12/1-2/2023, A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Schwartz Center for Performing Arts

A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols 2023

Audience Information TTT Please turn off all electronic devices. Digital capture or recording of this concert is not permitted. This evening’s ushers are from the Schwartz Center for Performing Arts volunteer usher corps. Call 404.727.6640 for ushering opportunities. Additional event and program information may be found online at schwartz.emory.edu and music.emory.edu. Program design by Lisa Baron

A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols TTT

Emory University Chorus and Emory Concert Choir Eric Nelson, director with Jonathan Easter, organ Greg Matteson, piano Brass Ensemble

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Glenn Memorial Auditorium Friday, December 1, 2023, 8:00 p.m. Saturday, December 2, 2023, 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Program

Because this is a sacred program, we request that there be no applause.

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The Prelude

Canzon Septimi Toni a 8

Giovanni Gabriel (1554–1612)

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The Processional Carol

(Congregation, please stand and join in singing verse six.) Irby vv. 1–5 arr. A. H. Mann v. 6 arr. Sir David Willcocks

Once in Royal David’s City

Verse Six: Not in that poor lowly stable, With the oxen standing by We shall see Him; but in heaven, Set at God’s right hand on high When like stars His children crowned All in white shall wait around. Rachael Berkoff, soprano (Friday evening) Alexa Schwartz, soprano (Saturday afternoon) Lucienne “LuLu” Scully, soprano (Saturday evening)

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The Bidding Prayer

Readers: Rev. Mark Westmoreland (Friday evening) Rev. Lyn Pace (Saturday afternoon) Rev. Maddie Henderson Herlong (Saturday evening)

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The Invitatory “Break Forth, O Beauteous Johann Sebastian Bach Heavenly Light” from Christmas Oratorio (1685–1750)

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The First Lesson

God declares in the Garden of Eden that the offspring of Woman shall bruise the Serpent’s Head—Genesis 3:8–15 Readers: Austin Beale (Friday evening) Greta Franke (Saturday afternoon) Alex Moss (Saturday evening) John Rutter (b. 1945)

Gloria (1974) Gloria in excelsis Deo I.

Glory to God in the highest and On earth peace to all those of good will. We praise thee. We bless thee. We worship thee. We glorify thee. We give thanks to thee according to thy great glory.

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The Second Lesson

God promises to faithful Abraham that by his Offspring, the Nations of the Earth shall be Blessed—Genesis 22:15–18 Readers: Hannah Soloff (Friday evening) Evelyn Sload (Saturday afternoon) Laurie Ann Taylor (Saturday evening) “Magnificat” from Collegium Regale

Herbert Howells (1892–1983)

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The Third Lesson

The Nations rejoice at the coming of Peace—Isaiah 9:2–7 Readers: Patricia Dinkins-Matthews (Friday evening) Joel LeMon (Saturday afternoon) Lucienne “LuLu” Scully (Saturday evening) O Radiant Dawn (2008)

James MacMillan

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The Fourth Lesson

The Angel visits the Virgin Mary—Luke 1:26–33, 38 Readers: Mary Grace DuPree (Friday evening) Heidi Aklaseaq Senungetuk (Saturday afternoon) Eric Albanese (Saturday evening) Second Eve (2012)

Ola Gjeilo

Holy Mary, Queen of Heaven, Gentle and holy, Mother of God: Pray for us sinners, That with the chosen we may see you. Hail Mary, full of grace, The Lord is with you: Blessed are you among women, And blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus Christ. Amen.

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The Fifth Lesson

Matthew tells of Christ’s Holy Birth—Matthew 1:18–23 Readers: Bethany Mamola (Friday evening) Jeremy Bell (Saturday afternoon) George Staib (Saturday evening) Gloria (1974) Domine Deus II.

John Rutter

Lord God, Heavenly King, God the Father Almighty. Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son. Thou who takes away the sins of the world, Have Mercy upon us. Thou who takes away the sins of the world, Receive our prayer. Thou who sits at the right hand of the Father, Have mercy upon us. Alexa Schwartz, Greta Franke, and LuLu Scully, solo trio

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The Sixth Lesson

Luke tells of the birth of Jesus—Luke 2:1–7 Readers: Patrick Allitt (Friday evening) Dilek Huseyinzadegan (Saturday afternoon) James Raper (Saturday evening) African Noel (1994)

André Thomas

Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella

Keith Chapman (1946–1982)

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Congregational Carol

(Congregation, please stand.) ANTIOCH

Joy to the World Verse One: Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let Earth receive her King; Let ev’ry heart prepare Him room, And heav’n and nature sing. Verse Two: Joy to the Earth! The Savior reigns; Let men their songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains Repeat the sounding joy.

Verse Three: No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found. Verse Four: He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness, And wonders of His love.

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The Seventh Lesson

The Shepherds go to the Manger—Luke 2:8–16 Readers: Jan Love (Friday evening) Samantha Frischling (Saturday afternoon) Arri Eisen (Saturday evening) arr. Howard Helvey

Ding Dong Merrily on High

arr. Dan Forrest

In the Bleak Midwinter

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The Eighth Lesson

The Wise Men are led by the Star—Matthew 2:1–5, 7–11 Readers: Enku Gelaye (Friday evening) Carol E. Henderson (Saturday afternoon) Eric Nelson (Saturday evening) arr. Mack Wilberg

The First Noel Gloria (1974) III. Quoniam tu solus sanctus

John Rutter

For Thou alone art holy; Thou alone art the Lord. Thou alone art the most high, Jesus Christ. With the Holy Spirit in the Glory of God the Father. Amen

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The Ninth Lesson

(Congregation, please stand for lesson and carol.) St. John unfolds the Great Mystery of the Incarnation—John 1:1–14 Readers: Kimberly Jacob Arriola (Friday evening) Barbara Krauthamer (Saturday afternoon) Don Saliers (Saturday evening)

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O Come, All Ye Faithful

Congregational Carol

ADESTE FIDELES Descant, v. 2, arr. Sir David Willcocks Descant, v. 3, arr. Alfred Calabrese

Verse One: O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem; Come and behold Him, born the King of angels; Refrain: O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord! Verse Two: Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation, Sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above. Glory to God, all glory in the highest; Refrain Verse Three: Yea, Lord we greet Thee, born this happy morning. Jesus, to Thee be all glory given. Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing. Refrain

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The Collects for Christmas

Readers: Rev. Mark Westmoreland (Friday evening) Rev. Lyn Pace (Saturday afternoon) Rev. Maddie Henderson Herlong (Saturday evening)

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The Recessional Carol

(Congregation and Choirs) Hark! the Herald Angels Sing

MENDELSSOHN Descant, arr. Sir David Willcocks

Verse One: Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the new-born King; Peace on earth, and mercy mild; God and sinners reconciled.” Joyful, all ye nations, rise, Join the triumph of the skies; With the angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!” Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the new-born King.” Verse Two: Christ, by highest heaven adored, Christ the everlasting Lord; Late in time, behold Him come, Offspring of the virgin’s womb. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, Hail the Incarnate Deity! Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel. Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the new-born King.” Verse Three: Hail the heav’n-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Son of Righteousness! Light and life to all He brings, Ris’n with healing in His wings, Mild He lays His glory by, Born that we no more may die, Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth. Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the new-born King.”

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The Benediction

Readers: Rev. Mark Westmoreland (Friday evening) Rev. Lyn Pace (Saturday afternoon) Rev. Maddie Henderson Herlong (Saturday evening)

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The Choral Response Still, Still, Still / Silent Night

German traditional/Franz Gruber (1787–1863) arr. John Purifoy and Ruth Schram

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Emory Concert Choir

The Concert Choir is Emory’s select chamber choir. The singers in the ensemble come from across the country and around the world. All are students at the University with a wide variety of academic majors. The choir sings sacred and secular repertoire from the Middle Ages to the present, from chant to new commissions. The choir has sung at both the southern and national conventions of the American Choral Directors Association, an honor reserved for the nation’s finest choral ensembles. It has toured internationally and has sung at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, the Vatican in Rome, and the Alhambra in Seville.

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Emory University Chorus

Open to all Emory students as well as to members of the Emory community, the University Chorus holds a unique place in Emory life. Music majors and nonmajors, undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and staff, parents and their children, workers and retirees, alumni and neighbors, all come together to rehearse each Monday evening, united by their common love of singing. The chorus regularly collaborates with the Emory University Symphony Orchestra to present major works, including the 2023 performance of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana. We are eagerly anticipating the scheduled April 2024 performance of Giuseppe Verdi’s Requiem.

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Eric Nelson, director

Eric Nelson is the director of choral studies at Emory University and artistic director of Atlanta Master Chorale. Nelson’s choirs have performed throughout the world, including in London, Rome, Berlin, Moscow, Seoul, Carnegie Hall, the Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas, and the Sydney Opera House. He has conducted choirs at eight American Choral Directors Association (ACDA)

conventions, including the Atlanta Master Chorale’s performance at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis and Emory Concert Choir’s performances at Orchestra Hall in Chicago and Lincoln Center in New York City. Nelson’s ensembles are characterized by their variety of repertoire and their ability to fuse technical precision with warmth of musical expression. Nelson appears regularly as clinician, lecturer, and guest conductor for honor choirs, conventions, symposiums, workshops, and all-state choral festivals. He is also past president of the Georgia chapter of the ACDA. Nelson’s choral compositions and arrangements are sung regularly by ensembles throughout the United States. He is the editor of the Atlanta Master Chorale Choral Series, a division of Morningstar Music Publishers and EC Schirmer. His compositions are also published by Colla Voce and Augsburg Fortress. Nelson has degrees in voice and conducting from Houghton College, Westminster Choir College, and Indiana University.

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Jonathan Easter, organ

Known for his musicality and expressivity across multiple instruments, Easter is increasingly sought after as a collaborative organist and pianist. As a collaborative artist, Easter has performed at ACDA and AGO conventions at the regional and national levels. He also performs regularly with the Atlanta Master Chorale and Emory’s Concert Choir as their accompanist and assistant conductor. Easter has performed solo organ and collaborative recitals at Peachtree Road UMC; Jacoby Symphony Hall in Jacksonville, Florida; the Cathedral-Basilica of Saint Augustine, Florida; and Spivey Hall. He can be heard on multiple CDs with the Atlanta Master Chorale, University of North Florida Chamber Singers, and on Crossroads Trumpets: Masterworks for Trumpet Ensemble. In addition to his work with choral ensembles, Easter has worked on multiple occasions with solo artists including world-famous mezzo-soprano, Jamie Barton. As an organist and director, he has served several churches, including St. Paul’s by-theSea Episcopal Church in Jacksonville, Florida; Roswell Presbyterian Church, and Saint Mark United Methodist Church in Atlanta.

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Gregory Matteson, piano

Atlanta native and Emory alumni Greg Matteson is a collaborative pianist, music director, arranger/composer, and instructor. As a pianist, Matteson has accompanied many singers and choirs across the country including the Young New Yorkers Chorus, Young Peoples Chorus of NYC, and the Gwinnett Young Singers. In addition to his work at Emory, he works with the Alliance Theatre, Atlanta Ballet, and Georgia State University as a collaborative pianist and vocal coach. Matteson is also an experienced music director, having led choirs as well as other ensembles, and he often conducts musicals from the piano. In recent years, he played and conducted Ride the Cyclone at the Alliance Theatre. When not performing, Matteson arranges, orchestrates, and composes for groups including a cappella ensembles, marching bands, and video game developers. His works have earned national awards including CASA’s Collaborative Recording Award in 2013. Matteson is also an instructor and vocal coach and teaches from his studio in North Ormewood Park.

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Emory Concert Choir Soprano I

Soprano II

Alto I

Alto II

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Emory Concert Choir Tenor I

Tenor II

Bass I

Bass II

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Emory University Chorus Soprano

Barbara Antley Abigail Balson Katie Boice Angela Campbell Trinitee Dahn Mariah DeRenzo Adri Dullum Amy Dunagin Laura Everitt Samantha Frischling Candy Gao Shayne Goldstein Vivien Huang Audrey Isakov Ariella Lee Elizabeth Leslie Stephanie Lin Ashwini Narayanan Naomi Newton Lynn O’Neil Ellie Paek Elianna Paljug Zoë Pollock Diana Ricketts Emma Rollins Sonia Ryland Kat Springer Sanika Vaze Sarah Wiley Annie Ye Crystal Zhang Serena Zhou

Alto

Sarina Abrishamcar Ash Aiken Carol Allums

Alto (continued)

Lydia Bearss Alex Berman Emma Chatson Gloria Coble Rebecca Follman Ariel Gale Julia Green Melanie Green Emily Griswold Jennifer Gross Leila Hastings Sofia Hayes Rita Helfand Bryn Higdon Anika Hofmeister Savanah Jackle Mila Kocic Sia Kripalani Emily Lain Arohi Majmudar Susan Nelson Tricia Nweke Caroline Renner Kit Rice Lynn Rogers Abby Rollins Emma K. Shibley Mary Slaughter Rosalind Staib Anusha Sthanunathan Catalina Varela Kelly Weirich Phyllis Weiss Reed Winckler Serena Ye Emily Zhou

Tenor

Pranav Anand Charlie Byrne Sahrudh Dharanendra Michael Diebert Peter Duys Anthony Gacasan Ezra Greidinger Thane Henschel Davis Husk Andy James Benjamin Latting Cadence Nabors Matthew C. Nails Jack Nickles Jonathan Owen David Rogers Alex Shin Bill Stiefel

Bass

Jonathan AcklehTingle Daniel Bell Michael Blankfein Terry Chorba Kushal Daruwala Paul DeSandre Joe Follman Paul Frysh Alex Isakov Dennis Jones John Lilly Jeffrey Lin Scott Matthews Steven Mayo Geoffrey Middleton

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Emory University Chorus Bass (continued) Ed Morris Charlie Rogers Renard Sexton Michael Sorkin

Bass (continued) David Terry Patan Tippitak David Travis Daniel Weiss

Bass (continued) George Lin Wu Paulark Yan Max Yost

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Brass Ensemble

Kevin Lyons, trumpet Ryan Moser, trumpet Yvonne Toll Schneider, trumpet Jason Eklund, horn Ryan Black, trombone Bill Mann, trombone Ed Nicholson, trombone Bernard Flythe, tuba Michael Cebulski, percussion Courtney McDonald Bottoms, percussion

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Concert Choir Officers and Coordinators

Eric Albanese, Rachael Berkoff, Will Eaglesham, Karyn Lisker, LuLu Scully

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University Chorus Administrator Samantha Frischling

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Decorations for Glenn Auditorium Alvin Moore 86C, Event Design Services

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All Readers w Eric Albanese C oncert Choir President s Patrick Allitt C ahoon Family Professor of American History s Kimberly Jacob Arriola V ice Provost for Graduate Affairs; Dean of the James T. Laney School of Graduate Studies; Charles Howard Candler Professor of Behavioral, Social, and Health Education Sciences, Rollins School of Public Health s Austin Beale C oncert Choir Member u Jeremy Bell A ssociate Teaching Professor of Philosophy and Honors Coordinator s Patricia Dinkins-Matthews A ssociate Teaching Professor of Piano, Music Theory, and Collaborative Piano s Mary Grace DuPree C haplain Intern, Kennestone Hospital and Former Visiting Assistant Professor of History (Ancient and Medieval) w Arri Eisen T eaching Professor u Greta Franke C oncert Choir Member u Samantha Frischling C oncert Choir Alumna and President 17C and University Chorus Administrator s Enku Gelaye S enior Vice President and Dean of Campus Life u Carol E. Henderson V ice Provost for Diversity and Inclusion, Chief Diversity Officer, and Adviser to the President w Rev. Maddie Henderson Herlong C hristian Chaplain, Emory University u Dilek Huseyinzadegan A ssociate Professor of Philosophy u Barbara Krauthamer, D ean of Emory College of Arts and Sciences

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All Readers u Joel LeMon R ev. Dr. Donald Allen Harp, Jr. Distinguished Associate Professor of Biblical Studies s Jan Love M ary Lee Hardin Willard Dean in the Candler School of Theology s Bethany Mamola D irector of Vocal Studies w Alex Moss C oncert Choir Member w Eric Nelson P rofessor of Music and Director of Choral Studies u Rev. Lyn Pace C ollege Chaplain, Oxford College w James Raper A ssociate Vice President for Health, Well-Being, Access and Prevention w Don Saliers W illiam R. Cannon Distinguished Professor of Theology and Worship, Emeritus w Lucienne “LuLu” Scully C oncert Choir President u Heidi Aklaseaq Senungetuk A ssistant Teaching Professor of Musicology and Ethnomusicology u Evelyn Sload C oncert Choir Alumna and President 23C s Hannah Soloff C oncert Choir Alumna and President 23C w George Staib P rofessor of Practice in Theater and Dance w Laurie Ann Taylor C oncert Choir Alumna and President 15C s Rev. Mark Westmoreland S enior Pastor, Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church

s Friday evening u Saturday afternoon w Saturday evening

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Upcoming Choral Events

We hope that you have enjoyed this evening’s presentation. Please join the Department of Music and Schwartz Center for Performing Arts for these upcoming choral events at the Schwartz Center, Emerson Concert Hall. Thursday, February 8, 8:00 p.m., St. Olaf Choir, Schwartz Center, Emerson Concert Hall, $50/$10, tickets required Friday, March 15, and Saturday, March 16, 8:00 p.m., Same Light, Different Lanterns, Atlanta Master Chorale, Schwartz Center, Emerson Concert Hall, $38/$10, tickets required Sunday, April 14, 7:00 p.m., Emory Concert Choir, Schwartz Center, Emerson Concert Hall, free Friday, April 26, and Saturday, April 27, 8:00 p.m., Emory University Symphony Orchestra and University Chorus, featuring the 2024 Guest Composer Commission Winner, Schwartz Center, Emerson Concert Hall, free Friday, May 3, and Saturday, May 4, 8:00 p.m., A Cappella Soundscapes, Atlanta Master Chorale, Schwartz Center, Emerson Concert Hall, $38/$10, tickets required

Festival Program History TTT

Based on the traditional service at King’s College Chapel, Cambridge, England, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols was drawn from sources ancient and modern by E. W. Benson, Bishop of Truro in 1880, and has been observed at Emory University since 1935. Performance of Christmas music by an Emory University Chorus has been a tradition since 1925, when it began under the guidance of legendary choral music director Malcolm H. Dewey. For six years the Glee Club presented its Christmas program at First Presbyterian Church in downtown Atlanta. After the completion of Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church, the Glee Club moved the program to the Emory campus in 1931 and adopted the Nine Lessons and Carols format for the service in 1935. Dewey remained as director until 1957. In 1953 Emory College became coeducational, and this brought the first performance of the Women’s Chorale in 1955. The chorale joined in the Christmas service in 1960. William L. Lemonds became director of choral music in 1963 and introduced the singing of Once in Royal David’s City as the processional hymn. This has become one of many cherished traditions associated with the Christmas concert. Combining men’s and women’s voices since 1990, the University Chorus continues this long-standing Emory custom with its 97th service of Christmas music in 2023.

Cover Artwork African Manger The African Manger drawing is based upon a medieval stained glass window. It is drawn with ink marker and crayons. As I was creating this picture, I wanted to reflect African culture in the drawing. The colors of the glass window are more connected to the colors used in different regions across Africa. In December 2013, the picture was used on the front cover of a national multicultural worship magazine published in the United Kingdom.

About the Artist

John Stuart, pastor Erin Presbyterian Church, Knoxville, Tennessee John Stuart was born in Scotland and came to the United States with his family in 1995. He is a Presbyterian pastor at Erin Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Several years ago, Rev. Stuart discovered a new process of creating art images, which he calls “digital glass.” The process involves white paper, wax crayons, and a computer scanner. Rev. Stuart draws all sorts of images from busy street scenes, lighthouses, Appalachian mills, and even classic cars. He also specializes in religious art drawings, especially during the seasons of Lent, Easter, Advent, and Christmas. His work has been used in churches throughout the world, and he is absolutely delighted to have his art adorn the cover for Emory’s annual Nine Lessons and Carols program. Rev. Stuart’s current work can be found at stushieart.com.