Opening Up Our Hearts –Music and Inspiration of Christmas

VIRTUAL CHRISTMAS CONCERT 2020

PREMIERE SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13 at 4pm

The world may have changed but… There is still Christmas. There is still Bethlehem.And we are still The Bach Choir of Bethlehem.

The Bach Choir gratefully acknowledges the principal sponsors of the 2020 Virtual Christmas Concert

Individual Sponsors

The Leon and June Holt Memorial Fund

Fairbairn Family Choir Development Fund

Hank & Joanne Barnette

Diana Martin & Frank Burgess

William O’Donnell

Dr. Edward & Carol Salgado

Anthony R. Thompson & Vickie Ziegler Thompson

The Bach Choir is supported in part by

Thank you for helping us share our light and this beautiful musical message of hope from Bethlehem at Christmas.

The Bach Choir is profoundly grateful to John and Carol Daniel for their generous gift to endow The Bach Choir’s annual Bethlehem

Christmas Concert, in memory of Rev. Dr. David Paul Daniel.

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Guest SoloistsThe Bach Choir of Bethlehem

LAWRENCE JONES, Tenor, has established an active presence on the concert and operatic stages, receiving praise for his portrayals of Tom Rakewell in Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress at the Princeton and Aldeburgh Festivals. The New York Times wrote, “Tenor Lawrence Jones brought a light, sweet voice and lyricism to Tom” and Opera News praised him for his “clean, ringing tenor.” Opera credits include New York City Opera, Glimmerglass Opera, and Opera Saratoga. He has sung as a soloist with the Utah Symphony,

Musica Sacra, Boston Baroque, Boston Pops, Albany Symphony, and Rhode Island Philharmonic. A frequent performer of Bach, Lawrence’s credits include the Evangelist in the Christmas Oratorio with the Harvard-Radcliffe Chorus, and tenor soloist in the Saint John Passion with the Kalamazoo Bach Festival, Bach Society of St. Louis, and the New Mexico Philharmonic. In New York, he sang as tenor soloist in the Saint Matthew Passion with the Saint Thomas Choir, the Mass in B Minor with the Oratorio Society of New York, and the Evangelist in the Saint John Passion with the Cathedral Choirs and Orchestra of St. John the Divine. Active in the performance of contemporary works, Lawrence made his company debut in Oliver Knussen’s Where the Wild Things Are at New York City Opera, and sang in the American Stage Premiere of Elliott Carter’s opera What Next? at Tanglewood. Concert engagements have included the American Premiere of Nico Muhly’s My Days with viol consort Fretwork, Arvo Pärt’s Passio with Boston Modern Orchestra Project, and a tribute concert for Elliott Carter at Juilliard, in Mad Regales.

DAVID NEWMAN, Bass, enjoys an active and varied concert career throughout North America. Hailed as “electrifying” by the Washington Post, he is in particular demand as a Baroque specialist. He has performed Handel’s Messiah with Tafelmusik, Portland Baroque Orchestra, and with Masterwork Chorus in Carnegie Hall; Saint John Passion with the American Bach Soloists and Carmel Bach Festival; and Saint Matthew Passion with the Bach Society of St. Louis, San Francisco Bach Choir, and a national tour with

the combined forces of Santa Fe Pro Musica and the Smithsonian Chamber Players. In his debut with the Washington Bach Consort, Mr. Newman was noted by the Baltimore Sun for his “exquisitely phrased, velvet-toned Mache dich, mein Herz.” Other notable appearances include Bach’s Mass in B Minor and Christmas Oratorio with The Bach Choir of Bethlehem, Coffee Cantata, Easter Oratorio, and Christmas Oratorio with the Santa Fe Bach Festival, and Haydn’s Creation with The Honolulu Symphony. He was also a featured soloist in the Sorbonne’s 2003 Festival Berlioz in Paris with the UC Davis Symphony Orchestra. He has appeared regularly as a guest artist with the Four Nations Ensemble, including performances in Lincoln Center and Merkin Hall, and has also performed with the Spoleto Festival, Opera Company of Philadelphia, Metropolitan Opera Guild, Opera Birmingham, Philadelphia Orchestra, and the Russian National Orchestra. His recording of Alexander’s Feast with The Bach Sinfonia was released on the Dorian label. Mr. Newman teaches voice at James Madison University.

NOLA RICHARDSON, Soprano is making her mark as an “especially impressive” (New York Times) soprano. An Australian by birth, she has spent most of her life in the United States and was the 2016 winner of The Bach Choir of Bethlehem/American Bach Society Young American Singer Competition and a Carmel Bach Festival Virginia Best Adams Fellow in 2019. She has been praised for her “astonishing balance and accuracy,” “crystalline diction,” and “natural-sounding ease” (Washington

Post). Ms. Richardson’s wide repertoire spans from music of the medieval period to several world premieres, and she performs frequently throughout the United States. Some highlights of recent seasons include her debut with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra performing Bach’s Cantata 51 and Scarlatti’s Su le Sponde del Tebro; soloist with the Boston Pops under Keith Lockhart in “Simply Sondheim”; Handel’s Messiah with the Colorado Symphony; a tour to Russia, Estonia, and Latvia as soloist in Arvo Pärt’s Passio with the Yale Schola Cantorum; the premiere of Michael Gandolfi’s Carroll in Numberland (alongside soprano Dawn Upshaw) at Tanglewood; and the First Lady in Clarion Music Society’s production of Die Zauberflöte. Ms. Richardson’s 2018–19 season featured her debuts with Opera Lafayette, The English Concert, The Baroque Chamber Orchestra of Colorado, and Musica Sacra. 2019–20 included “Baroque Spectacular” with the Voices of Ascension (NY), Faure’s Requiem and Mozart’s Coronation Mass with the Monmouth Civic Chorale (NY); and The Well-Caffeinated Clavier with the Philharmonic Baroque Orchestra, San Francisco.

MEG BRAGLE, Mezzo-soprano: Widely praised for her musical intelligence and “expressive virtuosity” (San Francisco Chronicle), Meg Bragle has earned an international reputation as one of today’s most gifted mezzo-sopranos, particularly in the field of early music. A frequent soloist with Sir John Eliot Gardiner and the English Baroque Soloists, she has made four recordings with the group, including Bach’s Easter and Ascension Oratorios – the vehicle for her BBC Proms debut − and the 2015 release

of Bach’s Mass in B Minor. Highlights of her 2019/20 season include returns to Seattle Symphony (Messiah), Colorado Symphony, Winter Park Bach Festival, Carmel Bach Festival, Tempesta di Mare, and the Dunedin Consort. She makes her debut with the San Antonio Symphony this fall performing Mozart’s Requiem. Other performances include those with Voices of Music, Washington Bach Consort, and a recital of early George Crumb Songs at the University of Pennsylvania. In addition to those with the English Baroque Soloists, she has made several recordings with Apollo’s Fire: Mozart’s Requiem (Koch), Handel’s Dixit Dominus and Ode for the Birthday of Queen Anne (Avie), and Monteverdi’s Vespro della Beata Vergine (Avie), and L’Orfeo (Eclectra). Other recordings include Bach’s Saint. John Passion with Arion Baroque (ATMA Classique). A new recording of Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater with the Winter Park Bach Festival is forthcoming. Ms. Bragle is based in Philadelphia where she is Artist in Residence at the University of Pennsylvania.

GREG FUNFGELD, Artistic Director & Conductor is now in his 38th season as artistic director and conductor of The Bach Choir of Bethlehem. He has expanded the programs of The Bach Choir beyond the annual Bach Festival to become a year-round season of 40 concerts and educational programs with an audience of more than 22,000. Mr. Funfgeld led The Choir on two major concert tours, to Germany in 1995 and to the United Kingdom in 2003 including a performance for the BBC Proms in London’s Royal Albert Hall. He also directed The Choir’s Centennial performances at the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall in 1999–2000. In 2011, Mr. Funfgeld directed The Choir in New York City performances at Saint Paul’s Chapel and Trinity Church, Wall Street, as part of a series of con-certs entitled Remember to Love, presented in observance of the 10th Anniversary of 9/11. Commissioned works during Mr. Funfgeld’s tenure include Libby Larsen’s Cantata I It Am – The Shewings of Julian of Norwich, co-commissioned with the BBC Proms, Stephen Paulus’ A Dream of Time, commissioned in honor of Funfgeld’s 25th anniversary with The Bach Choir, and Young Meister Bach, a one-act comic opera by Chuck Holdeman and Bill Bly. Under Mr. Funfgeld’s leadership, The Choir has released 13 recordings and

co-produced two films – the PBS documentary Make a Joyful Noise, and the internationally distributed Classical Kids’ DVD, Mr. Bach Comes to Call. Mr. Funfgeld is the architect and director of The Choir’s outstanding educational outreach programs, including Bach to School, Bach at Noon, and the annual interdisciplinary Family Concert. These programs have been awarded an annual grant from the National Endowment for the Arts since 2011 and an international award from the J.S. Bach Foundation, Switzerland in 2012. Mr. Funfgeld is a member of the advisory board of The American Bach Society. He also served as the director of music at First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem for 40 years until 2016. In 2019 he directed The Lehigh University Philharmonic during Eugene Albulescu’s sabbatical. He is a 1976 graduate of Westminster Choir College, where he studied under Dr. Joseph Flummerfelt. In 1986, he received the Alumni Merit Award for excellence in musical performance. Mr. Funfgeld was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Lehigh University in 2007 and Moravian College in 2018, in recognition of his musical accomplishments locally, nationally, and internationally.

The oldest American Bach Choir, THE BACH CHOIR OF BETHLEHEM gave the first complete American performances of Bach’s Mass in B Minor in 1900 and Christmas Oratorio in 1901. Since its founding in 1898, the now-famous Choir has been attracting thousands of visitors from across the United States and beyond to the annual Bethlehem Bach Festival in Pennsylvania. Since 1983, under Greg Funfgeld’s direction, the 85 dedicated volunteer singers of The Bach Choir of Bethlehem, performing with the Bach Festival Orchestra and distinguished soloists, have received international acclaim. Programming has expanded to 40 concerts and educational programs per year for an audience of more than 22,000. Venues have included the Herkulessaal at Munich’s Royal Residence and the Thomaskirche, Bach’s church in Leipzig, as part of the 1995 Germany tour; The Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall as part of The Choir’s Centennial Celebration in 1998–2000; the BBC Proms in London’s Royal Albert Hall as part of an eight-concert tour of the United Kingdom in 2003; and Severance Hall, Cleveland, for the 75th anniversary of the Baldwin-Wallace Bach Festival in 2007. In September 2011, The Bach Choir represented the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in a 10th anniversary musical observance of 9/11 in New York City, giving concerts in Saint Paul’s Chapel and Trinity Church, Wall Street. In 2013, The Choir performed Mendelssohn’s Elijah at Strathmore in the Washington D.C. area, and in 2014, the new opera Young Meister Bach for the 250th anniversary of the German Society of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. In June 2021, The Bach Choir will be featured in a performance in the Thomaskirche, as part of Leipzig’s famous Bachfest, with additional concerts in Dresden, Herrnhut, and Prague. The Choir has released 11 recordings on the Dorian and Analekta labels including most recently Bach’s Cantata 21 (2018), Handel’s Ode for Saint Cecilia’s Day (2018), A Child’s Christmas in Bethlehem (2013), and Saint John Passion (2012). The Choir has been featured on National Public Radio’s Performance Today and Prairie Home Companion, Deutsche Radio, the BBC World Service, CBS Sunday Morning, and the Emmy award-winning PBS documentary on The Choir, Make a Joyful Noise. It has been recognized for its outstanding educational outreach programs (Bach at Noon, Bach to School, and interdisciplinary Family Concerts) by annual awards from the National Endowment for the Arts (2011–2019). The J.S. Bach Foundation in Switzerland named The Bach Choir of Bethlehem as the first American recipient of its annual award to a single Bach organization, recognizingThe Bach Choir’s outstanding work in Bach performance and education for young people (2012). Mr. Bach Comes to Call, a film based on the acclaimed Classical Kids CD, was co-produced by The Bach Choir of Bethlehem and is distributed internationally by the Children’s Group. In July 2018, our affiliated Bel Canto Youth Chorus, currently celebrating its 27th year under the direction of founder Joy Hirokawa, officially merged with The Bach Choir of Bethlehem. Both organizations are looking to increase their impact in training the next generation of choral singers and cultivating a life-long passion for the choral arts. For more information visit The Bach Choir’s website – BACH.ORG.

THE BEL CANTO YOUTH CHORUS: Founded by and under the direction of Dr. Joy Hirokawa since 1993, The Bel Canto Youth Chorus is comprised of auditioned treble singers from five counties in southeastern Pennsylvania, and has developed an international reputation for performing choral repertoire at the highest standards of musical excellence and style. In July, 2018, Bel Canto Youth Chorus officially merged with The Bach Choir of Bethlehem as its affiliated youth chorus. It provides an educational and artistic musical experience for children of diverse ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds and nurtures a sense of accomplishment and community through the outstanding performance of their diverse choral repertoire. The choir has been invited to perform for numerous music conferences, including the Eastern Division ACDA (2010 and 2006), Eastern Division MENC, PMEA, AGO and Pennsylvania ACDA conferences. In 2013, the choir completed a recording with the Bach Choir of Bethlehem for a Christmas CD that was released on the Analekta label. The choir was honored in July 2011 to be recognized as the winner of The American Prize in the Children’s Chorus category. The choir frequently collaborates with other artists, such as the Bach Choir of Bethlehem, the Allentown Symphony, the Bucks County Choral Society, and the Lehigh University Choral Union. They performed a Concert for Peace with Philadelphia based Atzilut in March 2009. In 2007, the choir was honored to be part of the Philadelphia premiere performance of John Adams’ On the Transmigration of Souls, presented by the Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia (Alan Harler, director). Tours have taken the choir to Central Europe, Italy, Ireland, Canada, England, Oregon, Brooklyn, Disneyworld, Ohio, and twice to Hawaii for the Pacific Rim Children’s Choral Festival under the direction of Henry Leck. In July, 2019, the group traveled to the U.K. to be part of the International Children’s Choir Festival, and performed at Canterbury Cathedral, Coventry Cathedral and Southwark Cathedral in London. BACH.ORG/BELCANTO

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Texts & TranslationsTranslation from the German by H. Ellis Finger

1. Welcome

2. Ding Dong Merrily on High Traditional Carol 16th Century French tune harmonized by Charles Wood (1866–1926) | Text: G.R. Woodward (1848–1934)

– The Bach Choir of Bethlehem

3. Ave Maria Robert Parsons c.1530–70 – The Bach Choir of Bethlehem

Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum.Benedicta tu in mulieribus,et benedictus fructus ventris tui. Amen.

4. Reading – Saint Luke: 2: 1-20 – Revised Standard Version – Bishop Hopeton Clennon, Senior Pastor, Central Moravian Church Bethlehem

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. 2 This was the first enrollment, when Quirin’i-us was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. 7 And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

8 And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; 11 for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!”[a]

15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it they made known the saying which had been told them concerning this child; 18 and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

5. Aria from the Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248, Part 2 Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) – Lawrence Jones, tenor | Robin Kani, flute

Frohe Hirten, eilt, ach eilet, eh ihr euch zu lang verweilet, eilt, das holde Kind zu sehn! Geht, die Freude heisst zu schön, sucht die Anmut zu gewinnen, geht und labet Herz und Sinnen!

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Joyous shepherds speed, make haste, lest you tarry too long, hasten to see the gracious child! Go, with overabundant joy, go in search of grace, and soothe your heart and senses!

Ding! dong! merrily on highin heav’n the bells are ringing:Ding! dong! verily the skyis riv’n with angels singing!Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!

E’en so here below, below,let steeple bells be swungen,And “Io, io, io!”by priest and people sungen!Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!

Pray you, dutifully primeyour matin chime, ye ringers;May you beautifully rimeyour evetime song, ye singers.Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.Blessed art thou among women,and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. Amen.

6. from Concerto for Violin in A Minor, BWV 1041 Johann Sebastian Bach – Elizabeth Field, violin | Loretta O’Sullivan, cello | Stephen Groat, bass | Greg Funfgeld, piano

Movement 3 – Allegro assai

7. Aria from the Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248, Part 2 Johann Sebastian Bach – Meg Bragle, mezzo-soprano

Bereite dich, Zion, mit zätlichen Trieben,den Schönsten, den Liebsten blad bei dir zu sehn!Eile, den Bräutigam sehhnlichst zu lieben!Deine Wangen müssen heut viel schöner prangen.

8. Reading – from A Christmas Carol Charles Dickens (1812–1870) – Luke DiGiacinto, Choir member | Scrooge’s Nephew, Fred Hollowell

There are many things from which I might have derived good, by which I have not profited, I dare say, Christmas among the rest. But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely. And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!

9. Up Above My Head Traditional Gospel Melody arranged by Andrea Ramsey

– Bel Canto Youth Chorus Concert Choir

Up above my head, angels in the air,Up above my head, angels in the air,Singin’ “Do not fear, people everywhere, We’re bringing good news, we’re bringing good news to share.”

RefrainUp above my head, music in the air,Up above my head, music in the air,All around the world, singin’ everywhere,Oh, there’s enough love, and there’s enough joy to share.

Shepherds in the field, watchin’ flocks by night,Shepherds in the field, watchin’ flocks by night,Way up in the sky, shining bright,They’re followin’ the star, they’re followin’ the star to night.

Make ready, Zion, with tender feelings,To see in your midst the most lovely one, the dearest!Your cheeks must now glow more radiantly!Make haste, greet your bridegroom with most ardent love.

Refrain

Born in Bethlehem, a child so small,Born in Bethlehem, a child so small.A tiny boy, in a cattle stall, He’s bringing joy, he’s bringing joy to all.

Refrain

All in this room, music in the air,All in this room, music in the air.Down in my soul, I feel it there.There’s plenty good news (I’m singin’ the news),You know there’s good news, (I’m shoutin’ the news!)That there’s enough joy, and there’s enough love, up above my head.

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10. Reading – [little tree] E.E. Cummings (1894–1962) – Julia Sobrinski & Bridget White, Bel Canto Youth Chorus choristers

little treelittle silent Christmas treeyou are so littleyou are more like a flower

who found you in the green forestand were you very sorry to come away?see i will comfort youbecause you smell so sweetly

i will kiss your cool barkand hug you safe and tightjust as your mother would,only don’t be afraid

look the spanglesthat sleep all the year in a dark boxdreaming of being taken out and allowed to shine,the balls the chains red and gold the fluffy threads,

11. from Dies Natalis (Day of Birth) – V. The Salutation Gerald Finzi (1901–1956) Poem by Thomas Traherne, (1636–1674)

– Lawrence Jones, tenor

These little Limbs, These Eys and Hands which here I find, This panting Heart wherewith my Life begins; Where have ye been? Behind What Curtain were ye from me hid so long! Where was, in what Abyss, my new-made Tongue?

When silent I So many thousand thousand Years Beneath the Dust did in a Chaos ly, How could I Smiles, or Tears, Or Lips, or Hands, or Eys, or Ears perceiv? Welcom ye Treasures which I now receiv.

From Dust I rise And out of Nothing now awake; These brighter Regions which salute mine Eys A Gift from God I take: The Earth, the Seas, the Light, the lofty Skies, The Sun and Stars are mine; if these I prize.

A Stranger here Strange things doth meet, strange Glory see, Strange Treasures lodg’d in this fair World appear, Strange all and New to me: But that they mine should be who Nothing was, That Strangest is of all; yet brought to pass.

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put up your little armsand i’ll give them all to you to holdevery finger shall have its ringand there won’t be a single place dark or unhappy

then when you’re quite dressedyou’ll stand in the window for everyone to seeand how they’ll stare!oh but you’ll be very proud

and my little sister and i will take handsand looking up at our beautiful treewe’ll dance and sing“Noel Noel”

Cast your light also on my dark thoughts,illuminate my heartwith the radiance of your clear beams!Your word shall be my brightest candlein all my actions;this will cleanse my soul of all things evil.

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We sing one common Lord; wherefore he should Himself the candle hold.I will go searching, till I find a sun shall stay, till we have done;A willing shiner, that shall shine as gladly, as frost-nipped suns look sadly.Then will we sing, and shine all our own day, and one another pay:His beams shall cheer my breast, and both so twine, till ev’n His beams sing, and my music shine.

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Go tell it on the mountain,over the hills and ev’rywhere;Go tell it on the mountainthat Jesus Christ is born.

A baby, in a manger,was born that Christmas day;He came down to save us,to wash all our sins away.

A star above was shining,the child in manger lay;Wise men came because they knewHe’d show us all the way.

12. The Virgin’s Slumber Song, Opus 76, No. 52 Max Reger (1873–1916) Poem by Martin Boelitz (1874–1918)

– Nola Richardson, soprano

Amid the roses Mary sits and rocks her Jesus-child. While amid the treetops sighs the breeze so warm and mild. And soft and sweetly sings a bird upon the bough: Ah, Baby, dear one, slumber now!

13. Aria from the Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248, Part 5 Johann Sebastian Bach – David Newman, bass | Nobuo Kitagawa, oboe d’amore

Erleucht auch meine finstre Sinnen,erleuchte mein Herzedurch der Strahlen klaren Schein!Dein Wort soll mir die hellste Kerzein allen meinen Werken sein;dies lässet die Seele nichts Böses beginnen.

14. Reading – Christmas 2 George Herbert (1593–1633) – Bridget George, Executive Director

The shepherds sing; and shall I silent be? My God, no hymn for Thee?My soul’s a shepherd too; a flock it feeds of thoughts, and words, and deeds.The pasture is Thy word: the streams, Thy grace enriching all the place.Shepherd and flock shall sing, and all my powers outsing the daylight hours.Then will we chide the sun for letting night take up his place and right:

15. Go Tell It on the Mountain Spiritual, arranged by Paul Sjolund – Lane Conklin McCord, tenor | Bryan Holten, piano

Happy is Thy laughter, holy is Thy silent rest,Lay Thy head in slumber, fondly on Thy Mother’s breast!Ahr, Baby, dear one, slumber now!

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20. Reading – The Work of Christmas Howard Thurman (1899–1981) From Black Fire: African American Quakers on Spirituality & Human Rights

– Grace Adele Hochella, Choir member

When the song of the angels is stilled,When the star in the sky is gone,When the kings and princes are home,When the shepherds are back with their flocks,The work of Christmas begins:To find the lost,

Excerpt, “The Work of Christmas,” from Howard Thurman’s The Mood of Christmas and Other Celebrations is used by permission of Friends United Press. All rights reserved.

21. Silent Night Franz Xaver Gruber (1787–1863) Stille Nacht, by Joseph Mohr, 1818; translation anon., c. 1850

16. I Wonder as I Wander (Appalachian Carol) John Jacob Niles (1892–1980) – Meg Bragle, mezzo-soprano

I wonder as I wander, out under the sky,How Jesus the Savior did come for to dieFor poor on’ry people like you and like I…I wonder as I wander, out under the sky.

When Mary birthed Jesus, ‘twas in a cow’s stall,With wise men and farmers and shepherds and all.But high from God’s heaven a star’s light did fall,And the promise of ages it then did recall.

17. Reading – Thanks, Robert Frost David Ray (b. 1932) – Greg Funfgeld, Artistic Director & Conductor

Do you have hope for the future?,someone asked Robert Frost, toward the end.Yes, and even for the past, he replied,that it will turn out to have been all rightfor what it was, something we can accept,mistakes made by the selves we had to be,not able to be, perhaps, what we wished,or what looking back half the time it seemswe could so easily have been, or ought…The future, yes, and even for the past,

Permission to read this poem was granted by The Rowman and Littlefield Publishing Group. © by David Ray (davidraypoet.com)

18. As Joseph Was A-walking Eric H. Thiman (1900–1975) – Nola Richardson, soprano

19. Cantique de Noël (Christmas Song) Adolphe Adam (1803–1856) arranged by Carl Deis | David Newman, bass

O holy night! the stars are brightly shining,it is the night of the dear Saviour’s birth;Long lay the world in sin and error pining,till he appeared and the soul felt its worth.A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn;Fall on your knees, Oh hear the angel voices!O night divine! O night when Christ was born!

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that it will become something we can bear.And I too, and my children, so I hope,will recall as not too heavy the tugof those albatrosses I sadly placedupon their tender necks. Hope for the past,yes, old Frost, your words provide that courage,and it brings strange peace that itself passesinto past, easier to bear becauseyou said it, rather casually, as snowwent on falling in Vermont years ago.

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When Mary birthed Jesus, ‘twas in a cow’s stall,With wise men and farmers and shepherds and all.But high from God’s heaven a star’s light did fall,And the promise of ages it then did recall.

Truly He taught us to love one another;His law is Love and His gospel is Peace;Chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother,and in his name all oppression shall cease.Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,let all within us praise his Holy name!Christ is the Lord, then ever, ever praise we! His pow’r and glory, evermore proclaim!

3. Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht! Gottes Sohn, o wie lacht; Lieb’ aus deinem göttlichen Mund, Da uns schlägt die rettende Stund;

Christ, in deiner Geburt, Christ, in deiner Geburt!

To heal the broken,To feed the hungry,To release the prisoner,To rebuild the nations,To bring peace among the people,To make music in the heart.

As Joseph was a-walkinghe heard an Angel sing:This night shall be the birthtimeof Christ, our heav’nly King.

He neither shall be bornin housen nor in hall;Nor in the place of Paradisebut in an ox’s stall.

He neither shall be rockédin silver nor in gold;But in a wooden mangerthat resteth on the mould.

He neither shall be clothédin purple or in pall;But in the fair white linenthat usen babies all.

As Joseph was a-walkingthere did an angel sing;And Mary’s Child at midnightwas born to be our King.

Then be ye glad, good people,this night of all the year,And light ye up your candles,for His star shineth clear.

If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing,A star in the sky, or a bird on the wing,Or all of God’s angels in heav’n for to sing,He surely could have it, ‘cause He was the King.

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SOPRANO IKayla AlderferShannon AloiseRebecca ErhardtRoberta GeorgeEmily A. GrossNancy HookeDeborah IhlingErynn R. MannCarrie Krug NedickLucy PerusseMartha Cox PopichakAmy RuhfRoberta WagnerBridget White – Choral Scholar

SOPRANO IIPatty AlerciaBeverly BaileyWendy E. BorstStacy GabelJesse GehmanKatherine KaiserRoberta KasmiroskiTina M. LebrechtMichel LloydLynn German LongMeg McKennaMarie MillerKelly SeimsNikki SengGrace Adele SpruiellVictoria SpruiellLaura Welkey

ALTO ILynn Whitehouse BirneyLaura CarlsonChristina LamonicaLinda LipkisJohanna PearsonMolly PorterKate RacculiaJean Anne ShaffermanMartha SipeGenevieve Wilde TerpstraAnnette ThielJean Donegan Vrabel

ALTO IILynne BeckDorothy Z. CockrellJennifer HayMary Zsido PainiBeverly RumblePatti SakdiponephongDebbie Turton

TENOR IKurt C. AnchorstarKevin ConeLuke DiGiacintoBrendan D. JamesCharles LutteLane Conklin McCordKelly MillerGuy RauscherAndrew RobertsRhys Williams

TENOR IIJesus CastilloAlan GaNunDustin HartmanMark HelmsJamie HenryBrian K. HoltenDave MentzerMichael MillerAnthony R. VillaniChristopher T. Wagner

BASS ITony AustinJason DietrichJoseph FinkDodd LambertonJohn NedickSteven RiveraDavid RuhfBrian C. SnyderJohn L. SullivanDavid R. UmlaBenjamin WatsonPeter Young

BASS IITodd FennellBryan K. GerhabBrian HayJames W. RowlandPhil Turton

Italics denote leave of absence

The Bach Choir Greg Funfgeld, Artistic Director & ConductorThomas Goeman, Assistant Conductor & AccompanistRosa Lamoreaux, Vocal CoachJanie Kolb Florenz, Choir Manager

The Bel Canto Youth Chorus of The Bach Choir of BethlehemJoy Hirokawa, Artistic Director & ConductorAndrea Bernsten, collaborative pianist

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Concert ChoirElla Campbell-BeckerLaura DunhamKate GilchristJulia Crawford

Taylor KendallNoah Langkamer-SmithSorrel Langkamer-SmithSamantha McQuaidJulia Sobrinski

Aixla MacbethRyan PakzadSkye ScarlettAmy SchmittCarolyn Taylor

Lila TaylorBridget WhiteCassidy Williams

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Administration

Officers Harold G. Black President

The Rt. Rev. Hopeton Clennon Vice-President

Cheryl Matherly Vice-President

Annette Thiel Secretary

Sheldon W. Dean, Ph.D. Assistant Secretary

James Horvath Treasurer

Anthony R. Thompson Assistant Treasurer

Board of Managers TERMS EXPIRING 2020Patty Alercia James HorvathAlfred J. KrugLarry Lipkis, Ph.D.Jennifer O’DonnellJack PayneErika Riddle Petrozelli David RuhfAnnette ThielDonald Wertman

Artistic Staff Greg Funfgeld Artistic Director & Conductor

Thomas Goeman Assistant Conductor & Accompanist

Rosa Lamoreaux Vocal Coach

Charlotte Mattax Moersch

Orchestra Personnel Manager

Janie Kolb Florenz Choir Manager

The Bel Canto Youth ChorusJoy Hirokawa Founder & Artistic Director

Andrea Bernsten Collaborative Pianist

TERMS EXPIRING 2021Harold G. BlackThe Rt. Rev. Hopeton ClennonCharles P. DangelmajerSheldon W. Dean, Ph.D.Jim HarbaughJanet LoengardJulie MacombCheryl Matherly Joan M. MoranBarbara OpperCharles ThielAnthony R. Thompson

Administrative Staff Bridget George Executive Director

Cheryl Dungan Development Officer

Renée James Marketing Director

Claudia Carroll Finance & Business Manager

Silagh White

Bel Canto Administrator

Michael DeCrosta Administrative Assistant

Linda Lipkis Archivist

Sophia Verbiscar Production & Office Assistant

Anne Schauer Graphic Design

CHOIR REPRESENTATIVES TO THE BOARDKurt AnchorstarCarrie Krug NedickKate RacculiaPeter Young

EMERITUSDavid G. Beckwith, Ph.D. Janice S. BongeJohn A. Jordan, Jr.

The Catherdral Church of the NativityFirst Presbyterian Church of BethlehemHome Depot (Whitehall, Bethlehem, Easton)Rich-Mar FloristsGail Gray DesignLa Petite ProvenceBeck Tree Farms (Hamburg)

Janie Kolb Florenz & Lynn Birney – Choir pashminasPatrick W. James – technical consultantRay Malec & Cameron James – parking Cheryl Dungan, Olivia Dungan & Jane Pearson – decorationsNick Pokrivchak & Tim Wayne – productionDavid Ruhf – Choir blogPeter Young – transportation

Special Thanks to the following for their assistance with the Virtual Christmas Concert:

THANK YOU!

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Support The Bach Choir of Bethlehem – “A National Treasure”

BECOME A GUARANTOR!The Bach Choir of Bethlehem has been sustained for over a century by our guarantors – donors who choose to make an annual and on-going gift of at least $125 a year ($50 for associate guarantors aged 30 or under) toward the general administrative and artistic operations of the organization. There are several benefits associated with different guarantee levels.

MAKE A ONE–TIME OR ANNUAL GIFTGifts from foundations, corporations, government, and individual donors are an important source of support and are greatly appreciated. Annual gifts can be in any amount and are used for daily operations unless designated for a specific program.

GIVING BACH – OUR VISION FOR TOMORROWThis campaign celebrates Greg Funfgeld’s 38-year tenure and supports The Choir in carrying it’s extraordinary legacy of musical excellence, innovative education, and community engagement into the future. The Choir aims to raise $1.5 million, including $900,000 for the Endowment and $600,000 for special projects and general operations by June 2021. To date, we have raised 86% of this goal.

Endowment or general operating gifts to the campaign can be undesignated or designated for one of the following funds and programs:• Artistic Director & Conductor Fund • Greg Funfgeld Family Concert Fund • The Bel Canto Youth Chorus Fund • Recordings, Broadcasts & Technology Fund (includes naming opportunity) – expanding exposure for the music and education

programs of The Bach Choir through diverse media, including our virtual performances.• Leadership Transition costs as we seek to continue the excellent and visionary artistic and executive leadership of The Choir.

MEMORIAL OR TRIBUTE GIFTSA special gift given in memory of loved ones, or given to commemorate a special person or significant life event.

HERITAGE SOCIETY/PLANNED GIVINGOutright endowment gifts of $5,000 or more (cash or appreciated stock) entitle you to membership in the Heritage Society. Planned giving is a way to ensure the financial future for The Choir. All planned gifts are placed in the endowment.

LIFETIME GUARANTEEPass on your guarantor number and your love of The Choir to a family member or friend. This program allows you to name a beneficiary who will inherit your guarantor number. A lifetime guarantee is $25,000, and it may be paid with various payment plans. Once the gift has been established, the donor will not pay a guarantee again. Once the beneficiary inherits the number, the beneficiary will not pay a guarantee.

We Hope That You Will Consider The Bach Choir as You Plan Your Annual Or Long-Term Contributions.

Make a Donation through Your IRA: An IRA charitable rollover can be an easy and convenient way to make a gift from one of your major assets. Contact your financial advisor for advice about how a rollover could benefit you and The Bach Choir.

Give a Gift through the Donation of Appreciated Stock: Making a gift to The Bach Choir of stocks, bonds or mutual funds that have increased in value may provide you with specific tax benefits.

Designate The Bach Choir to receive a donation through your company’s Matching Gift program: Many companies offer matching gift programs to encourage employees to contribute to charitable organizations. Check with your employer to see if they participate in a matching gift program as a way to increase the impact of your contribution to The Bach Choir.

Consider a Planned Gift or Charitable Bequest to The Bach Choir: Your legacy gift can have a lasting impact and may be as simple as naming The Bach Choir as a beneficiary in your will, trust, life insurance policies, retirement plan, or other assets. Help ensure our legacy of musical excellence, community enrichment, and youth education! Visit Bach.org to make a secure online donation!

Your financial support of our music and our mission ensures that we can present the timeless music of J.S. Bach at the highest standards of musical excellence. Our season includes 16 ticketed concerts, as well as our highly acclaimed community outreach and youth educational programs such as Bach at Noon and Bach to School. Ticket sales account for less than half of The Choir’s revenue each year, so the support we receive from our donors is very important to our organization. Visit Bach.org or call the development office at 610.866.4382 ext. 113 to donate or to learn more about specific giving opportunities and funds.

Please Give to The Bach Choir! Your donations of any value are greatly appreciated and can make a big difference for The Choir. Here are some of the ways that you can support our musicians, our performances, and our programs:

Theo Anderson

Hub Willson

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$50,000 and aboveNational Endowment for the ArtsGeneral Operating Support, Educational Outreach

$20,000 to $49,999Dexter & Dorothy Baker FoundationEducational Outreach

Fowler Family FoundationEducational Outreach

Keystone Savings FoundationBach at Noon, General Operating

Leon and June Holt Memorial FundChristmas, General Operating

Millstream FundGeneral Operating Support

Presser FoundationChristmas, General Operating Support

Raymond-Cryder Donor Advised Fund of the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation

Bach to School, Choral Scholars, Bel Canto Youth Chorus

The Century FundBach at Noon Allentown, Bach to School

$15,000 to $19,999Air Products FoundationYo-Yo Ma Program

County of NorthamptonBach Festival, Christmas

HYDAC Christmas Concert, European Tour

PA Council on the ArtsGeneral Operating Support

$10,000 to $14,999B Braun Medical Inc.Bach at Noon, European Tour

Jephson Educational TrustEducational Outreach

Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation European Tour, General Operating

$5,000 to $9,999Cornerstone Advisors Asset Management LLCChristmas

Embassy Bank for the Lehigh ValleyBach to School

$2,500 to $4,999Alvin H. Butz Inc.Bach at Noon

County of LehighBach at Noon Allentown

Douglass Group Merrill LynchGala

HMK InsuranceBach at Noon

Norris McLaughlin P.A.Bach at Noon

Pharo Family Donor Advised Fund of the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation

General Operating SupportPPL UtilitiesBach to School

$1,000 to $2,499Bennett AutomotiveGala

Breslin Ridyard Fadero ArchitectsGala, Christmas

CrossAmerica Partners FoundationBach at Noon

DunneManningBach at Noon

Evonik Corp.European Tour

R.K. Laros FoundationGeneral Operating

Thiel Strategic CommunicationsGala

Up to $999C.F. Martin & Co.

ChristmasMuhlenberg College

GalaSt. Luke’s University Health Network

Gala Working Dog Press

Christmas

In KindAnne Schauer DesignSeason

Beck Tree Farms, HamburgChristmas

Chocolate Lab Gala

Christmas City PrintingSeason

Home DepotChristmas

RichMar FloristChristmas, Gala

Working Dog PressSeason

Matching Gifts: Air ProductsBank of AmericaBristol Myers Squibb FoundationIBMJohnson & JohnsonMerckNovartisOlympusPfizerQVC

All gifts of cash or appreciated stock, made by mail or wire transfer, are gratefully accepted and are deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. The Bach Choir of Bethlehem is recognized by the U.S. IRS as a non-profit corporation under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code. The official registration and financial information of The Choir may be obtained from the PA Department of State by calling toll-free within Pennsylvania 1-800-732-0999.

Annual Fund – Corporate, Foundation & GovernmentCorporate, Foundation, & Government SupportThese gifts were pledged or received in our 2019–20 and/or 2020–21 seasons and are gratefully acknowledged.

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In the spirit of the season….We are grateful for the generous contributions we have received from these friends of The Bach Choir, which made it possible for us to share the beauty and comfort

of the Christmas season with friends and family.

Thank you to our 2020 Christmas Concert Benefactors!

BenefactorsKurt & Kathy AnchorstarDr. David & Carol BeckwithHal & Alison BlackJan & John BongeBreslin Ridyard Fadero ArchitectsC.F. Martin & Co. Charles & Maria DangelmajerAnn & John DavisSheldon DeanSandra D. DeiterCheryl & Charles Dungan & FamilyJanie Kolb FlorenzBridget & Bill GeorgePhyllis H. Gibson Jim & Eleanor Harbaugh

Dr. Joy HirokawaJohn & Betsy JordanDr. Janet LoengardJustin McCarthyJan C. MacLennan-Kennedy, in memory of her mother, Corrine C. KennedyJoan M. Moran – Amaranth FoundationJackie Renner & David Craig Erika & Matt PetrozelliAnnette & Charlie ThielMr. & Mrs. James VanArtsdalenDonald & Christine WertmanWorking Dog Press

Thank you to the Angels, Shepherds, Kings and Stars of Bethlehem who supported

our Christmas Concert, along with the many other individuals who gave a monetary

gift to The Bach Choir during this very challenging season. We appreciate your

generous spirit and look forward to seeing you at our concerts in 2021.

We wish you and your loved ones

peace, health, happiness, and prosperity

in the coming New Year.

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MANY CHOICES. REAL VOICES.Celebrating 25 years as the Lehigh Valley’s trusted source for NPR News, local public affairs and an eclectic mix of music.

Listen online at WDIY.ORG

™

610.740.0944

to the Bach Choir and to all who have supported the Bethlehem Press.

YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER

.com

Dear Friends,Gathering to perform this beautiful music and present this virtual concert to you was truly a gift to everyone in The Choir. We hope it inspires you and fills you with the spirit of the season.

We miss seeing our audience, singing for you, and sharing the community that music creates. But we will see you again, and look forward to all the glorious music to come.

For now – we send you our warmest holiday greetings, and hope you have a Christmas season filled with love, peace and comfort.

The Bach Choir of Bethlehem photography byHub Willson BACH.org