First United Methodist Church • 625 Hamilton Avenue, Palo Alto
Mission Santa Clara • 500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara
– General $30 • Premium $50 • Young Audience $10
– FREE SHUTTLE on 12/9 at Mission Santa Clara from the Main Parking Structure (Palm Drive) to the front door of the Mission.
Winter 2023 – “A Candlelit Homecoming”
This enchanting winter season, the Peninsula Women’s Chorus welcomes you to relish the love, security, and warmth of an eagerly anticipated homecoming after a long journey lost in a snow-covered landscape.
Delve into the captivating world of snow, exploring the myriad Inuit words with R. Murray Schafer’s gently atmospheric “Snowforms”; discover the precise mathematical beauty of Estonian composer Veljo Tormis’ “Talvemustrid” (Winter Patterns); and be immersed in the poignant emotions and tragedy of Carol Barnett’s evocative “Winter, Snow.”
Highlights include Johannes Brahms’ “Es tönt ein voller Harfenklang” from Vier Gesänge, op. 17; Giovanni Gabrieli’s glorious “O Magnum Mysterium” for double chorus; David Lang’s contemporary masterpiece “i lie,” which explores the sacred aspect of waiting; and Michael Bussewitz-Quarm’s moving setting of “Nigra Sum,” dedicated to refugees worldwide and all who undertake difficult journeys toward a better life. Our concert journey concludes with heartwarming carols, including a new-to-PWC arrangement of “Silent Night” and John Rutter’s joyfully refined “Candlelight Carol.”
We hope this musical journey warms your heart as much as the joyous homecoming that awaits!
Concert Teaser:
View Concert Program PDF
Concert Program
- O Come, O Come Emmanuel Elaine Hagenberg
- O Magnum Mysterium
Giovanni Gabrieli
Arr: Anne K. Hege
- Ani Ma'amin
John Leavitt
Arr: John Leavitt
- Nigra Sum
Michael Bussewitz-Quarm
In 2016, the United Nations identified 13.5 million Syrians requiring humanitarian assistance, of which more than 6 million were internally displaced within Syria, and over 4.8 million were refugees outside of Syria.
- In the Bleak Midwinter
Gustav Holst
Trad. English
- Four Songs 1. Es tönt ein voller Harfenklang Johannes Brahms
- Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird
Anne K. Hege
Arr: Anne K. Hege
- Snow Alan Vincent
- Snowforms R. Murray Schafer
- Winter Snow Carol Barnett
- Lift Thine Eyes from "Elijah" Felix Mendelssohn
- I lie David Lang
- Talvemustrid ("Winter Patterns")
Veljo Tormis
Winter Patterns from the series Looduspildid (“Nature Pictures”): Talvehommik, Külm, Tuisk, Virmalised
- Veni, Emmanuel! Zachary D. Steele
- Latvian Carol (Gentle Snow)
Arr: Andrejs Janson
- Candlelight Carol John Rutter
- Silent Night
Franz Xaver Gruber
Arr: John Rutter