The Peninsula Singers are upping the ante for their upcoming Christmas program.
On Sunday, Nov. 23, the singers present “Hodie” (This Day) by Ralph Vaughan Williams at 2 p.m. in the Port Angeles High School Auditorium, 304 E. Park Ave.
Maestro Dewey Ehling says for his 26th year conducting, “Hodie” is “one of the most demanding pieces they’ve performed” up there with past performances of “St. Matthew Passion” and “B Minor Mass” by Bach and the complete “Messiah” by Handel.
It’s presented in two parts with the first named “Nowell” by Ehling, which comes from the Latin text in the Prologue of the Christmas cantata of “Hodie.” The second half presents “Hodie” with orchestration by the Port Townsend Community Orchestra, which Ehling also conducts.
Ehling first conducted the work about 40 years ago.
“I’ve never forgotten the beauty of the music and the text,” he said. “I just haven’t had the goods to do it again. It’s a very difficult piece.”
The whole program will be sung in English except for the Latin text in the “Prologue” in “Hodie” and audience members will receive a copy of the text to follow along with the music.
“One of the most inspiring pieces in the cantata is ‘The March of the Three Kings,’” Ehling said. “It includes much fanfare and description of kings and the gifts they bring to the King of Kings.”
To add to the dynamism of the work, Ehling said the chorus and orchestra combine to shout “Crowning the skies the star of morning, star of dayspring calls, lighting the stable and the broken walls where the Prince lies.” They’ll also shout “He shall be great and shall be called the son of the Highest, Emmanuel, God with us!”
Peninsula Singers features 43 singers and the orchestra is a full symphony with 45 players.
The singers also will present “Fantasia on Christmas Carols,” sung by baritone Joel Yelland and chorus, and “Gloria” and “Sleep, Holy Infant, Sleep” from Dave Brubeck’s “La Fiesta de la Posada.”
Ehling said the first half closes with Alfred Burt’s series of Christmas cards in musical form.
Soloists for the show include soprano Linda Grubb, tenor Trent Pomeroy, baritone Joel Yelland, soprano Leona Voss and soprano Jaie Livingstone. Linda Dowdell accompanies the first half on piano and second on organ.
The second half features narration sung by six singers from the chorus: Lauretta Ehling, Dorothy Hensey, Elizabeth Perez, Sharon Fritschler, Valerie McRoberts and Vicki Helwick.
Tickets are $15 general admission or $12 for seniors/students and are available at Antique Emporium in Port Angeles; Hart’s Fine Books in Sequim, from members of the Peninsula Singers and at the door. The chorus and orchestra perform “Nowell” and Christmas carols on Dec. 6 in Chimacum High School.
For more information about the group, visit peninsulasingers.org.
