“The Joy of Christmas” perfectly describes the festive concert presented by the Cathedral Choral Society for the past 65 years. Once again, the magnificent Washington National Cathedral provides the setting that unites ancient and contemporary traditions.
The program features solos on the organ and the carillon by Scott Dettra and Edward Nassor respectively, guest appearances by the Washington Symphonic Brass and the Children’s Chorus of Washington, and the 200-voice choir conducted by J. Reilly Lewis. In addition to the beloved traditional carols and seasonal works, two commissioned carols were composed in memory of Canon Emeritus Richard Wayne Dirksen, the Cathedral’s former organist-choirmaster and precentor. One was written by jazz legend Dave Brubeck, the other by British composer John Tavener.
“Dave Brubeck has deep roots with the Cathedral that go back to the 1960s,” Lewis says. “In memory of his long friendship with Wayne, he composed the music for ‘Every Christmas I Hear Bells’ and his wife wrote the text. Dave has enormous hands that span twelve notes, so he sits at the piano and finds cool sounds. In this carol, his chord clusters are interwoven with the sound of the carillon. The organ has synthesizer capacities that allow it to reproduce the sound of the bells as an ostinato accompaniment that’s repetitious, like a mantra, beneath the voices.
“Tavener and Dirksen were close friends. Both were very tall and when they walked together, Tavener’s long hair flowing, it was an impressive sight. The carol he composed is introspective and mystical with existential influences. The music is slow, thoughtful and eerie as it evolves from F minor to A Major. The text is reflective and repetitive with the word ‘Remember’ repeated for a number of measures before it breaks in with the passage ‘Angels all did sing.’ This is a bright, ecstatic dance-like section that returns to a slow and reflective ending.”
The Cathedral Choral Society has a grueling December schedule of rehearsals and concerts, not resting until the last performance of Handel’s “Messiah” in the Kennedy Center on Christmas Eve. The subscription season picks up again in March with a concert hosting the a cappella ensemble Anonymous 4, followed by a joint performance of Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana” with The Washington Ballet, once again in the Kennedy Center. The season climax comes in May with a concert celebrating the city-wide Shakespeare Festival.
“For that event, we’re performing ‘Death of Ophelia’ by Berlioz, ‘Serenade to Music’ by Vaughan Williams and Walton’s Film music from ‘Henry V’ with wonderful narratives by Andrew Long, a principal actor with the Shakespeare Theatre,” Lewis says. “The cathedral will be turned into what it traditionally was in medieval Britain, a colorful place where choirs, madrigal groups and jugglers mingle with worshippers and vendors.”
‘The Joy of Christmas’
The Cathedral Choral Society presents “The Joy of Christmas” at 7:30 p.m. Friday and 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Venue: Washington National Cathedral, Massachusetts and Wisconsin Avenues NW, Washington
Tickets: $20 to $65
More info: 202-537-8980 or www.cathedralchoralsociety.org
