Come hear Cascadia help “Portland’s Choir” celebrate the season with three works by Cascadia composers: John Hidalgo‘s Lux Aeterna, Robert Lockwood‘s Ave Maria, and Dawn Sonntag‘s I Heard the Bells. The theme of the Yuletide concerts is “And on Earth, Peace,” and seasonal selections include movements of Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Dona Nobis Pacem and Franz Biebl’s Ave Maria, among others. Read what our composers have to say about their works below!
For tickets, click here. Tickets are $18 for adults/seniors in advance, $25 at the door. Students tickets are $5 in advance and at the door. $5 Arts for All tickets are available at the door with an Oregon Trail Card.
More info about Choral Arts Ensemble’s current season!
John Hidalgo says: ‘Lux Aeterna’ may seem an unusual text for Christmas time. But with the state of the world today, the longing for peace and light is certainly on everyone’s mind. In fact, eternal light is the ultimate promise of Christmas. So it is presented here, in the optimism of the season, as a wish for the future.
Robert Lockwood says: The women’s ensemble In Mulieribus commissioned this setting of the text from which the group takes its name. Inspired by the group’s tone and blend it was composed mostly in one sitting in June 2016. Additional inspiration was taken from Josquin des Prez’ Ave Maria, especially the final section of the work.
Dawn Sonntag says: This piece combines four verses of Longfellow’s “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” [also known as Christmas Bells] with lines from his epic poem, Hiawatha. Longfellow wrote Christmas Bells in response to the Civil War. His poem “Hiawatha” was inspired by Chief Hiawatha, a follower of The Great Peacemaker.