Mullingar Choral Society Christmas Concert on first Sunday of Advent

The annual Mullingar Choral Society Christmas Concert takes place on the first Sunday of Advent, December 1, under the direction of John White, who is known to many in the town as a director and for his work at Mullingar Arts Centre.

John is always innovative and this year is no exception, and for the first time some of the text will be projected on screens so the audience at the Cathedral of Christ the King can follow the words.

Part One: John Rutter’s spectacular ‘Gloria’, originally scored for brass, timpani, percussion, strings, harp and organ will open the concert, John White has managed an amazing arrangement with the Brass Lir Ensemble and with the talented Adam Collins on the organ.

Part Two begins with the traditional ‘O Come Emmanuel’ in an arrangement by Alice Parker and Robert Shaw adapted by John. The St Kenny National School choir will lead. Next follows ‘In the Stillness’ by Katrina Shepherd and Sally Beamish. ‘O Magnum Mysterium’ by the American composer Morten Lauridsen echoes an ancient belief that the first creatures to witness the birth of the Christ child were the animals in the manger: ‘O great mystery that living creatures should see the Lord’.

Part Three is traditionally Christmas carols, and this year it begins with John’s newly arranged ‘Christmas Medley’. Two pieces performed last year return in the form of ‘Tomorrow shall be my dancing day’ and another American, Matt Wilberg’s arrangement of ‘Ding! Dong! Merrily on high’, first written for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. The St Kenny NS choir again join the Choral Society for David Hill’s arrangement of ‘Away in a Manger’.

At that point MC, Mary Hughes, will introduce the St Kenny NS choir before the Zither Carol, a Czech folk tune arranged by the great Malcolm Sargent. Part Three ends with the much loved ‘O Holy Night’ sung by talented soprano, Joanna Fagan.

Part Four: America has provided so much secular Christmas music, particular through movies: ‘It’s the most wonderful time of the year’ and ‘Winter Wonderland’ with Joanna. From South America both choirs will sing ‘Feliz Navidad’ (Happy Christmas). For anyone who loved the wonderfully chaotic film ‘Home Alone 2’, the composer, John Williams, wrote the musical number: ‘Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas’. The Lir Brass Quartet will play in this section.

That will conclude the concert.

Tickets

Tickets for the concert are available from any choir member, online from Eventbrite or at the door on the night. We will be delighted to welcome you all.

For the last five years Stephen Cummins has been a dedicated president. The society owe him a great debt of thanks for all his hard work. “I was honoured to be elected as the next president in the summer and my hope is that I can live up to Stephen’s dedication,” said Patrick Pilkington, president, Mullingar Choral Society.