Hodie

Friday, December 3rd, 2004 - 8pm
at Emmanuel Episcopal Church - Athens, GA

 This concert consisted fo three settings of Hodie (This day is Christ born), which would be the text lesson for Christmas Day.  The first piece is a short, late Renaissance setting in five parts by the Dutch composer Sweelinck. Of particular interest are the bell-sounding figures in the word "Noe" which are tossed from part to part, and used in place of and along with the word "Alleluia".

The featured work is a lengthy setting of the Christmas text written by English composer Vaugn Williams in 1954. It uses Gospel texts from Matthew, Luke and John, and commentary solos with text related to, but not closely associated with the Christmas message. As in other music dramas, the narrator tells the story, the chorus parts contain the action, and the solos reflect on both.

The final piece is a glorius arrangement of the Piae Cantiones, 1582 theme in Dorian mode by North Carolina composer Lara Haggard.

- Joseph Napoli

Program