Rejoice, Give Thanks and Sing
Hosted by Alison Young
Celebrate this holiday season with a cherished tradition; the St. Olaf Christmas Festival now in is its 100th year. It's a spiritual musical journey that takes 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 and dark Minnesota December 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 get your chance to sing hymns with the some 3,000 audience members that attend this completely sold-out event. And as this year's title tells us, you will also feel moved to rejoice, give thanks and sing!
Listen to hour 1
Listen to hour 2
Adagio "Nimrod" (Enigma Variations)
Edward Elgar
As The Dark Awaits the Dawn
Christopher Aspaas
Processional Hymn: Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers
Swedish Folk Tune, arr. John Ferguson
Te Deum Laudamus
Charles Villiers Stanford
O Come, O Come Emmanuel
John Ferguson
'Twas in the Moon of Wintertime
French Folk Tune, arr. Christopher Aspaas
O Day Full of Grace
C.E.F. Weyse; arr. F. Melius Christiansen and Oscar R. Overby
Deepest Heart
David N. Childs
A Hymn of the Nativity
Kenneth Leighton
God's Word is Our Great Heritage (Cantata 80)
Johann Sebastian Bach
Hymn: O Come, All Ye Faithful
Attr. John Francis Wade, arr. John Ferguson, descant by David Willcocks
Shepherd's Pipe Carol
John Rutter
Today the Virgin
John Tavener
Infant Holy, Infant Lowly
Polish Carol, arr. Paul J. Christiansen
This Little Babe (Ceremony of Carols)
English Carol, arr. Benjamin Britten
Christ the Apple Tree
Stanford Scriven
The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy
arr. André J. Thomas
Noel
Todd Smith, arr. Brad Holmes
Hymn: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, arr. John Ferguson
Ring Gladsome Bells
Steven Amundson
Carols from Scandinavia
compiled by Steven Amundson
O Yule Full of Gladness
arr. Carolyn Jennings
When Christmas Morn is Dawning
arr. Morton Luvaas
Guiding Star Carol
arr. Olaf C. Christiansen
Nu är det Jul igen
arr. Steven Amundson
The Bells of Christmas
arr. Carolyn Jennings
Thy Little Ones, Dear Lord
arr. Kenneth Jennings
Jeg er så glad (I Am So Glad)
arr. Robert Scholz
Lullaby on Christmas Eve
F. Melius Christiansen
Psalm 50 (Mvmt. III)
F. Melius Christiansen
Ring Out, Ye Crystal Spheres (Hodie)
Ralph Vaughan Williams
Recessional Hymn: Rejoice, Ye pure in Heart
Arthur H. Messiter, arr. John Ferguson
Stay With Us (Captive and Free)
Egil Hovland
Beautiful Savior
Silesian Folk Tune, arr. F. Melius Christiansen
