Rackham Choir | Rackham Choir Virtual Holiday Series 2020

December 30, 2020: Antonio Vivaldi – “Gloria in D Major”, RV598

During this holiday season, we continue our effort to bring music to you and to uplift you and your family. Rackham choir will offer a diverse selection of carols and songs of the season and bring the music to you virtually.

In the last installment of the series, Rackham Choir is offering Antonio Vivaldi’s “Gloria in D Major” RV598, simply known as the Vivaldi “Gloria” due to its outstanding popularity.

The Gloria was most likely composed in 1715, during Vivaldi’s employment at the Pio Ospedale della Pietà, known for its advanced choral ensemble. While today the piece enjoys well-founded popularity – performed at many events during the holiday season and featured in many movies – it remained in a relatively unknown status until 1939.

Our virtual recording edition features Joseph Jackson playing the 54 rank Centennial organ at the First Presbyterian Church of Royal Oak and members of the choir recorded from their homes in the Fall of 2020.

To view the complete series of our holiday virtual recordings please visit https://rackhamchoir.org/rackham-choir-virtual-holiday-series-2020/

For more information about the Rackham Choir and how to audition, click here: https://rackhamchoir.org

To donate in support of the choir, click here: http://rackhamchoir.org/donate

#TogetherApart #Quarantunes #Rackhamchoir

December 24, 2020: “Stille Nacht” – “Silent Night “

In this installment, Rackham Choir is offering the carol “Stille Nacht”, composed in 1818 by Franz Xaver Gruber to lyrics by Joseph Mohr of Austria. It was first performed on Christmas Eve 1818 at the St Nicholas parish church in Oberndorf, Salzburg. The carol has been performed around the world by choirs in different languages and is most popular in German or English.

Rackham Choir wishes you all a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday!

For more information about the Rackham Choir and how to audition, click here: https://rackhamchoir.org

To donate in support of the choir, click here: http://rackhamchoir.org/donate

#TogetherApart #Quarantunes #Rackhamchoir

December 22, 2020: “Nenia di Gesù Bambino”

Presented by Rackham Choir in its most famous harmonization, written by Luigi Pigarelli for the renowned Coro della SAT, the “Nenia di Gesù Bambino” is a traditional Christmas song from Piedmont, Italy. Differently from most carols, here the center of the stage is taken by St. Joseph, singing a sweet lullaby to a crying Baby Jesus and letting him play with his beard. The lyrics are partly in Italian and partly in Piedmontese, the dialect spoken in the northwestern Italian region on the border with France, possibly making it sound even more soothing and moving.

For more information about the Rackham Choir and how to audition, click here: https://rackhamchoir.org

To donate in support of the choir, click here: http://rackhamchoir.org/donate

#TogetherApart #Quarantunes #Rackhamchoir

December 17, 2020: Il est né, le Divin Enfant – He is born, the Heav’nly Child

In this installment, Rackham Choir is offering the carol “Il est né, Le Divin Enfant-He is born, the Heav’nly Child”. The text of the carol details the birth of Jesus as foretold by the prophets. The song was first published in 1862 by R. Grosjean in a collection of carols entitled Airs des Noëls lorraine

For more information about the Rackham Choir and how to audition, click here: https://rackhamchoir.org

To donate in support of the choir, click here: http://rackhamchoir.org/donate

#TogetherApart #Quarantunes #Rackhamchoir

December 14, 2020: “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”

In this installment, Rackham Choir is offering the carol “We wish You a Merry Christmas,” that was traditionally sung in part of the West Country of England. It was made popular by Arthur Warrell when he performed with his choir a 4 part arrangement in 1935 at the University of Bristol. It is a timeless classic that is still sung every year around the Christmas Holidays.

Would you like to send a Merry Christmas card personalized by Rackham Choir just for you? Click here: https://rackhamchoir.org/merry-christmas-virtual-greeting-card/.

Recently Rackham Choir participated in the “Hallelujah Project”, a virtual choir performance of the finale to Too Hot To Handel, which premiered Saturday December 12, 2020. Too Hot To Handel: The Gospel Messiah is an original concept commissioned by Marin Alsop and co-arranged by Bob Christianson and Gary Anderson, (c)1993, 2009 (rev) TOO HOT, LLC.

The performance features the Too Hot Rhythm Section joined by “Blue Lou” Marini (tenor sax), The Voices of Santa Fe, members of Too Hot Chicago Choir at the Auditorium Theatre, the Colorado Symphony Chorus, Rackham Choir at the Detroit Opera House, the Sao Paolo Symphony Choir, The Carter Legacy Singers, and the Morgan State University Choir, with guest conductor Marin Alsop. You can view the virtual performance here:

For more information about the Rackham Choir and how to audition, click here: https://rackhamchoir.org

To donate in support of the choir, click here: http://rackhamchoir.org/donate

#TogetherApart #Quarantunes #Rackhamchoir

December 8, 2020: “S’Vivon”

In this installment, In this installment, Rackham Choir is offering the traditional Chanukah favorite, “S’vivon.” The song evokes the celebratory nature of Chanukah, imploring the Dreidel to “sov, sov, sov,” or “spin, spin, spin!” as a reminder that Chanukah “hu chag tov” (Hanukkah is indeed a good holiday).

Would you like to send a Hanukkah virtual card personalized by Rackham Choir just for you? Contact us at administration@rackhamchoir.org and we’ll tell you how!

For more information about the Rackham Choir and how to audition, click here: https://rackhamchoir.org

To donate in support of the choir, click here: http://rackhamchoir.org/donate

#TogetherApart #Quarantunes #Rackhamchoir