St. Charles Singers — Candlelight Carols

The St. Charles Singers, led by founder and music director Jeffrey Hunt, will welcome acclaimed string ensemble Kontras Quartet as first-time guest artists for the 42nd annual edition of the choir’s Candlelight Carols program.

The holiday program will offer seasonal songs for choir and string quartet, string quartet works, and a cappella carols.

“A string quartet adds a special dimension to a choir’s sound,” Hunt says, “and we’re eager for audiences to experience it.”

Hunt hails the Chicago-based Kontras Quartet as “an exceptionally talented ensemble.” Its cellist, Jean Hatmaker, has previously performed with the St. Charles Singers.

“Creative collaboration”
The mixed-voice chamber choir and string quartet will perform together in three works, all in the first half of the program, titled "Contemplation.”

“Music for choir and string quartet is a rare breed,” Hunt says. “Putting this program together was a true creative collaboration between ensembles.”

J. S. Bach’s “O Little One Sweet” will be heard in an unusual format: Each member of the string quartet will play as a member of a choir section. The first and second violins will perform the same music as the sopranos and altos, the viola will play the tenor part, the cello the bass part.

“We’re all literally on the same page,” Hunt says. “This isn’t something you’d undertake with just any string quartet.”

Also for choir and strings is Ola Gjeilo’s “Sacred Heart” (Ubi Caritas III), whose opening words, in Latin, mean “Where charity and love are, God is there.” Though it’s not a Christmas work, Hunt says, “Its spirituality and reflective mood fit perfectly into the program’s first half.”

Gjeilo, a contemporary Norwegian composer, is renowned for his lush, cinematic choral music that evokes Scandinavian landscapes.

In “Sacred Heart,” the string players embellish the choral setting rather than echo the choir’s voices, Hunt says.

Receiving its world premiere is Nathaniel Adams’ “Lux Brumalis” (Wintry Light) in the composer’s new arrangement for choir and strings. It was commissioned by the St. Charles Singers, as was the original version for voices and piano.

Each movement begins with a string interlude that sets the atmosphere for the singers.

Also on the program's first half are two a cappella choral works: Kenneth Leighton's richly harmonic "Lully, Lulla, Thou Little Tiny Child” and Morten Lauridsen's melodic and colorful "O Magnum Mysterium," evoking the mystery of the Nativity, plus a set of string quartet compositions.

The Kontras Quartet will play cellist Hatmaker’s own arrangement of the American Christmas carol and folk hymn "I Wonder as I Wander,” written in 1933 by American folklorist and composer John Jacob Niles.

They’ll also favor listeners with the famous “Andante cantabile” movement from Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s String Quartet No. 1 in D Major, Op. 11. Based on a Ukrainian folk song, the quartet’s sentimental and romantic second movement became an instant hit for the composer and remains one of the best-loved pieces of string quartet music.

In addition to Hatmaker, Kontras Quartet members include violinists Olya Prohorova and Sherri Zhang and violist Ben Weber.

Candlelight Carols’ "Celebration"-themed second half includes Gjeilo's fresh reimagining of the traditional English carol "The Holly and the Ivy"; John McCarthy's rhythmic, joyous arrangement of "The Little Drummer Boy”; and Alice Parker and Robert Shaw's arrangement of "Masters in This Hall," a brisk work with soaring soprano and baritone solos, and the duo’s buoyant, lighthearted "I Saw Three Ships,” where voices simulate the sounds of holiday chimes.

Also: Ben Parry's virtuosic, jazz-infused arrangement of "Jingle Bells," originally written for the Swingle Singers; Carolyn Jennings' brisk, festive arrangement of "O Yule, Full of Gladness"; Jean Alain's joyful version of the French Renaissance carol "Noël nouvelet"; Michael Head's sensitive and serene "The Little Road to Bethlehem"; and David Willcocks' energetic arrangement of "Deck the Hall."

For their traditional Candlelight Carols finale, the St. Charles Singers will assemble around three sides of the sanctuary for a surround-sound rendition of “Silent Night,” arranged by Willcocks and local choral director, composer, and educator Robert Boyd of Westmont, Illinois.

This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council.

Tickets and information
Single-admission tickets are $60 for adults, $50 for seniors, and $12 for students.

Group discounts are available.

Tickets and information are available at stcharlessingers.com. Tickets may also be purchased at the door on the day of the concert, depending on availability.