Holiday Music At St Stephen’s

RIDGEFIELD — The St Stephen’s Chamber Singers will perform a one-hour concert of traditional and modern carols on Sunday, December 19, at 4 pm, at St Stephen’s Church. The church is at 351 Main Street (Route 35).

The ensemble will be under the direction of Kristin Sponheim, the minister of music at St Stephen’s.

The program contains music that ranges widely through music history, including the anonymous 10th Century Latin carol, Angelus Ad Virginem; the mystical O Magnum Mysterium by the Spanish Renaissance composer Victoria; and a lovely 19th Century American folk hymn, “The Hills Are Bare at Bethlehem.”

The program also features works by 20th Century composers Ralph Vaughan Williams and Benjamin Britten. In addition, New Haven composer Richard Boursy’s “Hark Ye” will have it debut performance in this program.

The group will also perform fresh interpretations of beloved carols such as “God Rest you Merry Gentlemen,” “Pat-a-Pan,” “We Three Kings of Orient Are” and “What Child Is This?” Some of the program will be performed a cappella, while several of the carols will feature interesting and unusual instrumental accompaniment. The program also includes a musical interlude performed by flutist Angela Kelly and harpist Wendy Kerner-Lucas.

Admission is free, with donations invited. For further information call 203/438-3789.