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The First Presbyterian Church Chancel Choir presents its annual Palm Sunday Concert. The Chancel Choir is pleased to be joined by the Jubilate Choir and other guest singers in this program.
Vocal soloists are Camella Cañete and Felicia Lundie, sopranos; Russell McKinney, counter-tenor; Mitchell Sturges, tenor; and Erik Sumner, baritone. The instrumentalists are Caitlyn Moore, flute; Geralyn Giovannetti, oboe; Ryan Selberg, cello; Louise Vickerman, harp; Kenny Hodges, glockenspiel; George Brown, timpani and Larry Blackburn, organ. Music Director Russell McKinney conducts the program.  The concert features three contrasting 20th Century English choral works that explore Easter themes of death and resurrection from various viewpoints. The concert opens with John Rutter’s very popular “Requiem” premiered in 1985 in the composer’s 1986 ensemble version for choir, soloists and seven instruments. The second half of the program begins with Benjamin Britten’s “Rejoice in the Lamb.” This festival cantata was originally commissioned in 1943 by the Rev. Canon Walter Hussey for the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the consecration of St Matthew's Church, Northampton. Sections of 18th Century poet Christopher Smart’ poem Jubilato Agno (Rejoice in the Lamb) are brilliantly set in this sixteen minute work. Rev. Hussey says in his introduction that the poem is “chaotic in form, but contains flashes of genius” and states that the main theme of the poem, and thus Britten’s cantata, “is the worship of God, by all created beings and things, each in its own way.” Rounding out the program are the Five Mystical Songs by Ralph Vaughan Williams composed between 1906 and 1911. Written for solo baritone and chorus, these five songs take their texts from four poems by George Herbert, a 17th Century poet and Anglican Priest from his 1633 collection The Temple: Sacred poems. As in the Britten work, the wedding of words and music that were created centuries apart are both beautiful and at times surprising. We seek to offer an outreach to the community though choir concerts and encourage you to invite friends and neighbors. Therefore this concert is presented without admission charge. A free-will offering will be taken at the concert as the donations are vital to the music program in order to continue the growth and quality that we have experienced over the past several years. Donations of any amount to the music program are welcome at any time. To remain informed about our upcoming concerts, please visit our Facebook pages: Chancel Choir at the First Presbyterian Church of Salt Lake City, or the Community Concert Series. |
