Christmas Vespers Ushers In Holiday Season December 5

SOUTH HADLEY, Mass.-Continuing a tradition more than a century old, approximately 200 students and faculty will participate in Mount Holyoke's annual Christmas Vespers concert on Sunday, December 5 at 4:00 and 7:30 pm in Abbey Chapel. There is no admission charge for this concert, but seating is limited. Doors open 35 minutes before each performance.

Performing will be the College's Glee Club and Concert Choir, directed by Hammond-Douglass Professor of Music Catharine Melhorn; the Orchestra and Chamber Singers, conducted by Mark Bartley; Vocal Jazz, directed by Mark Gionfriddo; and the English Handbell Choir, led by student Lauren Richetti '05, a South Hadley native. Organist Dick Damon and a brass quartet are also featured.

In addition to familiar congregational carols and the much-beloved candlelit Gregorian chant processional, the concert will include seasonal choral works from around the world, from Renaissance dances to a Latino "Gloria" with conga drum and maracas. There will be several opportunities for the audience to join with choirs and orchestra in singing both familiar and lesser-known carols.

Concert Choir selections include an innovative “Ubi Caritas” by contemporary Canadian composer Rupert Lang, requiring improvised moments of speaking, shouting, and chanting; also the rollicking English carol “Past Three O’Clock,” accompanied by flutist Usher Shrair ‘08. Chamber Singers will perform Joan Szymko’s “Nada te Turbe” featuring solo cellist Michael Jao, a veteran of many Musicorda summers. Vocal Jazz will premiere “Look Out, King Wenceslas!” commissioned from Westfield resident Clifton J. Noble Jr.

The Glee Club’s set begins with a modern version of “Adeste Fideles” by Hungarian composer Gyorgy Orban, followed by works of two New York composers, Eve Beglarian’s “Lullaby” and Francisco Nunez’s “Dawn” from “Los Primeros Pastores.” The Mount Holyoke Orchestra will play Reed’s “Russian Christmas;” the handbell choir will perform a Christmas popular favorite, “Little Drummer Boy.” All choirs will combine with the orchestra to conclude the concert with Stephen Mager’s arrangement of the Austrian carol “O Glorious Night.”

On Friday, December 10, the performers will travel to Saint Bartholomew’s on Park Ave. and 50th St. in New York City. They will perform there at 8:00 pm.