Islands A Cappella Sings “O How Beautiful” in Yuletide Performance

Sunday, Dec. 4 at 4 p.m. at the Orcas Center

Members of Islands A Cappella will lift their voices in joyous praise at Orcas Center on Sunday.

Lift your spirits with beautiful choral music at “O How Beautiful,” the Islands’ A Cappella Christmas concert. The choir, composed of singers from Orcas, Lopez, Shaw and San Juan Islands, is directed by Angel Michaels. It has grown since its founding by Dennis Bonner  in 2002 as  Orcas A Cappella.

At the concert at Orcas Center on Sunday, Dec. 4 the singers will present an international collection of carols and great choral repertoire from the Christmas season. The choir has been rehearsing Sundays on San Juan Island, which is most convenient for the singers from all the islands.

Ann Palmer, soprano from Lopez says, “I love working with Angel. She inspires her singers with her raw enthusiasm and positive energy. It makes it fun for everybody — and that transmits to the audience.”

“O How Beautiful” is the beginning refrain of the song, “O How Beautiful this Finely Woven Earth.”  It is a tribute to the shared experiences of love – joy, grief, soul, tears, laughter.

In the contemporary “Ubi Caritas” by Guy Forbes, the choir sings in Latin, “Where there is love, God is there.”

Mary Wondra, Islands A Cappella alto, says she  really enjoys the modern harmonies of “Ubi Caritas” and “O how beautiful this finely woven earth.”

A trio of songs from the 18^th century, written by William Billings” A Virgin Unspotted,” “Bethlehem,” and “Boston” are from “The Singing Master’s Assistant.” “Milford,” composed by John Stevenson in 1802, evokes the “plainsong style” of the Appalachian church singing.

A multi-part motet, “Hodie Christus Natus Est” (“Today Christ is Born”) dates from the 17^th century “Cantiones Sacrae” by W. Barclay Squire. Men and women’s voices echo each other in exultation and noels, culminating in repeated “Alleluias.”

“Ave Maria”  by Tomas Luis de Victoria, composed in 16^th century Spain, begins with a tenor chant of the Archangel Gabriel’s announcement to the Virgin Mother Mary.

The choir reaches back even further to sing the classic “Lo How a Rose E’er Blooming,” from the early 17^thcentury, by Michael Praetorius. Tim Nelson of Shaw Island says it is his favorite piece in the repertoire. “We used to sing it with Mother Kateri when she led Shaw Singers, so there’s a sentimental tie – and it’s a beautiful song of love blossoming in the dark of winter.”

“O Magnum Mysterium” also by de Victoria, tells of “the greatest mystery” wherein creation was saved by the birth of a Savior in the most humble circumstances, among stable animals.

The Spanish influence continues with “Riu Riu Chiu” from “Three Spanish Christmas Carols” of the 16^th century. “God has kept the black wolf from our lamb,” the rhythmic, tambourine-accompanied piece tells us.

The 23^rd psalm is set to music by Benedictine Brother Theresio Calwell in a 21^st century piece, composed in 2011.

Randall Thompson’s haunting and hopeful “Alleluia” is a choir favorite. It was composed in 1940, just as the city of Paris fell to the conquering Germany armies. It has a subdued, determined quality that gives praise in spite of fearful circumstances. Conductor Angel Michaels studied this piece with one of Randall Thompson’s students and speaks of the building passion of the piece.

“Bim Bam,” a Hasidic folksong, enlivens the performance with its accompaniment by Patty Johnson on piano, Gil Blinn on Clarinet and Jim Shaffer-Bauck on tambourine.

Sheldon Gregory, Orcas bass, says of  singing with the multi-island choir, “It’s very rewarding and really speaks to me when we as a choir sing beautifully and I know I’m a part of that. Music is a very emotional experience for me and I’m very grateful to be able to participate in this choir and sing this music.”

The group will also perform at the Shaw Island Community Center on Friday, Dec. 2, at the Lopez Community Center on Saturday, Dec. 3, and at Orcas Center for the Arts on Sunday, Dec. 4 at 4 p.m. Tickets are available at Darvill

Ticketsfor the 4 p.m. Orcas Center Concert on Dec. 4  are $10 and are available at Darvill’s Bookstore and at the door.