One of the great joys of the Christmas season is all of the wonderful music that attends the celebration. The music of Christmas has long been some of my favorite music—that includes the standard carols as well as some of the classic works like Handel's Messiah, and the lighter things like Jingle Bells. And for the past 17 years or so, it's been my priviliege to get to celebrate Christmas with the Glen Ellyn-Wheaton Chorale, a fine group of folks who love to sing!
This year's Wintersong promises to be another wonderful opportunity to sing and to hear the music of Christmas. The Chorale has been in rehearsal since the day after Labor Day, working on things like Vivaldi's Magnificat. This 13-minute piece is a setting of Mary's canticle—"My soul doth magnify the Lord." It's a sparkling little piece, complete with the kind of writing for choir and strings that you'd expect from the composer of the better-known Gloria. And speaking of strings—we have another amazing group of string players, and a pair of oboists that I know you'll enjoy!
In addition to the Magnificat, the Chorale will sing beautiful settings such as Kim Andre Arnesen's Cradle Hymn, and well-known standards such as Jingle Bells and Joy to the World. I'm especially excited about Dan Forrest's setting for choir and four-hand piano of Angels from the Realms of Glory! And as always, we'll invite you to sing some carols with us!
Wintersong: Christmas with the Glen Ellyn-Wheaton Chorale is a great way to begin your celebration of this most wonderful time of the year! We hope to see you at one of our concerts: Friday, December 4 at 7:30, or Saturday, December 5 at 3:00. Both concerts are at College Church in Wheaton. Tickets are available now, right here on the Chorale's website.
I hope to see you soon!
Greg Wheatley
Music Director, Glen Ellyn-Wheaton Chorale