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December 14, 2004
Blooming Grove -- In its 46th season, the Classic Choral Society, under the capable leadership of Janiece Kohler, rekindles yuletide tradition each year with fresh choices and arrangements that add a touch of class to the festivities.
Sunday afternoon at the United Church of Christ in Blooming Grove, the chorale offered "A Christmas Garland" of modern works and versions of medieval carols. The 78 voices, accompanied by 16 instrumentalists, were forceful and precise, doing full justice to the colorfully packaged scores. The concert will be repeated in Goshen on Saturday.
"GAUDETE" BY SWEDISH composer Anders Öhrwall arranges nine Latin and English carols in a medley of contrasting tempos and tonal variations, beginning with the "Gaudete" hymn. A trio of flute, bassoon and oboe performs a brief Sinfonia, and then accompanies the chorus in "In dulci jubilio," sung in English. The lovely "Lo, How a Rose Is Blooming" featured interweaving voices, while "Now the Word becomes the flesh" introduced antiphonal part-singing. A jubilant "Gloria" was followed by a bouncy "To Us a cChild Has Been Born" and a cheery "Lift Your Voice and Sing." "Christ the Lord is Born Today" sounded tuneful and spirited, and the final carol of the set, "Let the Earth with Praise rResound," allowed the singers to shift tempo and modulation in melodic interchanges between the voices and trio.
After intermission, "The Christmas Story" by Ronald Nelson treated listeners to an exciting retelling of the Gospel account. This modern cantata intersperses narrative and chorus accompanied by a brass septet and timpani. The magisterial entrance invocation, "Praise the Birth," announces the good news with thunderous chords sounded by voices, brass and drum beat.
The Rev. Whitworth Ferguson III read the verses of Luke that lead to the angel's "Be Not Afraid" told to the shepherds. Baritone Erich Tusch gave bold emphasis to his resounding solo as the angel, until the chorus of angels joined him for a rollicking and joyous "Glory to God." The shepherds responded with an a cappella "Let Us Also Go," while the female singers tendered a soothing lullaby, "Slumber Now, Beloved Child."
MATTHEW'S VERSION NOW takes over with the story of the three kings. A trio asks "Where Is This Newborn King?," and Tusch, now as Herod, commands them to "Now Go Forth" to find the Christ. Percussion and brass join the turbulent chorus in depicting the Slaughter of the Innocents, but the cantata returns to the opening theme of "Praise" and ends on an exultant note of thanksgiving. This remarkable work certainly deserves to become part of the Christmas musical concert tradition.
"A Christmas Garland" by Conrad Susa invites audience members to sing along with the chorus and orchestra lyrics printed in the program: "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen," "We Three Kings," "O Come, All Ye Faithful" and "Joy to the World." Margaret Barton Small, who had accompanied up to this point on the organ, played scintillating trills on the piano that had everyone choiring at full volume. The standing audience members would not leave until they heard the final "Joy to the World" sung again as an encore.
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