My Soul Doth Magnify

"If you have never heard this group, you have missed out on a rare, wondrous musical treat.".
Hubert Herring, NY Times, Hastings Enterprise

Date	Time	Place
22 Nov 2003, Saturday	8:00pm	Christ Church, Bronxville, NY
23 Nov 2003, Sunday	4:00pm	Bedford Presbyterian Church, Bedford, NY
6 December 2003, Saturday	8:00pm	All Souls Unitarian Church, NYC

Including the Bach Magnificat, the Finzi Magnificat and more with orchestra and organ.

Featured: a solo performance of Mozart's Exsultate Jubilate by Susanne Peck, "a vibrant and delightful presence in the New York vocal arts scene" (Dennis Keene, Director, Voices of Ascension, NYC)

Tickets are $25 ($20 seniors/students)

For more information, please call 914-931-6575

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Concert Order

1. Purcell: Magnificat in C Major
2. Billings: Anthem for Thanksgiving
    
3. Mozart: Exultate, Jubilate (Susanne Peck, soprano)
    
4. Bach: Magnificat in D major (Christmas version, various soloists)
    
      (intermission)
    
5. Peck: Hodie
6. Bassi: Quem Pastores
7. Wertsch: O Magnum Mysterium
8. The Rune of Hospitality
9. Peck: Masters in this Hall
    
10. Finzi: Magnificat
     

From our press release:

Charis Chamber Voices, under the direction of founder and artistic director Susanne Peck, will give three performances of "My Soul Doth Magnify," a program featuring settings of the Magnificat by J. S. Bach, Gerald Finzi, and Henry Purcell, as well as 17th century American composer William Billings' "Thanksgiving Hymn." The program will also include contemporary settings by New York composers of traditional Christmas poems.

The text of the exultant prayer, Magnificat, begins with the phrase "Magnificat anima mea Dominum" (My soul doth magnify the Lord), and has inspired hundreds of composers over the centuries. Charis presents three distinct settings of this marvelous text: J.S. Bach's original version, which includes rarely heard movements for the Christmas season; Purcell's setting for use at Evensong, and Finzi's homage to the great cathedral choirs of his native England. Each is a musical gem in its own right; together they illustrate how music can enhance the power of poetry.

Now in its tenth year, Charis enjoys the admiration of some of New York City's most prestigious choral conductors. Michael Jaffee, director of the Waverly Consort, has praised Charis as "a superb ensemble." As part of the program, Susanne Peck, whom Jaffee has hailed as "an outstanding singer and gifted conductor," will perform Wolfgang Mozart's beloved "Exsultate Jubilate." In addition to conducting and singing, Ms. Peck teaches privately and at the Hoff-Barthelson Music School in Scarsdale.

In 2001 Charis released its first CD, From Sorrow Free, a collection of American songs that ranges from Colonial New England hymns to settings of 20th century poetry. The ensemble also has recorded a CD of composer Roger Davidson's contemporary religious chants. A Christmas CD, "Hoping it Might Be So: Christmastide" is scheduled for release in November, 2003.