Choralescence

This is a bit rushed, and certainly behind the eight ball, so the hope is that location links and more services, and probably one more April choral concert will appear in a few days.

Check back at Choralescence blog, say by Wednesday, and see

13 April – Sunday
8:45 a.m., Upland Brethren in Christ Church, choir music by Leech, Stone/Sutherland, & Bastian, Upland
9:00 a.m., Claremont United Methodist Church, music of Gilbert Martin, Claremont
9:00 a.m., United Methodist Church of Cucamonga, part of Song of the Shadows, by Martin, Rancho Cucamonga
10:00 a.m. Claremont Presbyterian Church Sanctuary choir, Claremont
10:00 a.m., Bethel United Church of Christ, Hosanna!, by S.L Mann, Ontario
10:00 a.m., First Christian Church, service with choir, Pomona
10:00 a.m., Northminster Presbyterian Church, service with choir, Diamond Bar
10:00 a.m., Pilgrim Congregational Church, Seven last Words of Christ, by Dubois, Pomona
10:00 a.m., St. Ambrose Episcopal Church, service with choir, Claremont
10:00 a.m., St. John’s Episcopal Church, service with choir, La Verne
10:00 a.m., St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Eucharist with choir, Upland
10:00 a.m., Walnut United Methodist Church, the cantata Once Upon a Tree, Walnut
10:30 a.m., Chino United Methodist Church, service with choir, Chino
10:30 a.m. La Verne Church of the Brethen, Lift Up Your Heads, Oh Ye Gates, Handel, La Verne
10:30 a.m., Ontario First United Methodist Church, communion service with Chancel Choir, Ontario
10:30 a.m., San Dimas United Methodist Church, service with choir, San Dimas
10:30 a.m., Trinity United Methodist Vietnamese congregation service with choir, Pomona
10:45 a.m., Claremont United Methodist Church, music of Gilbert Martin, Claremont
10:45 a.m. Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, service with choir, Claremont

15 April – Tuesday
8:00 p.m. Claremont Chamber Choir, music of Finzi, Poulenc, Anna Walton, Jonathan Williams, Claremont

17April – Thursday
7:00 p.m., Chino United Methodist Church, Communion and Tenebrae services, How Beautiful, Paris/Courtney, Chino
7:00 p.m., Claremont Presbyterian Church, service with choir, Claremont
7:00 p.m., St. Ambrose Episcopal Church, service with choir. Claremont
7:00 p.m., St. Anthony’s Parish, mass with choir, Upland
7:00 p.m., St. John’s Episcopal Church, service with choir, La Verne
7:00 p.m., St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, service with choir, Upland
7:00 p.m., United Methodist Church of Cucamonga, part of Song of the Shadows, Martin, Rancho Cucamonga
7:30 p.m., Claremont United Methodist Church, music by G. Lynn, Claremont
7:30 p.m., Pilgrim Congregational Church, service with choir, Pomona

18 April – Friday
7:00 p.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, portions of the Faure’ Requiem, Claremont
7:00 p.m., Ontario First United Methodist Church, Chancel Choir, Ontario
7:00 p.m., San Dimas United Methodist Church, choir cantata, San Dimas
7:00 p.m., St. Ambrose Episcopal Church, Tenebrae service with choir and flute, Claremont
7:00 p.m., St. Anthony’s Parish, mass with choir, Upland
7:00 p.m., St. John’s Episcopal Church, Good Friday Ecumenical Service, La Verne
7:00 p.m. St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, “Good Litany” service with choir, Upland
7:00 p.m., United Methodist Church of Cucamonga, part of Song of the Shadows, Martin Rancho Cucamonga
7:00 p.m., Upland Brethren in Christ, Tenabrae service, music by Bastian, Red/Courtney, Luboff & Stone/Braselton, Upland
7:30 p.m. Trinity United Methodist Church Vietnamese congregation service with choir, Pomona

19 April, Saturday
7:00 p.m., San Dimas United Methodist Church, choir cantata, San Dimas
7:00 p.m., St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Great Vigil service with choir, Upland
7:30 p.m., Claremont United Methodist Church, Vigil with choir, Claremont
7:30 p.m., St. Ambrose Episcopal Church, Vigil with choir and trumpet, Claremont
8:00 p.m., St. Anthony’s Parish, Vigil with choir, Upland

20 April – Sunday
8:00 a.m., St. Anthony’s Parish, Schola at mass, Upland
8:00 a.m., St. John’s Episcopal Church, service with choir, La Verne
8:00 a.m., St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Eucharist with choir, Upland
8:45 a.m., Upland Brethren in Christ, service with choir, strings, brass, woodwinds; The Heavens Are Telling, Haydn, and music by Stone/Cates, Upland
9:00 a.m., Claremont United Methodist Church, music by C.M. Hobbs, Claremont
9:00 a.m., First Church of the Nazarene Choir and instrumental ensemble, The Rose of Calvary, by Martin, Ontario
9:00 a.m., United Methodist Church of Cucamonga, service with choir, Rancho Cucamonga
9:30 a.m., St. Anthony’s Parish, mass with children’s choir, Upland
10:00 a.m., Bethel United Church of Christ, Alleluia, Christ in Risen., Althouse, Easter Alleluias, Fettke, Ontario
10:00 a.m., Claremont Presbyterian Church Sanctuary Choir, Claremont
10:00 a.m., First Christian Church, service with choir, Pomona
10:00 a.m., Northminster Presbyterian Church, service with choir, Diamond Bar
10:00 a.m., Pilgrim Congregational Church, service with choir, Pomona
10:00 a.m., St. Ambrose Episcopal Church, service with choir and brass, Claremont
10:00 a.m., St. John’s Episcopal Church, Service with choir, incense, La Verne
10:00 a.m., St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Eucharist with choir, Upland
10:30 a.m., Chino United Methodist Church, service with choir, Chino
10:30 a.m., Ontario First United Methodist Church, Chancel Choir & Handbell Choir, Ontario
10:30 a.m., San Dimas United Methodist Church, service with choir, San Dimas
10:30 a.m., Trinity United Methodist Vietnamese congregation service with choir, Pomona
10:45 a.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, service with choir, Claremont
11:00 a.m., Claremont United Methodist Church, music by C.M. Hobbs, Claremont
11:00 a.m., First Church of the Nazarene Choir and instrumental ensemble, The Rose of Calvary , by Martin, Ontario
11:15 a.m., St. Anthony’s Parish, mass with youth choir, Upland

27 April – Sunday
3:00 p.m., Claremont Concert Choir, Claremont Chamber Choir, includes music of Brahms, Barber, Finzi, Poulenc, Lauridsen, Claremont

This March will have a much different shape, chorally, than last year, when the vast majority of chorus sounds were sung and heard on the last two weekends of the month. This year March has a regular flow to it, with something choral involving local churches, church choirs, colleges, chorales, or local directors of the same spread across the month. There will be chant and opera chorus, and Renaissance and Classical music, music sedate and excited, and more.

The first weekend brings features the Mountainside Master Chorale celebrating its twentieth season in a program called “Yesterday and Beyond: MMC Favorites Through the Years,” in Pomona. MMC will be directed by four of those who have stood at their podium over the years. The concerts are on Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 3:30 p.m., in Pomona.

Later in the first week, on Thursday, March 6, the Cal Poly Pomona Chamber Singers and Concert Choir will present the only public performance by a local college choral program in March, a program called “Calling All Angels” at Cal Poly Pomona.

The second weekend of March begins with a concert a few miles farther away, but involving one of our local choral directors. The Inland Master Chorale will present “Music of Love & Loss” at 8:00 p.m. Saturday, March 8, and 3:00 p.m., Sunday, March 9 in Redlands. That same Sunday, March 9, the Chapel of Charlemagne will present chants of the Lenten season in “Chants for the Labyrinth,” at 5:30 p.m. to raise funds for a permanent labyrinth at St. Ambrose Episcopal Church, Claremont.

On the afternoon of the third Sunday in March, the 16th, two much different choral activities are offered. At 2:00 p.m., in Pomona, the Mountainside Master Chorale is holding an Elijah Sing-Along, in which we can join in practicing Mendelssohn’s Elijah, its season ending work. Meanwhile, at 3:30 p.m. on the other side of our area, choirs and singers (including some operatic types) from the cities of Pomona, Ontario, Chino, Cucamonga and Upland will gather for ‘Bread On The Waters; Feeding hope through song’ a benefit concert for area hunger relief in the Sanctuary of the First United Methodist Church of Upland.

The fourth Saturday of March, on the 22nd, features the Claremont Chorale in “The Happy Wanderers,” a program of composers’ musical reflections on the Roma, or gypsies. The program, at 3:30 p.m. in Little Bridges in Claremont, includes the Zigeunerlieder by Brahms and the Romancero Gitano of Castelnuevo-Tedesco.

The next taste of choral music will be part of the Musicians Club of Pomona Valley program at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 25, at Pilgrim Congregational Church, in Pomona. The Seven Last Words of Christ, by Dubois, will be sung by the Pilgrim Church choir.

The final taste of choral music in March will be on the 29th and 30th,, the last weekend in March. It is just a taste, in Cosi Fan Tutte, as the Repertory Opera Company’s begins two weekends of Mozart’s opera in Pomona.

The next time this page appears, there may be hints of the March music missed here, from all the choirs already beginning work for the period that begins this Wednesday, and ends with the other peak on the Christian calendar, Easter.

Here are some links to music you can hear around here in March:

Romancero Gitano Castelnuovo-Tedesco

Moses Hogan, The battle of Jericho

Mozart, ‘Bella vita militar’ Cosi Fan Tutte

Wachet auf, singers!
Okay, we’ve had our nap. Seven, almost eight weeks of choral slumber have passed, and it’s beginning to look like morning. Tomorrow (Sunday) will bring the Point Loma University Concert Choir to Ontario First Nazarene at 10:45 a.m., then on 25 Feb., there will be a little choral music in the globe circling program of the Pomona Valley Musicians’ Club program at Trinity UMC of Pomona, and then it’s March, which starts with a celebration of the Mountainside Master Chorale’s twenty years of singing together. on the 1st and 2nd.

There will be more to say about March soon enough, with Mountainside, the Claremont Chorale, the Inland Master Chorale, Cal Poly Pomona, and the Repertory Opera Company all singing for us, and more, but that can wait. For now, just note that the tempo of music is beginning to change as we gradually approach our second peak of the year.

A little something to consider?
Whenever possible, this project highlights examples of groups and people working together for the good of music for all. Coming to mind is the fifteen or sixteen kids I saw at the Repertory Opera Company’s Serenades a week ago. They acted, danced and certainly sang and seemed to enjoy the discipline. Apparently this is a long term project of the ROC, beginning with some connections to one of our local music schools.

Building relationships with others to the benefit of both can be a difficult process, so it’s good to hear where it is working. It would be good to hear of more such things from those reading this, so that more people can see that it is possible.

Thinking today of young people singing, we’ll flash back to something another youth choir sang every Sunday years ago, but done by a choir a bit bigger and better.

The Westminster Choir College: The Lord Bless You and Keep You

Counting Christmas Day, we’ve just begun our own Twelve Days of Choral Christmas, with this weekend marking the annual change from chorale and college choral groups to church choirs. We have over two hundred local chorale and college singers singing the music of Beethoven, Holst and others, while sounds of Bach, Pergolesi, Praetorius, Rutter and Willcocks are being heard in sanctuaries from Upland to Claremont to Chino.

Next week and through Christmas Day, the music of Bach and more contemporary composers will be sung in dozens of church services from Rancho Cucamonga to Upland to Claremont, Pomona to La Verne to Diamond Bar. On top of that, hundreds of people from around the area will get the chance to join in a mass choir experience of Handel’s most famous oratorio.

And More?
There will be more choirs singing these next few days than displayed here today, news of which should continue to arrive. There’s no plan to publish a new post, but such news as is discovered will still appear in this post as it is revised to reflect the latest information. Please check back in a few days.

Do you know of something choral in our area? Please pass word along, perhaps in the comments for this post, so that the work of our choral friends may be recognized and heard by others.

For the sounds of the season, here is some by Michael Praetorius

The King’s Singers – Es ist ein Ros’ entsprungen

From 14 December through Christmas

Saturday 14 December
3:30 p.m., Pomona First Baptist Church Choir and Orchestra “Come Celebrate Christmas,” Pomona
6:45 p.m. Ayala High School “Madrigal Feaste,” Chino Hills
7:00 p.m., Pomona First Baptist Church Choir and Orchestra “Come Celebrate Christmas,” Pomona
7:30 p.m., Mountainside Master Chorale, “Organ Extravaganza,” includes music by Holst, Stanford, Parry, Claremont
8:00 p.m., The Claremont Concert Choir, Claremont Concert Orchestra with the Claremont Chorale, Symphony No. 9 in d minor, Beethoven, Claremont

Sunday, 15 December
8:30 p.m., Grace Lutheran Church Choir, excerpts of Bach Cantata 140 – Sleepers Wake during Advent, Upland
9:00 a.m., Claremont United Methodist Church Sanctuary Choir, Magnificat by Pergolesi, Claremont
10:30 a.m., Chino United Methodist Church Choir, “Love Came Down at Christmas,” selected carols by Rutter, Chino
9:30 a.m., Northkirk Presbyterian Church, “Carols and Choir Sunday,” Rancho Cucamonga
10:45 a.m., Claremont United Methodist Church Sanctuary Choir, Magnificat by Pergolesi, Claremont
11:00 p.m., Grace Lutheran Church Choir, excerpts of Bach Cantata 140 – Sleepers Wake during Advent, Upland
3:00 p.m., The Claremont Concert Choir, Claremont Concert Orchestra with the Claremont Chorale, Symphony No. 9 in d minor, Beethoven, Claremont
3:30 p.m., Mountainside Master Chorale, “Organ Extravaganza,” includes music by Holst, Stanford, Parry, Claremont
3:30 p.m., Pomona First Baptist Church Choir and Orchestra “Come Celebrate Christmas,” Pomona
5:00 p.m., St. Ambrose Episcopal Church Choir, Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, Claremont
6:00 p.m., University of La Verne, “Winter Choral Concert,” La Verne
6:30 p.m., Northminster Presbyterian Church Chancel choir, “The Christmas Experience: Christmas Joy!” (program at 5 p.m., concert at 6:30 p.m), Diamond Bar

Monday 16 December
7:00 p.m., Chino Valley Community Chorus “Home for the Holidays,” Chino

Tuesday 17 December
7:00 p.m., Claremont High School Winter Choir Concert, Garrison Theater, Claremont

Sunday 22 December
8:30 a.m., Grace Lutheran Church Choir, excerpts of Bach Cantata 140 (Sleepers Wake), Upland
9:00 a.m., First Church of the Nazarene Choir and instrumental ensemble, cantata The Winter Rose, by Martin, Ontario
9:00 a.m., United Methodist Church of Cucamonga adult choir and children, combined pageant/program, excerpts of “the King’s Birthday” and “Do You Hear What I hear?,” Rancho Cucamonga
9:30 a.m., First United Methodist Church Cathedral Choir and youth ensembles, a Christmas cantata, Upland
10:00 a.m., Claremont Presbyterian Church Sanctuary Choir, soloists and baroque ensemble, Magnificat by Bach, Claremont
10:00 a.m. Walnut United Methodist Church, children and adult choir, a cantata “Get Ready for the King!” Walnut
10:30 a.m., First United Methodist Church of Ontario choir, a Christmas cantata, Ontario
11:00 a.m., Eleventh Street Baptist Church adult choir, cantata “Bethlehem Morning,” Upland
11:00 a.m., First Church of the Nazarene Choir and instrumental ensemble, cantata The Winter Rose, by Martin, Ontario
11:00 a.m., Grace Lutheran Church Choir, excerpts of Bach Cantata 140 (Sleepers Wake), Upland
1:30 p.m., Claremont Symphony Orchestra, Annual Handel Messiah Singalong
4:00 p.m., Claremont Symphony Orchestra, Annual Handel Messiah Singalong
7:00 p.m., San Dimas United Methodist Church, cantata “Candles & Carols,” Hayes & Martin, San Dimas

Tuesday 24 December 2013
4:00 p.m., Pomona First Baptist Church Christmas Eve Candlelight Service with choir, Pomona
4:00 p.m., Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church choir, anthem Son of God, Son of Man Mehrens/Mauldin, Rancho Cucamonga
4:00 p.m., St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Family/Children’s Mass, Upland
5:30 p.m., Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church choir, anthem Son of God, Son of Man Mehrens/Mauldin, Rancho Cucamonga
6:00 .p.m., St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Mass in Spanish, Upland
6:00 p.m., Upland Brethren in Christ Church, service with choir, anthems “Baby, what you goin’ to be? – Star Carol – Silent Night”, Upland
6:30/7:00 p.m., Pilgrim Congregational Church Choir, before service music, service at 7:00 p.m. with choir, Rutter, Courtney, Gawthrop, Pomona
7:00 p.m., Bethel United Church of Christ Choir and Soloists, lessons and carols service, Ontario
7:00 p.m., Chino United Methodist Church Choir, Christmas Lullaby by Rutter, Chino
7:00 p.m., Claremont United Methodist Church, Christmas Eve Candlelight – Lessons and Carols with Choir, Claremont
7:00 p.m., First Lutheran Church of Ontario, service with choir, Ontario
7:00 p.m., First United Methodist Church of Ontario choir and bells, Christmas Eve Candlelight Service & Lessons, Ontario
7:00 p.m., Pomona First Baptist Church Christmas Eve Candlelight Service with choir, Pomona
7:00 p.m., Rock of the Foothills Lutheran Church, service with choir, La Verne
7:00 p.m., St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Lessons and Carols with choir, Pomona
7:30 p.m. Upland Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Christmas Eve Service, with choirs
8:00 p.m., First Christian Church Chancel Choir, Christmas Eve Candlelight Service Pomona
9:00 p.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, service with choir, Claremont
9:00 p.m., La Verne Church of the Brethren Christmas Eve Service with Sanctuary Choir, Come, Lord Jesus; O Holy Night; Lo How a Rose, Arr. by Kirchner La Verne
9:30 p.m./10:00 p.m., St. John’s Episcopal Church Choir, choir concert at 9:30, “Christ Mass” at 10 p.m., La Verne
10:00 p.m., Northminster Presbyterian Church Chancel Choir and Praise Team, Candlelight Communion Service with Lessons and Carols, Diamond Bar
10:00 p.m., St. Ambrose Episcopal Church Choir, music of Praetorius and Willcocks, Claremont
10:00 p.m., St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Christmas Carols (10 p.m.) and Night Mass (Multicultural) at 10:30 p.m., Upland
10:30 p.m., St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, service with choir, Upland
11:00 p.m., Claremont Presbyterian Church Sanctuary Choir and Soloists, Lessons and Carols, Claremont
11:00 p.m., Claremont United Church of Christ Chancel Choir, and Choral Bells, Claremont
11:00 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, Candlelight Service with choir, Upland
11:00 p.m., La Verne Heights Presbyterian Church Chancel Choir, Traditional Communion Service, La Verne
11:00 p.m., Redeemer Lutheran Church of Ontario, Christmas Eve Candlelight service with choir, Ontario
11:00 p.m. / 12:00 a.m., St. Denis Catholic Church, Carolers at 11:30 midnight mass with all choirs, Diamond Bar

Christmas, Wednesday 25 December
7:30 a.m., St. Denis Catholic Church, Contemporary Choir, Diamond Bar
8:00 a.m., St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Mass in English, Upland
10:00 a.m., Redeemer Lutheran Church of Ontario, Christmas Day service with choir, Ontario
10:00 a.m., St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Mass in Spanish, Upland
10:30 a.m., St. Denis Catholic Church, Adult Choir, Diamond Bar
12:00 p.m., St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Mass in English, Upland
1:30 pm., St. Denis Catholic Church, Filipino Choir, Diamond Bar
5:30 pm., St. Denis Catholic Church, Youth Choir, Diamond Bar

A bit farther away
The two concerts below involve choral people from our area and are included despite being outside the immediate area. Please consider them along with the events above.

14 Dec., 8:00 p.m., Inland Master Chorale, “A Season of Light,” Redlands
15 Dec., 3:00 p.m., Inland Master Chorale, “A Season of Light,” Redlands

(updated, 23 Dec.)

Among the late news just arriving have been items for this weekend, so this page returns a few days early, with music through the 15th In Upland the arts and music festival at the Upland Latter Days Stake has already begun, but still to be heard are public middle school, high school choruses church choirs and university choral groups from Rancho Cucamonga, Upland, Ontario and La Verne on Friday and Saturday. Here is also the start of December’s special choral music in worship, with much more expected.

You might note that the local flow of Britten reaches its final peak this weekend, with five concerts featuring his music from Friday through Sunday. Happy hundredth birthday, Mr. Britten!

Friday, 6 December
5:00 – 9:00 p.m., Multiple ensembles from Upland, Montclair, La Verne, etc., Upland Stake Center 785 N. San Antonio Ave, Upland,
6:00 p.m., Mount San Antonio College, 16th Annual Wassail Dinner & Concert (No ticket sales after 2 Dec.), Walnut
8:00 p.m., Pomona College Choir, Hymn to St. Cecilia by Britten, and works by Tavenor, Bruckner, Mendelssohn and others

Saturday, 7 December
1:30 – 8:30 p.m., Multiple ensembles from Upland, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Upland Stake Center 785 N. San Antonio Ave, Upland
3:00 p.m., The Claremont Chorale, “An Olde English Christmas;” with A Ceremony of Carols by Britten, with music of Rutter, Walton and Wood, Claremont
6:00 p.m., Mount San Antonio College, 16th Annual Wassail Dinner & Concert (No ticket sales after 2 Dec.), Walnut
7:30 p.m. Chaffey College Concert Choir & Ensemble Singers, “Pilgrimage: Songs of Travel and Adoration,” music of Buxtehude, Vivaldi, Haydn, Elgar, Paulus, Lauridsen, Hogan, etc., Rancho Cucamonga
7:30 p.m., The Claremont Chorale, “An Olde English Christmas;” with A Ceremony of Carols by Britten, and music of Rutter, Walton & Wood, Claremont
7:30 p.m., Windsong Southland Chorale, Christmas Concert, with A Ceremony of Carols, by Britten, and other works, La Verne

Sunday, 8 December
8:30 a.m., Grace Lutheran Church Choir, excerpts of Bach Cantata 140 during Advent, Upland
10:00 a.m., Claremont UCC Chancel Choir, Gloria by RA Bass, Claremont
10:00 a.m., First Presbyterian Church choir and chamber ensemble, choral narrative of Jesus’ birth, music by Sterling and others, Upland
11:00 a.m., Grace Lutheran Church Choir, excerpts of Bach Cantata 140 during Advent, Upland
3:00 p.m., Pomona College Choir, Hymn to St. Cecilia by Britten, and music by Tavenor, Bruckner, Mendelssohn and others

Monday, 9 December
7:30 p.m. University of La Verne Gospel Choir, Contemporary Choir of Second Baptist Church, Los Angeles “A Gospel Music Extravaganza Concert,” La Verne

Tuesday, December 10
12:00 p.m., “Claremont High School Choral Singers – Holiday Music” University Club of Claremont

Wednesday, 11 December
6:45 p.m. Ayala High School “Madrigal Feaste,” Chino Hills
7:00 p.m., Alta Loma High School Band, Choir and Dance Concert, Rancho Cucamonga

Thursday 12 December
6:00 p.m., Upland High School 27th Annual Elizabethan Dinner (other performances sold out), Upland
6:30 p.m. Montclair High School Band, Choirs, Dance and Colorguard, “Montclair High School Holiday Concert,” Montclair
6:45 p.m. Ayala High School “Madrigal Feaste,” Chino Hills
7:00 p.m., Alta Loma High School Band, Choir and Dance Concert, Rancho Cucamonga

Friday, 13 December
12:15 p.m., The Claremont Chamber Choir, “Friday Noon Concert Series,” music of Bach, Pärt, Lauridsen and others, Claremont
6:00 p.m., Upland High School 27th Annual Elizabethan Dinner, (other performances sold out) Upland
6:45 p.m. Ayala High School “Madrigal Feaste,” Chino Hills
7:00 p.m., Los Osos High School Band and Choirs, “Fall Concert,” Rancho Cucamonga
8:00 p.m., Pomona First Baptist Church Choir and Orchestra “Come Celebrate Christmas,” Pomona
8:00 p.m., University of La Verne, “Winter Choral Concert,” La Verne

Saturday 14 December
3:30 p.m., Pomona First Baptist Church Choir and Orchestra “Come Celebrate Christmas,” Pomona
6:45 p.m. Ayala High School “Madrigal Feaste,” Chino Hills
7:00 p.m., Pomona First Baptist Church Choir and Orchestra “Come Celebrate Christmas,” Pomona
7:30 p.m., Mountainside Master Chorale, “Organ Extravaganza,” includes music by Holst, Stanford, Parry, Claremont
8:00 p.m., The Claremont Concert Choir, Claremont Concert Orchestra with the Claremont Chorale, Symphony No. 9 in d minor, Beethoven, Claremont

Sunday, 15 December
8:30 p.m., Grace Lutheran Church Choir, excerpts of Bach Cantata 140 – Sleepers Wake during Advent, Upland
9:00 a.m., Claremont United Methodist Church Sanctuary Choir, Magnificat by Pergolesi, Claremont
10:30 a.m., Chino United Methodist Church Choir, “Love Came Down at Christmas,” selected carols by Rutter, Chino
9:30 a.m., Northkirk Presbyterian Church, “Carols and Choir Sunday,” Rancho Cucamonga
10:45 a.m., Claremont United Methodist Church Sanctuary Choir, Magnificat by Pergolesi, Claremont
11:00 p.m., Grace Lutheran Church Choir, excerpts of Bach Cantata 140 – Sleepers Wake during Advent, Upland
3:00 p.m., The Claremont Concert Choir, Claremont Concert Orchestra with the Claremont Chorale, Symphony No. 9 in d minor, Beethoven, Claremont
3:30 p.m., Mountainside Master Chorale, “Organ Extravaganza,” includes music by Holst, Stanford, Parry, Claremont
3:30 p.m., Pomona First Baptist Church Choir and Orchestra “Come Celebrate Christmas,” Pomona
5:00 p.m. St. Ambrose Episcopal Church Choir, Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, Claremont
6:00 p.m., University of La Verne, “Winter Choral Concert,” La Verne
6:30 p.m., Northminster Presbyterian Church Chancel choir, “The Christmas Experience: Christmas Joy!” (program at 5 p.m., concert at 6:30 p.m), Diamond Bar

Just a bit farther away
The events below, from a bit outside of the Between Two Colleges area, are offered by one of our local directors.

12 Dec., 7:00 p.m., Jurupa Valley High School Winter Choir Concert, Mira Loma
14 Dec., 8:00 p.m., Inland Master Chorale, “A Season of Light,” Redlands
15 Dec., 3:00 p.m., Inland Master Chorale, “A Season of Light,” Redlands

I just looked it up. Festal describes something related to a feast or festival, which makes it certainly appropriate to this season. On that note, it’s right that nearly a third of the twenty-nine choral events listed here from the 1st through the 15th of December feature both food and singing. If you favor the combination of music and feast, however, you had better be quick, as these events are filling up fast.

Just about every college choral program from Walnut to Rancho Cucamonga and each of our area chorales will be singing in a span of eleven days, a musical feast of its own. Not all of these programs choose to let you know what’s on the menu ahead of time, but the known composers include Bach, Beethoven, Britten (five concerts), Bruckener, Buxtehude, Elgar, Haydn, Hogan, Holst, Lauridsen, Mendelssohn, Parry, Pärt, Paulus, Rutter, Stanford, Tavenor, Vivaldi, Walton and Wood.

It that all?
By no means are the performances below all of the choral music happening between the two colleges in December. There are dozens of other concerts and services, beginning with any number of school choirs whose concerts may be discoverable on social media or in school notices, and special services, concerts and pageants at local places of worship through the 25th of the month. Some of this flood of choral activity will find its way to this page in the next post or the one after, but much will pass unnoticed here.

Care to help?
Do you know of any high school concert, special cantata in a worship service or other choral event at a local church, temple, synagogue or school in December? If the service or concert is open to the public and you would like to spread the word, please provide me details of the event/service/concert as soon as possible. One way to do this is to use the comments function of this page, and I will try to confirm the event and any links and include it as soon as I can. If you are a local choral director or other member of our choral community participating in an event a bit outside of our area, you are most welcome to put news of this in the comments as well. Any help we can provide each other helps promote choral music for everyone.

Considering the tenor of tonight’s page, I think I’ll give the King’s singers the last word.

The Boar’s Head Carol

Choral events through Sunday, 15 December

Tuesday, 3 December
7:00 p.m., Walnut High School “Winter Choir Concert,” Walnut

Wednesday, 4 December
7:00 p.m., Etiwanda High School “Winter Choir Concert,” Rancho Cucamonga
7:00 p.m., Walnut High School “Winter Choir Concert,” Walnut

Thursday, 5 December
6:00 p.m., Mount San Antonio College, 16th Annual Wassail Dinner & Concert (No ticket sales after 2 Dec.), Walnut
8:00 p.m., Cal Poly Pomona Kellogg Chamber Singers & University Concert Choir, Pomona

Friday, 6 December
6:00 p.m., Mount San Antonio College, 16th Annual Wassail Dinner & Concert (No ticket sales after 2 Dec.), Walnut
8:00 p.m., Pomona College Choir, Hymn to St. Cecilia by Britten, and works by Tavenor, Bruckner, Mendelssohn and others

Saturday, 7 December
3:00 p.m., The Claremont Chorale, “An Olde English Christmas;” with A Ceremony of Carols by Britten, with music of Rutter, Walton and Wood, Claremont
6:00 p.m., Mount San Antonio College, 16th Annual Wassail Dinner & Concert (No ticket sales after 2 Dec.), Walnut
7:30 p.m. Chaffey College Concert Choir & Ensemble Singers, “Pilgrimage: Songs of Travel and Adoration,” music of Buxtehude, Vivaldi, Haydn, Elgar, Paulus, Lauridsen, Hogan, etc., Rancho Cucamonga
7:30 p.m., The Claremont Chorale, “An Olde English Christmas;” with A Ceremony of Carols by Britten, and music of Rutter, Walton & Wood, Claremont
7:30 p.m., Windsong Southland Chorale, Christmas Concert, with A Ceremony of Carols, by Britten, and other works, La Verne

Sunday, 8 December
3:00 p.m., Pomona College Choir, Hymn to St. Cecilia by Britten, and music by Tavenor, Bruckner, Mendelssohn and others

Monday, 9 December
7:30 p.m. University of La Verne Gospel Choir, Contemporary Choir of Second Baptist Church, Los Angeles “A Gospel Music Extravaganza Concert,” La Verne

Tuesday, December 10
12:00 p.m., “Claremont High School Choral Singers – Holiday Music” University Club of Claremont

Wednesday, 11 December
6:45 p.m. Ayala High School “Madrigal Feaste,” Chino Hills
7:00 p.m., Alto Loma High School Band, Choir and Dance Concert, Rancho Cucamonga

Thursday 12 December
6:00 p.m., Upland High School 27th Annual Elizabethan Dinner (other performances sold out), Upland
6:45 p.m. Ayala High School “Madrigal Feaste,” Chino Hills
7:00 p.m., Alto Loma High School Band, Choir and Dance Concert, Rancho Cucamonga

Friday, 13 December
12:15 p.m., The Claremont Chamber Choir, “Friday Noon Concert Series,” music of Bach, Pärt, Lauridsen and others, Claremont
6:00 p.m., Upland High School 27th Annual Elizabethan Dinner, (other performances sold out) Upland
6:45 p.m. Ayala High School “Madrigal Feaste,” Chino Hills
8:00 p.m., University of La Verne, “Winter Choral Concert,” La Verne

Saturday 14 December
6:45 p.m. Ayala High School “Madrigal Feaste,” Chino Hills
7:30 p.m., Mountainside Master Chorale, “Organ Extravaganza,” includes music by Holst, Stanford, Parry, Claremont
8:00 p.m., The Claremont Concert Choir, Claremont Concert Orchestra with the Claremont Chorale, Symphony No. 9 in d minor, Beethoven, Claremont

Sunday, 15 December
3:00 p.m., The Claremont Concert Choir, Claremont Concert Orchestra with the Claremont Chorale, Symphony No. 9 in d minor, Beethoven, Claremont
3:30 p.m., Mountainside Master Chorale, “Organ Extravaganza,” includes music by Holst, Stanford, Parry, Claremont
6:00 p.m., University of La Verne, “Winter Choral Concert,” La Verne

Over the river, and through the wood,
To Grandfather’s house we go;
the horse knows the way to carry the sleigh
through the white and drifted snow.

Over the river, and through the wood,
to Grandfather’s house away!
We would not stop for doll or top,
for ’tis Thanksgiving Day.

With apologies to Lydia Maria Child, the following itinerary for a musical trip to Thanksgiving has no river, no wood, but five concerts and one contest.

First stop – the Repertory Opera Company ‘Opera Night’ on Tuesday, 12 November, featuring fun, food and favorite melodies at Pilgrim Congregational Church in Pomona.

Second – the Fauré Requiem Thursday, 14 November. 7:30 p.m., sung by the Claremont Community Choir, at Claremont United Methodist Church,

Third – “Music by Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) on his Centenary,” Tuesday, 19 November, 6:45 p.m., at the Athenaeum at Claremont Mckenna College

Fourth – Friday Noon Concert, Friday, 22 November, 12:15 p.m., “Music of Debussey and Britten,” Balch Hall, Scripps College, Claremont

Fifth stop, – Sunday, 24 November, 4:00 p.m., “Profiles in Courage,’ the Southland Symphony, Bethel United Church of Christ, Ontario

The contest mentioned is one in which you can participate from the comfort on your home or anywhere you are online. One of our local choir directors invited others to listen to be part of the KUSC Local Vocals High School Choir Sing-off this week (by 15 November). While cooperation, not competition, is the focus of this site, choral fans might well take a little time to listen and be reminded of the vital part that teens play in a healthy choral community.

The final word today goes to Gabriel Fauré

Libera me

Enjoy the music!

The major concentrations of choral music that you’d expect any year would be around Christmas and Easter. Sometimes, though, the planets seem to align, and we get a bunch of music at another time of year. Such is the time preceding Thanksgiving this year. Over the next five weeks four of our local college music programs, ten or twelve choirs, two area orchestras, our local opera company and others are bringing some fourteen events to the area from Walnut to Ontario.

You might note that among these performances and services are some world premieres on 27 October and 10 November, and six performances that are partly or entirely music of Benjamin Britten (one that I failed to mention last time is on Britten’s birthday, 22 November).

Enjoy!

Saturday, 19 October, 2:00 p.m., Repertory Opera Company, Albert Herring by Benjamin Britten, in Pomona

Sunday, 20 October, 3:30 p.m., Claremont Symphony Orchestra, “Centennial Celebrations” music of Britten, Verdi and Wagner, in Claremont

Sunday, 20 October, 5 p.m., St. Ambrose Episcopal Church of Claremont, Solemn Evensong, music by Gouzes, Walford Davies, Thomas Weelkes & Robert Whyte

Wednesday, 23 October, 7:30 p.m., Repertory Opera Company, Albert Herring by Benjamin Britten, in Pomona

Friday, 25 October, 8:00 p.m., University of La Verne Fall Choral Organization Showcase, University Chamber Singers, University Chorale and the Leo Singing Dudes, in La Verne

Saturday, 26 October, 2:00 p.m., Repertory Opera Company, Albert Herring by Benjamin Britten, in Pomona

Saturday, 26 October, 8:00 p.m., University of La Verne Fall Choral Organization Showcase, University Chamber Singers, University Chorale and the Leo Singing Dudes, University of La Verne, in La Verne

Sunday, 27 October, 8:00 p.m., Millennium Consort Singers, “Songs of Celebration,” with Pomona College Choir and Edward Murray, organ, Claremont

Friday, 1 November, 7:30 p.m., Mount San Antonio College Fall Choral Concert, Walnut

Saturday, 2 November, 7:30 p.m., Mount San Antonio College Fall Choral Concert, Walnut

Sunday, 10 November, 3:00 p.m., The Claremont Concert Choir, Claremont Chamber Choir, Los Angeles Children’s Chorus, Inside-Out Crossroads Choir, Gwendolyn Lytle, soprano, Simon Estes, bass-baritone, Paul R. Bishop, piano: premiere of the cantata True Witness, by Jodi Gable, in Claremont

Thursday, 14 November, 7:00 p.m., Claremont Community Choir, Fauré Requiem, United Methodist Church of Claremont

Tuesday, 19 November, 6:45 p.m. Charles Kamm, tenor; Gayle Blankenburg, piano, and Rachel Vetter Huang, violin;“Music by Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) on his Centenary,” at the Athenaeum in Claremont

Friday, 22 November, 12:15 p.m., Friday Noon Concert Series, Music of Debussey and Britten, Rachel V. Huang, violin, Gayle Blankenburg, piano, in Claremont

Sunday, 24 November, 4:00 p.m., The Southland Symphony, “Profiles in Courage,” music of Copland, Gould, Beethoven, Albert & Ellington, in Ontario

Late Additions, from a little farther out

Two of our choral friends from this area, a singer and a director, are also performing in choral concerts this week a few miles away from our area. However, these are choral concerts and our fellows are taking part in these events, so here they are:

Sunday 20 October, 4:00 p.m., Jouyssance, “Water Music,” in Pasadena.
Saturday 26 October, 8:00 p.m., Inland Master Chorale, “Songs of Innocence,” in Redlands
Sunday 27 October, 3:00 p.m., Inland Master Chorale, “Songs of Innocence,” in Redlands

O.k. – there are concerts this month in our area, and other performances, but there are no festivals. Sometimes it can be hard to tell which is which, though a festival ‘by any other name would…’ Take an event of about two weeks ago. It wasn’t a choir festival. There were five or six choirs, maybe ten anthems, and several score singers, but it was not a choir festival. The concert had another name, and a cause other than just music.

There’s more to be said about that event, but first some thoughts on another larger festival that isn’t a festival nearby.

Bunches of Britten

All of the Benjamin Britten music being presented in our area by opera company, orchestra, soloists and choral group over the next two months isn’t an actual Britten festival, but almost a virtual one. The first event, on 19, 23 & 26 October, is Albert Herring, Britten’s comedy opera, performed by the Repertory Opera Company in Pomona. The ROC is the first of three groups offering up Britten in October, and one of just two purely Britten performances locally in our neighborhood this fall. The second October event with Britten is on the 20th in Claremont, with his Simple Symphony being performed along Verdi and Wagner as part of the Claremont Symphony Orchestra’s “Centennial Celebrations.” Then, on the 27th, the Millennium Consort Singers will present “Songs of Celebration,” a program celebrating both St. Cecilia and Britten’s centenary in a program including both his music and others.

No one nearby has scheduled a concert on Britten’s birthday, the 22nd of November. Instead, the second purely Britten concert of the fall is on 19 November, just three days before. Charles Kamm, tenor, Gayle Blankenburg, piano, and Rachel Vetter Huang, violin, will present “Music by Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) on his Centenary,” at the Athenaeum at Claremont McKenna College.

The last two programs of this imagined Britten festival fall on the 6th, 7th and 8th of December, and it seems fitting that the two Britten works programmed for that weekend were penned by Benjamin Britten together onboard ship as he traveled back to England in 1942. The Pomona College Choir is including his Hymn to St. Cecilia on their program for the 6th and 8th in Claremont, while the Claremont Chorale is bringing us the SATB arrangement of what is probably Britten’s most popular contribution to the Christmas season, the Ceremony of Carols, as part of “An Olde English Christmas,” the chorale’s Christmas offering. There you have it – a near festival for you to consider.

Choral stuff

Back to this month’s concerts – besides the Millennium Consort Singers on the 27th, the other choral event in the between two colleges area is the University of La Verne Fall Choral Organizations Showcase, with the ULV Chamber Singers, the University Chorale and others on 25 & 26 October, in La Verne. It’s nice to have choral choices this early in the season, so enjoy yourselves, choral fans.

The interfaith concert mentioned at the top of this page had choral anthems, rounds, audience singing, chant of various kinds, and dancing and drumming. Held at Temple Beth Israel in Pomona, “Sacred Sounds V” celebrated the diversity of faiths in our area, and the different parts that music plays in these faiths. Beyond these successes, it did something probably not part of its objectives. By bringing choirs together from Upland, Montclair and Pomona, it provided welcome proof that there is potential for building our own choral community right here.

Today’s link is in honor of the audience sing-along at Sacred Sounds V in September.

Dona Nobis Pacem

Even as August is delivering another dose of summer heat, the fall choral season is tiptoeing to the starting line. If you are a skilled choral singer with no current ties, both of the Claremont centered chorales are beginning rehearsals on Monday, 9 September, one in Claremont, and the other in Pomona. Offered this season will be music by Britten, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Brahms, Copeland, Gershwin and more. For more details and for information on auditioning, you can go to the web-sites of the Claremont Chorale and the Mountainside Master Chorale.

There will certainly be other choral experiences to be had this season in the Between Two Colleges area, at colleges, high schools and churches, and with other ensembles yet to be discovered by this page. If you reside or sing or direct in the area from Walnut to Rancho Cucamonga, please consider sending any news you have of special music at church or school, of festivals or of other collaborations which might be shared with choral friends in our area.

Today’s link you could call educational…

I Fagiolini – Working with Singers