The annual Holiday Concert at Washington State University will include seasonal music from classics to pops at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, in Bryan Hall.
Tickets will be for sale at the door beginning one hour before the concert. Prices are $10 general admission, $5 students and seniors 60-plus and free for children 12 and under.
Performing in Renaissance-style costumes, the Madrigal Singers, conducted by Lori Wiest, will present traditional carols and seasonal poetry set to music by contemporary composers. Selections will include Morten Lauridsen’s setting of “O Magnum Mysterium,” Brian Kay’s arrangement of “Gaudete,” and John Ratledge’s new setting of “My Gift,” with words by Christina G. Rossetti.
The University Singers, directed by Dean Luethi, will present two selections. “Hanerot Halalu” is a song for Hanukkah written by Baruch Cohon and arranged by Blanche Chass. It is traditionally sung after reciting the Hanukkah blessings as additional lights are lit on the menorah. Alice Parker and Robert Shaw’s arrangement of the traditional Catalan Christmas carol “Fum, Fum, Fum” is an onomatopoetic work that imitates the sound of guitar strumming.
The Concert Choir, conducted by Wiest and accompanied by Alberto Ferro, will perform John Garner’s setting of “Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day,” Robert Young’s arrangement of “Veni, Veni, Emmanuel,” and Alf Houkom’s arrangement of “Ding Dong Merrily on High.”
The Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Matthew Aubin, will present the “Characteristic Dances” and “Waltz of the Flowers” from Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker.”
The choirs and orchestra will join for two pieces. A portion of Vivaldi’s “Magnificat,” also known as the song (or canticle) of Mary, taken from the Gospel of Luke, will be performed. It is scored for chorus, chamber orchestra, two oboes and two soprano soloists. Leroy Anderson’s popular “Sleigh Ride” was composed for orchestra in 1948. Lyrics were written by Mitchell Parish in 1950.
