Christmas at Cathedral set for Dec. 12-13

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
Posted December 5, 2002

A Journey to Bethlehem is the theme of this year's Christmas at Cathedral slated for Dec. 12 and 13 in Sioux City.

"We wanted to program pieces of music that would lead the audience through the entire Christmas experience," noted Dr. Mark Simmons, conductor.

Christmas at Cathedral, which is a benefit for the Cathedral Arts Guild, will bring together Briar Cliff University's Cliff Singers and the Siouxland Master Chorale. A 45-piece orchestra will provide the accompaniment.

The program begins with Arvo Part's Magnificat, performed by the Cliff Singers. This Estonian composer, who has emerged as a great composer to American audiences in the last decade, couples polyponic forms and harmonies with Gregorian chant.

"The setting is when the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would be the mother of God," explained Dr. Mary Day, OSF, a member of the Cathedral Arts Guild. "This is Mary's response to the news - she is willing to do whatever God wants of her."

The Magnificat will be presented a cappella, without musical accompaniment. This will be performed in the gallery, the choir loft. She noted that the sound would be washed over the audience. The other selections will be performed from the front.

"Then we will move to an orchestral piece, which is called Noel," explained Simmons, who is director of choral activities at Briar Cliff University as well as the director of the Master Chorale. This selection by George Whitefield Chadwick, a Boston Classicist, centers on the day that Christ is born.

Next the program moves to John Rutter's Gloria that centers on people's and the angels response to the birth. Rutter is one of England's best-known composers of the 20th Century.

Performed by the Master Chorale, Dr. Day pointed out that this setting is based upon Gregorian Chant and divides into three movements. The outer movements make quite a joyful noise unto the Lord while the middle movement is more introspective and serene.

According to Simmons, the program will feature two settings of the Gloria. He expects that many people will be familiar with Rutter's version as it is one of the composers most performed selections.

"It is a very rhythmic and bright piece of music," he said.

The two choirs, Cliff Singers and Master Chorale, will come together for the final number.

"We will conclude the performance with one of the great pieces of music for the 20th Century - Francis Poulenc's Gloria," said Simmons. "Some listeners may not be as familiar with this work. I'm not sure if it has even been performed in Sioux City."

He described it as a very challenging and rewarding piece of music.

"Poulenc tries to bring the jovial and joyous out in his music," noted the conductor. "You can hear the humor and boundless enthusiasm. It requires a lot of well-developed voices."

Accompaniment by the orchestra, made up of musicians mainly from Sioux City and Sioux Falls, enriches the musical experience to an even greater level.

"It adds so much color and a sense of roundness and strength behind the performance," said Simmons.

Tickets, available for a $15 donation, may be purchased at Briar Cliff University, (712) 279-5321; Cathedral of the Epiphany, (712) 255-1637 or Central Catholic Offices, (712) 255-7933. If the performances have not been sold out, tickets will be available at the door. Doors open at 7:15 p.m.

Proceeds from this event will help the Cathedral Arts Guild sponsor other performances. In March, the guild will host a performance by the New England Spiritual Ensemble that will present African American spirituals.