FARMINGTON – The UMF Community Chorus and chamber orchestra will present an all-Bach program at 3 p.m., on Sunday, Dec. 4, in Nordica Auditorium on the University of Maine at Farmington campus.
Under the direction of Dr. Bruce G. McInnes, the all-Bach program will open with “Cantata 51” (“Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen”) for solo soprano, solo trumpet, strings and continuo. The featured soloist with be Sharon Fennema, soprano, and the virtuoso solo trumpet part will be played by Michelle Kingston. The Cantata opens with a spirited da capo aria. This is followed by a recitative and arioso. Then comes the Chorale (“Sei Lob und Preis mit ehren”) with the soloist singing the cantus firmus, and the piece concludes with the brilliant and well-known “Alleluia”!
Cantata #51 will be followed by sections 1 and 3 of the “Weihnachts Oratorium,” (Christmas Oratorio) – one of Bach’s truly enduring masterpieces, and certainly the most popular of his Christmas Choral works. It is full of exuberance and excitement for the Chorus, but also contains some very tender solo and duet singing accompanied by woodwinds. The traditional Chorale movements help hold the work together while commenting on the story being told.
The part of the Evangelist (or Narrator) is being sung by Daniel Woodward, tenor. Other soloists include Kathryn Sytsma, soprano; Jane Parker, mezzo-soprano; Sam Sytsma, singing both counter-tenor and baritone; and Paul Stancioff, bass. The 60-member UMF Community Chorus will be accompanied by an instrumental ensemble of 14 players.
Tickets are $8 for adults; $6 for seniors, and free for younger students and those with a UMF I.D.
