UPDATED Nov. 30: Cantilena Chorale, a contemporary classical music women’s chorus, presented "Comfort & Joy" at 4 p.m Sunday, Dec. 11, at First Parish Unitarian Universalist of Arlington, 630 Mass. Ave. The director is Elinor Armsby.
The selections chosen are stylistically diverse and not especially Christmassy -- from a 15th-century carol "Make We Joy Now in the Feast" to an African-American spiritual "There is a Balm in Gilead" to compositions of contemporary American women composers, especially Margaret Bonds' soon-to-be-published "Sleep Song,"
Marjan Helms' "Sukkat Shelomekha" and the premiere of a newly released work by Moira Smiley arranged by request especially for women’s voices. Other composers include Frank Bridge, Jocelyn Hagen, Dolly Parton/Craig Hella Johnson, Michael Praetorius and Randall Thompson.
The December program aims to offer solace as we grow increasingly weary of the limits this pandemic has placed upon us and to express the joy we experience when singing together and bringing music to our community.
The spring program explores political movements, especially focused on issues of women's rights and the impact of women's activism to effect change.
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Because of the ongoing pandemic, Cantilena requires all singers attending rehearsals in person to be fully vaccinated, masked and physically distant from one another. Cantilena will continue to monitor the level of risk to our choral community and adjust our policies as necessary.
To see more about the group, go to www.cantilena.org.
This news announcement was published Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022, and updated Nov. 30, based on information from Cantilena.
