“From Grief to Glory”
Sunday, March 24, 7:30 p.m.
The Chancel Choir and orchestra present two shorter works for Holy Week: Stabat Mater by Paul Mealor and Requiem by John Rutter. Paul Mealor is a contemporary Welsh composer who became famous through his “Ubi Caritas” that was sung at the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton in 2011. The work is a new setting of an ancient text that dates to the 14th Century. The poetic prayer details Mary’s anguish at the foot of the cross and asks that we might share in her grief so that we may better relate to the sacrifice Jesus made for humankind. The music portrays her passion and love for her Son in a very profound way. The performance by the Chancel Choir will be the North American premier of this arrangement. Rutter’s “Requiem” is one of the most important choral works of the late 20th century. It is a work based upon the traditional Requiem liturgy but also includes texts from Psalm 23, Psalm 130 and John 11. Rutter’s “Requiem” is a work of great comfort and compassion.
“The Crucifixion”
Sunday, March 10, 3:00 p.m.
A choral concert featuring combined choirs from Central Florida singing “The Crucifixion” by English composer Sir John Stainer. The familiar chorus “God So Loved the World” is an excerpt from this oratorio. The concert is sponsored by the Central Florida Chapter of the American Guild of Organists and will be directed by Benjamin Lane, Parish Musician at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church of Downtown Orlando. The oratorio will be accompanied by the 79 rank Aeolian/Skinner/Dyer sanctuary organ.
“O Come, All Ye Faithful”
Chancel Choir with orchestra annual Christmas concert
December 16, 2012 – 7:30 p.m.
Tradition! The annual Christmas Concert at First United Methodist has become a wonderful holiday tradition celebrating our Savior’s birth through glorious music of the season. Sung by the Chancel Choir and accompanied by full orchestra, the concert offers a panorama of emotions and creativity as the music illuminates and proclaims the blessed story of angels, shepherds, kings and the Infant Holy. Traditional carols are a part of everyone’s Christmas celebration and we never tire of hearing the beloved melodies. This year’s concert includes the beloved carols “The First Nowell,” “Joy to the World,” “Go, Tell It on the Mountain,” “O Holy Night” and “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” all accompanied by the kaleidoscopic colors of the symphony orchestra. Arrangements by Mack Wilberg, Music Director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Dan Forrest, one of the rising names in choral music in the early years of the 21st century, and John Rutter, the renowned contemporary English composer who has a special affinity for Christmas music, are represented in our concert repertoire and bring brilliance to the program. In addition to the traditional carols of Christmas we always include newly composed works in our concerts. Composers will forever be inspired by the Christmas story and their new creations give us fresh understanding of scripture and verse. The blending of old and new, familiar and unknown, gives us a splendid adventure revisiting the story we know so well.
Please join us as we re-tell through music God’s ineffable gift to His people. The concert will be presented on Sunday evening, December 16, at 7:30 pm in the sanctuary. This program, titled “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” is free and is a gift from the “Friends of Music” to the congregation and community. Van transportation to the concert will be available from the downtown high-rise apartments by reservations made through the church office. Parking will be available in the underground garage, Asbury/Ledbetter surface lot, the Signature Parking Garage (corner of Jackson and Magnolia with access on Jackson) and the Orange County Parking Garage across Rosalind Avenue from the church.
Program:
Alleluia, Rejoice – J. Edmund Hughes
Prelude: How Brightly Shines the Morning Star – J. Robert Hanson
There Shall a Star From Jacob Shining – Felix Mendelssohn
Arise, Shine – Dan Forrest
O Holy Night – arr. Mack Wilberg
Away in a Manger – arr. Neil Harmon
Gesu Bambino – arr. Dan Goeller
A Christmas Carol – Stan Cording
The Hands That First Held Mary’s Child – Dan Forrest
Joy to the World – Joseph Willcox Jenkins
O Come, All Ye Faithful – arr. Dan Forrest
A Christmas Festival of Carols – arr. Dan Forrest
Go, Tell it on the Mountain – arr. John Rutter
Carol of Joy – Dan Forrest
The First Nowell – arr. Mack Wilberg
Angels From the Realms of Glory – arr. Mack Wilberg
April 29, 2012
The Candler Singers is a choir of seminary students from the Methodist seminary in Emory University. The 20 singers are all students of theology preparing for ministry. Directing the choir is Rev. Barbara Day Miller, assistant director of Worship and Music at Candler.
The Voices of Resurrection is a 20 member, auditioned ensemble from The Church of the Resurrection in suburban Kansas City. The group sings a variety of musical styles but concentrates mostly on the Jazz idiom. The choir is in Florida to sing a special concert at General Conference as they represent the largest Methodist church in America with 7,430 members attending worship each week.
La Porte High School String Orchestra
March 25, 11 a.m. worship
On Sunday, March 25, the La Porte High School String Orchestra, La Porte, Texas, will provide service music for our 11 o’clock worship. Included in their repertoire will be “Adagio” by Tomaso Albinoni and “Pavanne” by Peter Warlock. Highlighting the visit will be a combination of the orchestra with the Chancel Choir as they offer a transcription of “Pie Jesu” by Gabriel Faure.
Meet the Composer – Joesph M. Martin
Sunday, February 5, in 11 a.m. worship and at a 4 p.m. recital
Composer/Pianist Joseph M. Martin is our guest for a revival of our “Meet the Composer” weekend. Mr. Martin is one of the most prolific and respected composers of choral anthems and musicals in our time. He serves Shawnee Press as Director of Sacred Publications in addition to his constant schedule as artist and clinician. He is a graduate of Furman University and the University of Texas when he received a Master of Music in Piano Performance degree. He has played with symphony orchestras in America and South America in addition to solo recitals throughoutAmerica. As a composer his diverse musical styles can be heard in almost every church and public school in our country but also in Carnegie Hall or the Lawrence Welk Theater in Branson, Missouri. A native of South Carolina, his “down home” presentation always brings a special warmth to his recitals in addition to his outstanding musical artistry. Mr. Martin will direct our Chancel Choir in worship on February 5 and then will present a piano recital of his hymn arrangements and original compositions at 4 p.m. that afternoon in our sanctuary.
The Festival Singers of Florida
Saturday, January 21, 8:00 p.m. $10.00, tickets at the door
The Festival Singers of Florida is a highly select, auditioned choral ensemble consisting of women and men from throughout Florida. Several advocates of choral music have joined together to create a choir that will serve singers and patrons of Central Florida. Dr. Kevin Fenton serves as the ensemble’s conductor.
Our mission is “to provide an artistic outlet and promote musical growth for outstanding singers in Florida. The Festival Singers of Florida is dedicated to expanding the awareness and appreciation of the choral arts in Central Florida and the Southeast by providing community performances of the highest quality.”
The King’s Brass
Thursday, January 12, 7:30 p.m., in the sanctuary
The King’s Brass is led by Tim Zimmerman and features three trumpets, three trombones, tuba, percussion and keyboards. Formed over 30 years ago, the group is made up of professional musicians from across the country. More than a musical ensemble, the King’s Brass shares their faith along with their excellent musical ability as they use their instruments to lead others in praise and worship. Their innovative, entertaining and inspiring concerts have pleased audiences and critics throughout America as they travel to every part of our country. They have recorded 14 albums that represent a mixture of standard hymn arrangements, folk songs and contemporary pieces. The concert is free and will be presented in the sanctuary at 7:30 p.m.
“What Child Is This?” Annual Chancel Choir Christmas Concert with Orchestra
December 19, at 7:30, our Chancel Choir presented its annual formal concert with full orchestra in the sanctuary. This year the title was “What Child Is This?” taken from one of the wonderful arrangements offered for your enjoyment. The glorious sounds of the symphony orchestra, the beauty of the human voice and the superb acoustics of the newly renovated sanctuary make this program a special holiday gift to the congregation and community. Familiar carols in majestic arrangements included in this year’s program were: “The First Noel,” “What Child Is This?” “Deck the Halls,” “Sing We Now of Christmas,” “Gesu Bambino” “Angels from the Realms of Glory” and, back from 2010,“The Twelve Days of Christmas.” Many other exciting seasonal works from great composers round out the concert. This annual concert is offered free of charge as a gift to the community by the Friends of Music.
“Ding Dong Desserts” The handbell choirs ring Christmas music
December 15, at 7 p.m., our two bell choirs reprised their very successful “Ding Dong Desserts” program from last year. The crystalline sound of handbells work so well with Christmas music that you might imagine handbells were invented just for the Christmas season. This program was in our vibrant new gathering place.
“Sing We Now of Christmas” A Christmas concert by our women’s ensemble, One Voice, and our men’s quartet, Him Tunes.
December 11, at 4 p.m., One Voice and Him Tunes offered a delightful afternoon of holiday music, the first concert ever in the new chapel. One Voice, our women’s trio, and Him Tunes, our men’s quartet, shared the concert, singing Christmas music from their respective repertoires but also coming together for several combined numbers. Whether singing separately or creating a new octet, they offered us a great way to start our holiday programming. Adding the beauty of our new chapel to the afternoon made this a special treat.
