My Spirit Sings of Wondrous Things
Hosted by Alison Young
A cherished tradition for nearly a century, the St. Olaf Christmas Festival is not a mere concert. It's a spiritual journey taking us from the expectation of Advent, to that holiest of moments when Christ was born in a lowly stable, to the arrival twelve days later of the Three Kings from the East. Over 500 student musicians from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota warm this cold, dark December night with their refined and glowing tone, at one moment hushed and reverent, and at another full of joy and awe at the Christmas blessing. You'll hear familiar carols, choral motets and hymns with the some 3,000 audience members singing along. You may find yourself moved to do the same! It's the St. Olaf Christmas Festival 2008, The New York Times International Datebook calls "one of the five significant global holiday events."
Listen to the program
Program:
The Gift
Steven Amundson
Keep Your Lamps
African American Spiritual, arr. André Thomas
A New Magnificat
Carolyn Jennings
Processional Hymn: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (VENI EMMANUEL)
French Processional, arr. John Ferguson
Awake the Harp (The Creation)
Franz Joseph Haydn
How Great are Thy Wonders
Georg Schumann
There is No Rose
Z. Randall Stroope
Magnificat "Collegium Regale"
Herbert Howells
Welcome All Wonders
Philip Lawson
The Angel Gabriel
Basque Carol, arr. Christopher Aspaas
Hymn: Canticle of the Turning (STAR OF COUNTY DOWN) Stanzas 1–2
Irish Traditional, arr. John Ferguson
Hymn: Canticle of the Turning (STAR OF COUNTY DOWN) Stanzas 3–4
Irish Traditional, arr. John Ferguson
Joy to the World
Jackson Berkey
Gloria
Agneta Sköld
Dona Nobis Pacem
Joseph Gregorio
Alleluya! A New Work is Come on Hand
Peter Wishart
What Wondrous Love
William Walker, arr. Robert Scholz
Mary's Little Boy Chile
Jester Hairston
Noel
Todd Smith, arr. Brad Holmes
Sanctus (Mass)
Leonard Bernstein
Shepherd's Dance (Amahl and the Night Visitors)
Gian Carlo Menotti
Hymn: Bright and Glorious is the Sky (DEJLIG ER DEN HIMMEL BLÅ)
Danish Tune, arr. G Winston Cassler
Carol Collage: Carols from Around the World
arr. Carolyn Jennings
American: Go Tell It on the Mountain
Venezuelan: La Jornada (The Journey)
Provençal: Le Marche Des Rois (The March of the Kings)
Silesian: O Laufet, Ihr Hirten (O Run, You Shepherds)
Swedish: Ordet Nu är Vordet Kott (The Word is Now Become Flesh)
Chinese: Pengyou, ting (Friend, Hear This Good News)
Carol: Joy to the World (ANTIOCH)
Lowell Mason, arr. Steven Amundson
O Day Full of Grace
Christoph E.F. Weyse, arr. F. Melius Christiansen
In Endless Morn of Light (Blest Pair of Sirens)
C. Hubert H. Parry, orch. Gordon Jacob
Recessional Hymn: Once in Royal David's City (IRBY)
Henry J. Gauntlett, arr. John Ferguson
Nunc dimittis
Alexander Gretchaninoff
Beautiful Savior (Final Stanza)
Silesian Folk Tune, arr. F. Melius Christiansen
