viola

Kim Andre Arnesen (U.S. Premiere)Cradle Hymn
Manitou Singers and St. Olaf Orchestra (Sigrid Johnson)

Franklin L. Sheppard, arr. John Ferguson (World Premiere) Hymn: This is My Father's World (Stanzas 1‑2) Tune: Terra Beata
Massed Choirs, Audience, and St. Olaf Orchestra (James Bobb)

 Gospel Reading: John 1: 1‑5, 14 Pastor Matthew Marohl

Franklin L. Sheppard, arr. John Ferguson (World Premiere) Hymn: This is My Father's World (Stanza 3) Tune: Terra Beata
Massed Choirs, Audience, and St. Olaf Orchestra (James Bobb)

Russell Schulz-Widmar, orch. Robert Scholz Midnight Clear
Cantorei (James Bobb)

Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, arr. Steven Landau Hark! The Herald, Angels Sing
Chapel Choir (Christopher Aspaas)

 African American Spiritual, arr. Michael Huff Go Tell It on the Mountain
Tune: Go Tell It
Massed Choirs, Audience, and St. Olaf Orchestra (Steven Amundson)

Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck Hodie Christus natus est
Cantorei (James Bobb)

 Johann A.P. Schultz, arr. Christopher Aspaas (World Premiere)Your Little Ones, Dear Lord
Chapel Choir (Christopher Aspaas)

Gryorgy Orban Gloria

Manitou Singers (Sigrid Johnson)

 Old French air, arr. Carolyn Jennings Bring a Torch
St. Olaf Choir (Anton Armstrong)

 Jean Berger Glory Be to God
St. Olaf Choir (Anton Armstrong)

 Via Olatunji, arr. Wendell Whalum Betelehemu
Viking Chorus (Christopher Aspaas)

 Traditional English carol, arr. Mack Wilberg I Saw Three Ships

Massed Choirs and St. Olaf Orchestra (James Bobb)

 Hershy Kay Pat-A-Pan
St. Olaf Orchestra (Steven Amundson)

arr. Bradley Ellingboe (World Premiere) Carols from Eve 'til Morn
Massed Choirs and St. Olaf Orchestra

O Come, Little Children
Massed Choir

I Am So Glad Each Christmas Eve
Manitou Singers

Midnight Stars Make Bright the Skies
Cantorei

Past Three O'Clock
Chapel Choir

My Lord, What a Mornin'
Viking Chorus

Good Christian Friends, Rejoice
St. Olaf Choir

Danish Traditional, arr. G. Winston Cassler Bright and Glorious is the Sky
Tune: Dejlig er den Himmel Bla
Massed Choirs, Audience, and St. Olaf Orchestra (Steven Amundson)

Narration Pastor Matthew Marohl

Stralsund Gesangbuch, arr. F. Melius Christiansen Praise to the Lord
Massed Choirs (Anton Armstrong)

Benjamin Britten The Spirit of the Lord (The World of the Spirit)
Massed Choirs and St. Olaf Orchestra (Anton Armstrong)

Geistliche Kirchengesange, arr. John Rutter Recessional Hymn: All Creatures of Our God and King Tune: Lasst Uns Erfreuen
Massed Choirs, Audience, and St. Olaf Orchestra (Steven Amundson)

Paul O. Manz E'en So, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come
Massed Choirs (Sigrid Johnson)

Silesian Folk Tune, arr. F. Melius Christiansen Beautiful Savior
Massed Choirs (Anton Armstrong)