The Linden Singers of Victoria ushers in the Christmas season with a concert rooted in traditional carol repertoire, gaily gift-wrapped in colourful settings. The concert features A Christmas Cantata by Geoffrey Bush and Seven Joys of Christmas by Kirke Mechem, as well as an assortment of individual, well-loved carols.
=0D=0A=English composer Geoffrey Bush wrote his Christmas Cantata in 1947. Choosing mainly English traditional carols, he wove them together into a well-constructed choral work with oboe accompaniment that retains the simple, direct spirit of the originals with subtle and fascinating harmonic touches.
=0D=0A=Kirke Mechem, an American composer, brings his unique voice to his Seven Joys of Christmas. This piece builds traditional carols into a witty, sometimes playful, setting that explores aspects of joy for Christmas. He describes his approach to composition as follows: “I don’t want to find new music ‘interesting’ in a purely intellectual way; I am impatient with novelty or experimentation for their own sake…. I want to love a piece of music, to be delighted by it, to be moved to tears or laughter or in some way taken out of myself.”
=0D=0A=Linden Singers is conducted by Music Director Brian Wismath and accompanied by pianist Aya Robertson. The concert features guest soloists, Soprano Jessica Wagner and Oboist Alexandra Pohran-Dawkins.
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