Early American and classical Christmas carols will be featured in the annual holiday performance of the Tusculum College Community Chorus on Monday, Dec. 5.
The annual Christmas concert by the Community Chorus will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Annie Hogan Byrd Fine Arts Building, and there is no admission charge for the program. The Chorus is under the direction of Kathy May and the accompanist is Matthew Brickey.
The program will open with three pieces based on Biblical text, including “Sicut Locutus Est” from Bach’s musical setting of Mary’s hymn of praise “Magnificat.” The chorus will also be performing the Spanish chorus “Esto Les Digo,” taken from text in Matthew 18 and “The Shepherds Bid Farewell to the Holy Family” from “The Infancy of Christ” by French composer Hector Berlioz.
Four early American Christmas carols will also be featured in the performance. They include “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” “The Shepherd’s Carol” and “A Virgin Unspotted.” “How Splendid Shines the Morning Star” will feature an arrangement by Benjamin May specially written for the Tusculum College Community Chorus, as well as a tenor solo and a semi-chorus.
The concert will conclude with “Christmas Day” featuring multiple soloists and a quartet, as well as an inspirational rendition of “Hallelujah” from Beethoven’s oratorio, “Mount of Olives.”
The Community Chorus was founded in the spring of 1996 with 35 singers as an avenue for people in the community and the college to come together to enjoy a shared love of vocal performance. Over the years, more than 300 different singers have participated in the group and there are currently 50 vocalists in the chorus. The concert is part of Tusculum College Arts Outreach’s Acts, Arts, Academia 2016-17 performance and lecture series.