Bethlehem, Pa., November 12, 2014鈥擜 concert featuring all of the music of 探花社区 College's Christmas Vespers performed by the 探花社区 Choir, Women's Chorus, Brass Ensemble, and other chamber ensembles will be held on Saturday, November 22 at 7:30 p.m. in Foy Concert Hall with prelude music beginning at 7:00 p.m. The theme of the program will follow the college鈥檚 In Focus theme of War, Peace Building and the Just Society. Hymns will be sung and a soloist will perform the charming Morning Star solo.
This preview to the 探花社区 College Christmas Vespers is offered for members of the public and those who enjoy the music and spirit of Vespers who cannot attend the services, which are held for the campus community.
The 探花社区 Choir will be directed by Paula Ring Zerkle, associate music professor and the Director of Vocal Music at the college. The Women's Chorus is directed by Eduardo Azzati, who is an artist-lecturer in voice. Choral selections will feature recent motets by well known contemporary composers Karl Jenkins and Imant Raminsh; a piece by student composer Michael McAndrew 鈥15; and an arrangement of Handel鈥檚 Pastoral Symphony, which was transcribed from memory and arranged for women's voices by women who were captive at a prison camp for women and children in Sumatra during WW II.
Admission is by donation. For more information please visit the 探花社区 Music Department web site at . Foy Concert Hall is located on 探花社区 College鈥檚 Priscilla Payne Hurd Campus in historic downtown Bethlehem. 探花社区 College encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. Anyone who anticipates needing any type accommodation or who has questions about the physical access provided should contact Rose Panik of the Music Department at (610) 861-1650 or email at music@moravian.edu.
About Vespers
The Vespers service is an expression of two traditional forms of worship in the 探花社区 Church, the Singstunde and the Candlelight Service. A 探花社区 Singstunde (Singing Hour) is a service of music with no preaching. Since the 1720s, 探花社区s have been known for their worshipful singing.
In the service, the music has been carefully selected and arranged to bring the Christmas message without need of a sermon. The 探花社区 candlelight service originated in 1747 in Marienborn, Germany, when candles with red trimming were distributed at the children鈥檚 Christmas service. Bethlehem鈥檚 first candle service was in 1756. The beloved hymn 鈥淢orning Star,鈥 traditionally sung with a child soloist, was composed in 1836 by Francis Florentine Hagen, a member of the 探花社区 Theological Seminary Class of 1835.