Tonight’s program, Mary Bears a Promise, includes a variety of works that venerate the Virgin Mary or that celebrate the miraculous birth of her son, Jesus.

 

Occurring on the second Sunday in Advent, the program comprises a variety of genres, including anthems, motets, Magnificat selections, a cantata, and an African-American spiritual, all based on one or both of the two themes.

 

Significantly, we also celebrate the 500th anniversary of the birth of Italian composer Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina with performances of two of his seasonal motets, and the 25th anniversary of the death of the American composer and arranger Jester Hairston with one of his Christmas spiritual arrangements.

 

The program is framed with selections from the beginning and the end of J. S. Bach’s famous Magnificat, BWV 243.2.