Canticle Choir returns in holiday splendor
By Andrea Estrada
South Coast Beacon

The 50-voice ensemble Canticle A Cappella Choir has released a new compact disc in advance of the vocalists’ annual winter concerts next week.

Under the guidance of artistic director Phyllis E. Zimmerman, Canticle produced “O Wondrous Mystery,” which features music from Canticle’s 2000 Christmas season.

“It will be available online at www.canticlechoir.com,” said Canticle board member Elizabeth Somics. “It will also be at Chaucer’s and Borders. We’re hoping to get it into as many stores as possible.”

“O Wondrous Mystery” marks the fourth recording self-produced by the music group. The others include “Canticle,” “A Canticle Christmas” and “My Song in the Night.” The recordings are live, unedited and performed entirely from memory.

“O Wondrous Mystery” features four works by the Italian composer Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina; two early 17th century Christmas carols by the German composer and organist Michael Praetorius; a 15th century English Christmas carol by John Gerrish; a composition by Zimmerman using 15th century text; an Israeli folksong arranged by Zimmerman; and other more well-known pieces.

“We perform a wide spectrum of music,” Somics said of Canticle’s holiday repertoire. “We do a lot of traditional pieces that people know as well as things people don’t know from the 16th century to present day. We do one of Phyllis’s compositions; she’s a bit more of a modern composer and people don’t always get exposed to that during the holidays.”

Canticle’s holiday program, slated for 8:15 p.m. on Dec. 12 and 13 and 3 p.m. Dec. 14, will focus on master choral works dating from the 16th century. Music will include “Born Today the King of Heaven,” set for double choir by the 16th century composer Jacob Handl, Robert Parsons’ “Ave Maria” from the same time period and “O how blest is the day” by Peter Philips.

The group will perform Johannes Brahms’ motet “O Savior, throw the heavens wide,” as well as the two Russian choral masterpieces “Come Thou Holy Spirit” and “Salvation is Created” by Pavel Tschesnokoff.

Tickets for A Canticle Christmas are $18 general and $12 for seniors and students. They are available at Chaucer’s Bookstore, Santa Barbara Music, Tecelote Book Shop, online at www.canticlechoir.com and at the door.