Knox Music Series

Sunday, April 13, 2008

4:00 p.m.

Free Admission

BRITTEN, HANDEL AND MOZART

Knox Choir, Knox Soloists and Chamber Orchestra

Earl Rivers, director

Christina Haan, organist

Benjamin Britten  Saint Nicolas Op. 42

Will Compton, tenor

Cincinnati Children’s Choir Girl Choir

Kelly Ann Westgate, director

Boys from the Cincinnati Children’s Choir Bel Canto Choir

 Robyn Lana, director

Saint Nicolas is a dramatic cantata composed by Britten in 1948 in nine scenes depicting the life of Saint Nicolas, his faith, his miracles and his enduring legacy. Saint Nicolas presents legendary incidents in the life of Nicolas, patron saint of children, seamen, and travelers. Nicolas is sung by a solo tenor, while the choirs (the Knox Choir and, in the rear loft, the Cincinnati Children’s Choir Girl Choir) transform themselves into various contrasting characters during the drama, relating the adventures with the conviction of eye-witnesses and tying the story together with their prayers and praise. An orchestra of strings, percussion, four-hand piano and organ accompanies.

G. F. Handel Organ Concerto in F Major (No. 13) HWV 295

            Christina Haan, organist

Handel's Organ Concertos were written primarily as interludes in his Oratorios. The contemporary music historian Charles Burney describes the moving sight of Handel in his old age, now completely blind, being led to the keyboard and proceeding to dazzle his audience with his improvisatory skills at the organ. The Organ Concerto in F Major (No.13) is also known as The Cuckoo and the Nightingale, as in the second movement, Allegro, of this four movement work, the organ imitates the call of the cuckoo and the lyrical song of the nightingale. Publication of the work was first announced in the London Daily Post for 8 November 1740. Christina Haan performs on Knox’s recently renovated and expanded 50-rank Holtkamp Pipe Organ.

W. A. Mozart Vesperae solennes de Dominica K. 321

Debra Van Engen and Danielle Walker, sopranos

Theresa Merrill, mezzo

Daniel O’Dea, tenor

Mather Lake, baritone

The Vesperae solennes de Dominica K. 321 composed in Salzburg in 1779 is one of a pair of Vespers, the other being the Vesperae solennes de confessore K. 339 composed in 1780. Both sets have been featured over several years on the Knox Music Series. Comprised of five psalms and the Magnificat (Song of Mary from St. Luke) for chorus, soloists, and orchestra of strings, trumpets, timpani and organ, the works display the essence of Mozart’s skill at spinning beautiful melodies, vigorous counterpoint, and expressing the dramatic qualities inherent in the Old Testament Psalms.