IWCC - Christmas Concert 2003

Concert 2
2003-2004
Christmas

I. W. C. C.
P. O. Box 8112
Moscow, ID 83843-0612

Click here to see the
program for this concert.

Click here for pictures of
rehearsal for this concert.

The Idaho-Washington Concert Chorale will hold its second concert of the season, "Magnificat," on December 18 at 7:30 pm at the UI Administration Building Auditorium and on December 19 at 7:30 pm at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Uniontown. Ticket information is available at www.iwchorale.org.

Directed by John Weiss, professor of choral music at Washington State University, this concert will include five versions of the Magnificat, also known as the Canticle of Mary or Mary's Song of Praise. This Bible passage in Luke 1:46-55, in which Mary praises God for the privilege of bearing Jesus, has served has the inspiration for many composers throughout the centuries.

Mary's Song

⁴⁶And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord
⁴⁷and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
⁴⁸for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
⁴⁹for the Mighty One has done great things for me--holy is his name.
⁵⁰His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
⁵¹He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
⁵²He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.
⁵³He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.
⁵⁴He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful
⁵⁵to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers."

How would it have been to know to know that you were going to give birth to the Son of God? This is the question that this passage explores; it is one of the great poems celebrating the power, the mercy, and the eternal nature of God in the world.

The Chorale will perform two versions of this text from the Baroque period, one by Bach, the other by Charles Theodore Pachelbel (the son of the more famous Johann Pachelbel). They will also perform two Magnificats from the Classical and Romantic periods, one by Mozart (composed in 1774) and the other by Schubert (composed in July 1816). The program also includes two Magnificats from the 20th century, one by Daniel Pinkham (1962), the other by David Hogan (1992).

In addition, the program will contain several periods in which the audience will be invited to sing along with the Chorale on traditional Christmas carols. The Chorale will also perform a complex version of "The Twelve Days of Christmas," which is entitled "A Musicological Journey Through the Twelve Days of Christmas."

Ted Otto will accompnay the Chorale on the organ for the first part of the concert. Sheila Zilar will accompany the Chorale on the piano in the latter part.

Tickets are $12 at the door, $10 in advance, $8 for seniors (62 and older), and $5 for students with ID. Children 12 are under are admitted free. Advance tickets, senior tickets, and student tickets are available at the Owl Southway Pharmacy in Lewiston, the Chevron Dynamart stations in Lewiston, BookPeople in Moscow, and Neill's Flowers and Gifts in Pullman.

Click here to read more about Glory, the art on our season poster.