St. Olaf Orchestra - A New Song of Grace and Truth (Live) (2020) [Official Digital Download]

For many people, over several generations, the celebration of the AdventChristmas-Epiphany season begins with the annual St. Olaf Christmas Festival, a century-old tradition of the college. The first festival was a musical program for the college community, planned and directed by F. Melius Christiansen, founder of the St. Olaf Music Department. The festival continues as an outgrowth of Christian conviction and an expression of the rich musical heritage at St. Olaf, a college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

The 2019 Christmas Festival features the St. Olaf Orchestra, St. Olaf Choir, St. Olaf Cantorei, St. Olaf Chapel Choir, Manitou Singers, Viking Chorus, and St. Olaf Handbell Choir, performing as both individual groups and as a massed ensemble.

In the beginning, God spoke creation into being. Through the prophets and the Psalmist and the great cloud of faithful witnesses, God spoke. In Jesus, God sings a new song of grace and truth.

This new song of grace rings clear through the noise of life. Through the noise that tells us that we are not good enough, the noise that produces guilt and shame, the noise that produces doubt in ourselves and in others and in God; this song of grace is heard. This song is one of forgiveness. This song is one of inclusion and acceptance. This is the new song of grace.

Through competing voices that blur into chaos, the new song of truth is heard. Voices from without and voices from within can confuse our very sense of self. This new song of truth, however, proclaims that we are beloved children of God. We are held in God’s eternal embrace; this is the new song of truth.

In Greek, the first letter of Christ and the first letter of grace is the same. Th ey both begin with the letter Chi, two simple crossed lines. With elegant simplicity, this gentle “X” is evident wherever we look, from the tiles on the floor to the rafters of the roof. The manger itself is a rustic construction built around this shape. It was a wooden “X” that held the Christ child.

We witness this new song today in scripture, music, and art. Our stage is set with imagery that depicts the reality of chaos and noise. To the far left and right, we see timbers that are fallen against one another: a path that is difficult to navigate. As we move toward the middle, the way forward begins to open up and we are guided by a star. At the center is a holy place, made of strong timbers and adorned with the cross: a representation of Christ, the new song of grace and truth!

TRACKLIST

1. St. Olaf Orchestra - Newborn Glimmer (Live)
2. St. Olaf Choir - A New Magnificat (Arr. for Choir & Orchestra) [Live]
3. St. Olaf Choir - All Earth Is Hopeful (Arr. J.E. Bobb for Choir & Orchestra) [Live]
4. Matthew Marohl - Narration "In the Begining" (Live)
5. St. Olaf Choir - Blessed Be the God of Israel - My Soul Proclaims Your Greatness, Lord (Arr. J.E. Bobb for Choir & Orchestra) [Live]
6. St. Olaf Choir - The Seasons, Hob. XXI:3, Pt. 1 "Spring": No. 8a, Ewiger, Machtiger, Gutiger Gott! (Live)
7. Viking Chorus - The Word Was God (Arr. W. Powell for Bass Choir) [Live]
8. Manitou Singers - In Darkest Night (Version for Choir, Orchestra & Piano) [Live]
9. St. Olaf Cantorei - Adam lay ybounden (Live)
10. St. Olaf Choir - Our Father, Op. 29 No. 11 (Sung in English) [Live]
11. St. Olaf Chapel Choir - O Magnum Mysterium (Arr. S. Dackow for Choir & Orchestra) [Live]
12. St. Olaf Choir - Joy to the World (After G.F. Handel & L. Mason) [Excerpt 1] [Live]
13. St. Olaf Choir - Gospel Reading (Luke 2:1-20) - In terra pax, Op. 39 (Excerpt) [Live]
14. St. Olaf Choir - Joy to the World (After G.F. Handel & L. Mason) [Excerpt 2] [Live]
15. St. Olaf Chapel Choir - Wana Baraka (Arr. S.L Kirchner for Choir & Percussion) [Live]
16. Viking Chorus - Make We Joy Now in This Fest (Arr. T.D. Robertson for Choir, Trumpets & Piano) [Live]
17. St. Olaf Cantorei - The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy (Arr. M. Wilberg for Choir & Percussion) [Live]
18. St. Olaf Choir - Cradle Hymn (Version for Mixed Choir, Orchestra & Piano) [Live]
19. St. Olaf Choir - Alleluia (Live)
20. Manitou Singers - And Suddenly (Version for Treble Choir, Piano & Percussion) [Live]
21. St. Olaf Choir - Gloria, FP 177: II. Laudamus te (Live)
22. St. Olaf Orchestra - Glories Ring (Version for Orchestra & Handbell Choir) [Live]
23. St. Olaf Choir - The Friendly Beasts (Arr. R. Scholz for Choir) [Live]
24. St. Olaf Choir - Jeg er så glad hver julekveld (Arr. R. Scholz for Choir & Orchestra) [Live]
25. St. Olaf Choir - O Day Full of Grace (Arr. F.M. Christiansen for Choir) [Live]
26. Katherine Fick - Narration "The Lord Is Compassionate" (Live)
27. St. Olaf Choir - Requiem: IV. Sanctus (Live)
28. St. Olaf Choir - O Come, All Ye Faithful (Attrib. J.F. Wade) [Arr. J. Ferguson] [Live]
29. Matthew Marohl - Narration "O Lord, Make Known Your Ways" (Live)
30. St. Olaf Choir - Nunc Dimittis (Arr. for Choir & Orchestra) [Live]
31. St. Olaf Choir - Beautiful Savior (Arr. F.M. Christiansen for Choir) [Live]



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