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Holiday concerts

Our holiday concerts are comprised of adventurous arrangements of traditional holiday themes and modern compositions relating to the winter holdays.
  • E’en So, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come - Paul Manz (1919-2009) This Advent motet contains lyrics written by the Chicago/Minnesota composer’s wife, Ruth. The anthem grew out of their feelings of grief and prayerful hope while at the bedside of their severely ill 3-year old son.
  • Illuminare, Jerusalem - Judith Weir (b.1954) Weir wrote Illuminare in 1985 for the world-famous men and boys choir of King’s College. (The octavo calls for a few brief organ riffs that Coriolis has omitted.) The text originates from a 15th century Scottish manuscript.
  • Alleluya, A New Work is Come on Hand - Peter Wishart (1921-1984) This vibrant, cascading piece with 15th century English text is the third of a set by the British professor, Three Carols. The set also includes There is No Rose of Such Virtue and Lullay, Lay, Lay.
  • Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming - arr. David Maddux (b. 1954) This lush arrangement of a traditional standard is a Coriolis favorite. Maddux is an active composer, arranger, and conductor. He is also a trained chef and a synaesthete.
  • Bogoroditsye Dyevo - Arvo Pärt (b. 1935) Estonian composer Pärt has written an amazing version of the Hail Mary prayer, best known from the traditional 1915 setting by Sergei Rachmaninoff in the All-Night Vigil.
  • Silent Night - arr. Gene Puerling (1929 - 2008) The incomparable singer and arranger, Puerling has produced the definitive arrangement of the original Franz Gruber carol.

Spring concerts

Our spring concerts are even more varied. Last spring we drew from Maurice Durufle, Giuseppe Verdi, Francis Poulenc, Orland di Lasso and Benjamin Britten.
  • Hymn to St. Cecilia - Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) With Op. 27 Britten joined a long tradition of composers honoring the patron saint of music. (Britten was also born on St. Cecilia’s Day). The text was written between 1940 and 1942 by W. H. Auden at the composer’s request.
  • Lux Aurumque - Eric Whitacre (b. 1970) The song features all the hallmarks of a Whitacre choral composition – dense chords and tonal clusters, unexpected harmonic progressions, and a sustained, lyrical beauty.
  • She Walks in Beauty - David Foltz (1911 - 1992) This appealing secular text, an early 19th century work by Lord Byron, is set to flowing harmonies with multiple tempo changes and opportunities for expressive rubato.
  • Dieu! Qu’il la Fait Bon Regarder! - Claude Debussy (1862-1918) Debussy’s lilting love song is the first in his Trois Chanson published in 1908 and showcases his brilliant harmonic techniques. The text comes from prince and poet Charles d’Orléans of the early 15th century.
  • America - arr. Gene Puerling (1929 - 2008) America the Beautiful" as arranged by the incomparable master of vocal jazz. Music by Samuel Ward (1847-1903), words by Katharine Lee Bates (1859-1929).
  • Ronde - Maurice Ravel (1835-1937) Trois Chansons – Ronde is the third in the set – mark a rare venture into choral music for the Impressionist Ravel. Even more unusual, they are one of only two works for which the composer wrote the texts himself.