Northwestern College music department to present Christmas Vespers

The Northwestern College music department will present its annual Christmas Vespers service on Saturday, Dec. 5, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 6, at 3 p.m. in Christ Chapel. The event is free and open to the public.

“This year’s theme is ‘Night of Wonder,’ and will focus on the idea that on that night, the creator of the universe was lying in a stall and surrounded by lowly animals,” says Dr. Thomas Holm, professor of music at Northwestern. “While most kings are born in a lofty setting, the greatest king of all had a most humble birth.”

The concert will include performances by the Brass Choir, Women’s Choir, A cappella Choir, Chamber Orchestra and Handbell Choir, in addition to Scripture readings by Northwestern students. The concert will close with candle lighting. “The Vespers program actually combines elements of a concert with a service, as the entire evening focuses on the Christ child and his arrival,” says Holm.

The Brass Choir will open the program with a rendition of “Misericordia Domini,” composed by Michael Praetorius and arranged by Paul Beck. This will be followed by the A cappella Choir and Handbell Choir’s performance of Richard Robert Rossi’s arrangement of “Veni, Veni Emmanuel,” during the processional.

The A cappella Choir will then sing “Lux Aurumque” by Eric Whitacre, featuring a solo by soprano Allison Sietstra. The ensemble will also present Sy Gorieb and Tim Hosman’s “A King is Born,” arranged by Tim Sarsany; “O Magnum Mysterium” by Morten Lauridsen; Craig Courtney’s arrangement of “Mary Did you Know?” by Mark Lowry and Buddy Green; and “Children Go Where I Send Thee,” arranged by Paul Cadwell and Sean Ivory.

The Chamber Orchestra’s repertoire includes “The Christmas Symphony” by Jeffrey Bishop, “O Magnum Mysterium” by Morten Lauridsen, and a rendition of John Rutter’s “What Sweeter Music,” performed in conjunction with the Women’s Choir.

The Women’s Choir will sing Dorian Kelly’s “Hodie Christus Natus Est,” Craig Courtney’s arrangement of “Breath of Heaven” by Chris Eaton and Amy Grant, and the traditional English melody “Coventry Carol.” The ensemble will also present Dan Forrest’s “The First Noel,” and will perform with the A cappella Choir and Chamber Orchestra during a rendition of “Night of Silence” by Daniel Kantor, arranged by John Ferguson.

The Handbell Choir will perform “Pat-a-pan” by Bernard de La Monnoye.

Throughout the concert, the audience will also be invited to sing a variety of Christmas carols, including “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” “Away in a Manger,” “Silent Night” and “Joy to the World.”

Doors open 35 minutes before each concert. After Sunday’s performance, the poinsettia plants adorning the Christ Chapel stage will be available for purchase for $5 each.