First Unitarian Universalist Church (San Francisco, CA)
The San Francisco Lyric Chorus presents What Sweeter Music, a program of selections from BBC Magazine's "Top 50 Christmas Carols." The program ranges from Renaissance and Baroque music to joyous 20th-century works by Poulenc and Britten. The program closes with the world premiere of new Music Director Robert Train Adams' Christmas Fantasy.
Event summary prepared by the Goldstar Editorial Team.
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The last date listed for San Francisco Lyric Chorus: What Sweeter Music was Sunday December 6, 2009 / 7:00pm. (view all dates)
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It's groups like this that allow you to hear music other than the same old stuff. This was an entertaining program of Christmas music from Renaissance to 20th Century, mostly little-know composers. The music and the performance were top notch.
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The Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco's beautiful and historic Sanctuary and meeting center is located at 1187 Franklin Street (at Geary) in the heart of San Francisco. They have many types of meeting space whether yours is a group of 25 or 400. From practical to elegant surroundings, from sit down dinners to receptions, thee can accommodate your needs. There are many different m
Francis Poulenc: Quatre Motets Pour le Temps de Noël
Benjamin Britten: This Little Babe from Ceremony of Carols
Anonymous (ca. 1420): Ther Is No Rose of Swych Virtu
John Joubert: There Is No Rose
Michael Praetorius: Es Ist Ein Ros Entsprungen
Boris Ord: Adam Lay Ybounden
John Rutter, arr.: Il Est Né Le Divin Enfant
Robert Pearsall: In Dulci Jubilo
Tomás Luis de Victoria: O Magnum Mysterium
Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck: Hodie
Harold Darke: In The Bleak Midwinter
John Tavener: The Lamb
John Gardner: Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day
John Rutter: What Sweeter Music
AND the World Premiere of Robert Train Adams’ Christmas Fantasy
Featured Accompanist
Reiko Lane, Organ
Music Director
Dr. Robert Train Adams
Dr. Robert Train Adams debuts as the new Music Director of the San Francisco Lyric Chorus in “What Sweeter Music.” The concert features an exciting variety of music for the Christmas season, selected from a list of the top 50 favorite Christmas carols and other works, chosen by major English and American choral conductors for the December 2008 issue of the eminent British music publication, BBC Music Magazine.
Francis Poulenc’s (1899-1963) four beautiful Christmas motets display a variety of moods and feelings, celebrating special aspects of a special season.
One of the selections from his popular Ceremony of Carols, Benjamin Britten’s (1913-1976) This Little Babe, energetically tells of the future deeds of the Œlittle babe in driving rhythm and cascading canons.
The anonymous 15th century carol, Ther Is No Rose of Swych Virtu, is a beautiful, simple homage to the Virgin Mary. South African/English composer John Joubert’s (1927- ) lovely anthem, There Is No Rose, sets the same text in a gentle hymn. German composer Michael Praetorius’ (1571-1621) familiar carol, Es Ist Ein Ros Entsprungen, also pays tribute to Mary. English composer Boris Ord’s (1897-1961) beautiful Adam Lay Ybounden is another familiar work, often used in the Nine Lessons and Carols of Christmas.
English composer John Rutter (1945- ) has created a delightful arrangement of the French carol, Il Est Né Le Divin Enfant. Robert Pearsall (1795-1856) is one of the finest Victorian part-song composers. His In Dulci Jubilo is a gentle version of this famous tune.
Two classic early music Christmas selections, Spanish composer Tomás Luis de Victoria’s (1548-1611) ethereal O Magnum Mysterium and Dutch composer Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck’s (1562-1621) joyous five-part Hodie show the elegance of Renaissance and Baroque Christmas motets.
English composer Harold Darke (1888-1976) creates a lyrical setting of Christina Rossetti’s poem, In The Bleak Midwinter. Contemporary English composer John Tavener’s (1944- ) setting of William Blake’s poem, The Lamb, is calm and pensive, stark, yet simple. English composer John Gardner’s (1917- ) setting of the poem, Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day, is perky and slightly jazzy. One of John Rutter's most beautiful works is his setting of Robert Herrick¹s poem, What Sweeter Music.
The program concludes with the World Premiere of Robert Train Adams' Christmas Fantasy, incorporating several beloved Christmas carols.
Formed in 1995, the San Francisco Lyric Chorus is a medium-size, auditioned volunteer chorus that performs a repertoire representing all periods of choral music, with a special interest in presenting little known, rarely performed works of exceptional merit.