rejoice

Sunday, December 5, 2004 at 7 pm

Sound the trumpets, beat the drums and unleash the mighty Disney Hall organ. We’ve decked the Disney with the best of Baroque composers and the Hall will resound with thrilling antiphonal effects. A flourish of Gabrieli’s stirring Venetian motets with brass, originally performed in St. Mark’s Basilica, heralds the holidays. We travel northward to Germany with Bach’s Jesu’, Joy of Man’s Desiring followed by the third installment of our multi-year presentation of the composer’s Christmas Oratorio. The fourth cantata focuses on the Feast of the Circumcision and rejoices in the naming day of Jesus, celebrated eight days after Christmas.

Next, Pachelbel’s Magnificat in G, one of the numerous Magnificat fugues that the 17th century German parish musician wrote for the Lutheran evening service of Vespers. The pure and uplifting In dulci jubilo and Lo How a Rose show off the rich and varied writing of German music theorist and composer Michael Praetorius. Angels trumpet the glory of God as Handel’s mighty Hallelujahs from Messiah close our concert with a final thunderous “Amen.” Glad tidings to all from the Master Chorale!

“Organissimo! If the Walt Disney Concert Hall organ isn't the world's best sounding one, it's close, and none compares to its beauty.” Read Mark Swed's Los Angeles Times review of Frederick Swann's organ premiere concert. And download a behind-the-scenes illustration of the organ. more

Download a guide to the season: chorale-seasonguide0405.pdf, 808KB