Keeping Peace is the theme for the Magnolia Chorale’s 29th annual winter concert series to be performed on December 2 and 3 at Magnolia Lutheran Church. Highlighting the program will be selected movements from Karl Jenkins’ The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace and Hope for Resolution by Paul Caldwell and Sean Ivory. The Chorale will be joined on Saturday evening by the McClure Middle School choir, and on Sunday afternoon by Ballard High School’s Women’s Chamber Choir.
The Magnolia Chorale’s director, Dr. Jean-Marie Kent, remarked that Jenkins’ mass spoke deeply to her causing her to take a breath, to think of where we come from and where she would like us to be…people who listen first, who feel what others are suffering, and who hope for something more. The opening movement, The Armed Man, is based on a medieval tune that pervaded pubs and churches of the 15th century, “L’homme armé,” calling for each man to arm himself with a coat of armor. This theme is reprised in the final movement, Better is Peace (than always war). The intervening and intensely beautiful movements Kyrie, Sanctus, Agnus Dei, and Benedictus, taken from the Latin mass, are included in this performance.
Caldwell and Ivory’s inspirational and moving Hope for Resolution juxtaposes two musical thoughts: the 5th century chant Of the Father’s Love Begotten and the South African anti-apartheid song Thula sizwe (Nation, do not cry). Dr. Kent says that the two pieces exist together, never fully meshing, but finding a harmonic space to exist side by side. The chant will be sung by the guest choirs, who will also be featured separately on the program, while the underlying Thula sizwe will be sung by the Chorale.
Rounding out each performance will be caroling with the audience before the program begins and a selection of both sacred and secular seasonal favorites. Tickets for either performance, 7:30 p.m. Saturday evening, and 2:00 p.m. Sunday afternoon, are $12.00 or $10.00 for seniors in advance from either Chorale members or through brownpapertickets.com, and $15.00 general admission and $10.00 for seniors at the door. Those 17 and under will be admitted free. Click here for more information about the Magnolia Chorale. Magnolia Lutheran Church is located at 2414 31st Ave W. in Seattle’s Magnolia district.