clarion.brevard.edu
Volume 85, Issue 15 Web Edition SERVING BREVARD COLLEGE SINCE 1935
December 11, 2019
A 'Festival of Nine
Lessons and Carols'
By Carmen Boone
Copy Editor
The annual “Festival of Nine Lessons and
Carols” was held on Saturday, Dec. 7 at 7:30
p.m. in Scott Concert Hall of the Porter Center.
This performance included the BC Concert
Choir and Chamber Singers, directed by Dr.
David Gresham and accompanied by Dr. Vance
Reese on the organ.
After the prelude, the processional carol,
“Once in Royal David’s City,” opened the
concert with Jannie Kurtz soloing on verse
one. The choir marched in with candles on the
following verses and were joined by Casey
Coppenbarger on the trumpet, as well as the
audience, for verse six.
The Rev. Sharad Creasman then welcomed
the audience with a prayer.
Next was “The Bidding Prayer Carol,” titled
“Zwar ist solche Herzensstube,” by J.S. Bach.
Chamber Singers sang this piece.
Following that was the first lesson read by
Anthony Zuniga. “Adam lay ybounden” by
Boris Ord was performed by the Concert Choir
after that.
The second lesson was read by Dr. Jennifer
Kafsky and followed by John Tavener’s “The
Lamb,” sung by Chamber Singers. Patrice
Foster read the fourth lesson. A congregational
carol, “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” was sung
following that.
The fourth lesson was read by Dr. Lisa Busche.
Then, the Concert Choir sang “Es ist ein Ros’
entsprungen,” by Hugo Distler. “Riu, Riu,
Chiu,” a traditional Spanish carol, was next with
solos by Jackson Ray, K’nique Eichelberger
and Anthony Zuniga. Caitlyn Cloud-Morton
played flute and Mackenzie Douglas played
tambourine.
Clyde Carter read the fifth lesson. Chamber
singers followed that with “Bogoroditse Devo”
by Sergei Rachmaninolf. The sixth lesson, read
by Shirley E. Arnold, was followed by Chamber
Singers singing Tomas Luis de Victoria’s “O
Magnum Mysterium.”
Lesson seven was read by Dr. Marie Jones.
The French carol “Noel nouvelet” followed that
with a solo by Cory Earp.
Then another congregational hymn, “God rest
you merry, gentlemen,” was sung. Dr. Charles
Wallace read the eighth lesson, which was
followed by Concert Choir singing “Lully, Lulla,
Lullay,” by Philip Stopford. Sydney Windham
soloed on that piece.
The ninth and final lesson was read by Dr.
Mary Louise Bringle. A traditional English carol,
“Joys Seven,” followed that. Rose Bricker sang
a solo to open that piece.
Then came two congregational carols, “O
Come, All Ye Faithful” and “Hark! The Herald
Angels Sing.”
The benediction was given after that, as the
Concert Choir surrounded the auditorium in the
balcony with lit candles. All the lights were out.
The concert was closed with Franz Gruber’s
“Stifle Nacht, Heilige Nacht.”
It was a truly unforgettable night filled with
beautiful music. The annual “Lessons and
Carols” was again successful and filled all with
Christmas spirit.
BC Concert Choir and Chamber Singers perform carois in Scott Concert Mali.