The Choir of Men & Women and the Trinity Choristers of Trinity Church will bring festive music to the beautiful, candlelit acoustics of Trinity Episcopal Church for the community at its Festival Of Lessons And Carols For Advent. The annual celebration will be shared Sunday, December 7, at 2 pm, as part of the Annual Newtown Holiday Festival.

Between hearing readings of prophecy, all congregation will be invited to sing Advent hymns including the ancient “Veni, Veni Emmanuel,” the uplifting “Lo! He comes with clouds descending, “ and the dance-like “Angel Gabriel.”

The women of the Choir and the Trinity Choristers will join together to sing a new, rhythmic setting of the 15th Century macaronic text “Adam lay ybounden” by Jim Leininger.  The semi-professional Choir of Men and Women will sing works of Felix Mendelssohn, Paul Manz, and others.

Soloists Michele McBride and Cynthia McCorkindale, along with Director of Music Ministries Fiona Smith Sutherland, will present a three-part a cappella setting of the hymn, “Ave Regina Coelorum (Hail, O Queen of Heaven)” by the Renaissance composer Guillaume Dufay. 

The Trinity Choristers sing works of Benjamin Britten, a beautiful Advent setting of the tune “O waly, waly” with soloists, and a version of the popular French carol “Fum, fum, fum.”

Trumpeter Doug Myers will be present, accompanying the hymns and many anthems with original descants, and will play works of Bach and Hovhaness with Ms Sutherland on organ.

The choral music will concludes with a festive note as the choirs join together to sing the marvelous spiritual “Ain’t got time to die,” with Gordon Jones as tenor soloist.

All are invited to join the Trinity Church musicians for the brief, but beautiful worship experience. The church is at 36 Main Street.

Contact Fiona Smith Sutherland for additional information about this service or about the choir program at Trinity at 203-426-9070 extension 11 or Musicminister@trinitynewtownct.org.