Cantilena is presenting an afternoon of carols and ballads that will evoke the magic and wonder of the first Christmas through poetry and prose set to familiar and novel melodies, highlighting the particularly American contributions to the genre. The concert encompasses a wide variety of styles including Appalchia, African-American, Shape note, Gospel as well as some more contemporary contributions, especially those of local luminary Daniel Pinkham and director-emeritus Kenneth Seitz, while also including classics such as Randall Thompson's "Nowel" and John Jacob Niles' "I Wonder As I Wander". The poetry behind the music is equally diverse and explores some interesting back-stories, such as Balthazar the brown king, the whereabouts of the Queens, and a haunting poem in Mary's voice.
Cantilena is a 30-voice women's chorale, performing since 1968, dedicated to bringing choral works to light which have been written for the treble voice. Recent performances focus on 19th to 21st century compositions.
