We have truly had a wonderful beginning to our fall season! Many, many thanks to all of you who have joined us, former members and new members alike.
Special thanks for supporting our first fundraiser ever. The Hymn Sing/Ice Cream Social was a big success, bringing in almost $750 for East Penn Neighbors Helping Neighbors. Thanks for all of the donations of ice cream toppings, and thanks to those of you who were able to join us. It was wonderful singing together, for a good cause!
Now we are looking forward to our upcoming December concert, A Festival of Lessons and Carols. Thanks so much to Janet for sharing the following details about this program:
A Message from Our Director
In planning the Chorale's A Festival of Lessons and Carols program, I first looked for beautiful or exciting arrangements for choir and harp. Our guest artist for this concert is a wonderful young harpist and I wanted to highlight his talents in some of the selections I chose.
Among those pieces are several that are known and loved by audiences around the world: two movements from Benjamin Britten's A Ceremony of Carols (There Is No Rose and Deo Gracias), as well as John Rutter's Candlelight Carol. Other lesser known works include a sweet lullaby for harp and women's voices named Dormi, Dormi (Sleep, Sleep) as well as a solo harp selection from A Ceremony of Carols entitled Interlude.
The program also includes a Medieval carol, Nova!, Nova! (News!, News!) which uses a recurring refrain for choir followed by soloists playing the parts of Mary and the angel Gabriel at the moment of the annunciation. Finger cymbals are the only accompaniment to this rousing piece!
A dramatic rendering of the Isaiah text where the prophet proclaims that lions, oxen, leopards and lambs will lie down together in peace and a child will lead them all is offered in The Dream Isaiah Saw. The drama is carried to magnificent heights by a combination of organ and piano accompaniment and a soaring baritone solo.
Of course, as in all Lessons and Carols programs, the audience will be invited to sing on the familiar carols that will frame each of the traditional nine readings.
It is my hope, in the midst of this troubled time in our nation and world, that this program will bring you some peace and joy during the Christmas season.
Janet Davis,
Artistic Director
CALENDAR ITEMS
Friday, December 9: 7 pm Dress Rehearsal
Sunday December 11: Festival of Lessons and Carols 3:00 pm
Volunteers Needed: Join the Leadership Team!
Treasurer – to help track the income from dues, patrons, sponsors with our expenses.
Hospitality Coordinators & monthly volunteers – ‘punch & cookies’ at the first rehearsal each month. We have the napkins & cups, you (& a partner) bring whatever you wish. Then we also will need volunteers for our December post-concert reception. More volunteers mean less work for all!
Membership Coordinators (2) – one for sopranos/tenors & one for altos/basses. Check weekly rehearsal attendance & follow-up by phone or email with absentees.
Marketing Team – working with concert patrons & sponsors; designing &/or distributing solicitation letters, posters, other publicity and marketing collateral. Please contact Nancy Keeler with questions: owlday@outlook.com or 610.703.9700
If you have friends in the Chorale, please check with them to make sure they see this email. It may go to their spam folder, promotions, or updates tab. A search for "EmmausChorale@gmail.com" should help anyone locate the email in their inbox.
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Do you have any photos of the chorale? If you are willing to share, please email them to Nancy Keeler at owlday@outlook.com.
