Throughout November our six choral groups have been knee deep in preparations for our annual Festival of Lessons and Carols. We get only one chance to rehearse as a group so every note and phrase; every step and movement must be choreographed in advance so that our 60 choristers can unite and sing as one.
The Festival takes as its theme, “from darkness to the light,” employing the recitatives, arias and choruses from Handel’s humanist manifesto, Messiah to frame our theme. I love working with students to pull this kind of project together. Just as every group has a specific part to play in this quasi-liturgical drama, so each chorister has a very specific role within each ensemble.
The ideal chorister blends seamlessly into a balanced whole where anonymity is the highest statement of individual achievement. It is an article of faith with us that no one chorister is ever as effective by him or herself as with the combined forces. Everyone sings their part better when surrounded by the others and thus every follower becomes a leader and every leader one of the whole. Our success is measured as much by the energy of each individual’s engagement as it is by the sound of the ensemble and dynamic synergy is achieved through the multiplying of each chorister’s contribution.
It all starts with an idea: That this annual tradition, while founded in religious observance, obtains universality by virtue of its simple, humanist story. Just as our modern Christmas represents the fusing of centuries-old secular holidays, so our Festival of Lessons and Carols transcends its liturgical origin to broadcast an all-inclusive message of triumph of light over darkness; of hope over despair.
It begins with the lighting of candles followed by a choral introit; In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth; and the earth was without form and void; and darkness was upon the heavens and the earth. And the spirit of God was upon the face of the Deep: And God saw, everything that He made, and behold, it was very good. Then follows the processional, begun by a soloist chosen in secret and not revealed until the final rehearsal. As the choristers fill the choir loft, the sound reaching the congregation blossoms, symbolizing the return of light.
Among the many choral offerings are (From Handel’s Messiah) #4, And the Glory of the Lord, #5, Thus Saith the Lord, #8, Behold a Virgin Shall Conceive, #9, O Thou that Tellest Good Tidings to Zion, #10, For Behold, Darkness Shall Cover the Earth, #11, The People that Walked in Darkness, the recitatives preceding #17, Glory to God and of course, the mighty Hallelujah chorus that we invite the entire congregation to sing with us. Copies of the score will be available at the door.
The congregation will also join us for O Come, All Ye Faithful, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, Deck the Hall With Boughs of Holly, Joy to the World and our traditional recessional, See Amid the Winter’s Snow. In addition, the Nightingales will perform Pentatonix’ White Winter Hymnal, the Tabor Tones will do an original arrangement of Away in a Manger and the Madrigal Singers will present the haunting Chanticleer arrangement of In the Bleak Midwinter. Between the choral offerings and carols are six readings that tell the story of the birth of a child to a peasant maid presaging the dawn of new hope in a world plunged in winter’s gloom.
Our Festival of Lessons and Carols will be presented on December 11 in Wickenden Chapel at 7:30. The doors open at 7:00 pm and all are welcome. For those who cannot make it to Marion, we will be live-streaming the event on our facebook page, accessed through www.facebook.com/taboracademy
