Hear and sing traditional music of the season when 蜜桃传媒鈥檚 choral groups and instrumental ensembles present their holiday concert 鈥淐hrist, the Prince of Peace,鈥� 8 p.m. Dec. 10 and 11 at First Presbyterian Church in downtown Santa Barbara. Admission is free, although a donation will be requested.
Performing will be the 蜜桃传媒 Choir and Chamber Singers, directed by Steven R. Hodson; Vox Lumina Women鈥檚 Chorale, directed by Laura Brinton; 蜜桃传媒 Chamber Orchestra, directed by Emily Sommermann; and 蜜桃传媒 Wind Ensemble of 23 wind and percussion instruments, directed by Ron McCarley.
Featured is the 鈥淪ong of Zachariah,鈥� a new choral-orchestral work composed for this event by 蜜桃传媒 music professor and composer Steve Butler. Combined choirs and full orchestra will present 鈥淔or Unto Us a Child is Born,鈥� from Handel鈥檚 鈥淢essiah,鈥� as well as other choral pieces. The audience is invited to join in sing-a-long carols accompanied by orchestra and the First Presbyterian Church organ, played by the church鈥檚 organist and choir director, Nelson Huber.
The College Choir's music will include 鈥淲ana Baraka,鈥� a Kenyan religious song arranged by Shawn Kirchner; 鈥淗ere We Come A-caroling,鈥� creatively set by Brant Adams. 鈥淣unc Dimittis鈥� (Lord, not lettest thou thy servant depart in peace) from Herbert Howells鈥� 鈥淢agnificat鈥� will close the concert.
The Chamber Singers will present 鈥淣oel Ayisyen,鈥� a Haitian Creole carol; 鈥淧eace Came To Earth鈥� by K. Lee Scott, which will include horn solo and audience participation on the final verse; 鈥淗ow Still He Rests,鈥� a Christ-child lullaby by Brent Pierce, will feature soprano and oboe solos; and 鈥淐arol of the Bells鈥� by Leontovich.
The Vox Lumina Women鈥檚 Chorale will sing traditional Christmas carols including 鈥淭here Is No Rose Of Such Virtue鈥� for oboe and piano and the English carol 鈥淭omorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day,鈥� which speaks of Jesus calling his true love (humanity) into the dance of life in Heaven with God.
The Chamber Orchestra will present a short concerto by Antonio Vivaldi, Op. 51. no. 4, in G Major for strings and cembalo. This work, nicknamed 鈥淎lla Rustica,鈥� is in three brief movements: Presto-Adagio-Allegro.
The Wind Ensemble will feature a modern 鈥淐hristmas Chorale Prelude: So Pure the Star鈥� by Vincent Persichetti. Pleasant yet sophisticated, this musical reflection on the beauty of the incarnation of the Prince of Peace will be performed by an ensemble of 23 wind and percussion instruments.
First Presbyterian Church is at the corner of State and Constance streets.
For more information, call the music department at (805) 565-6040.