Chattanooga Times Free Press - ChattanoogaNow
3 interpretations of the Magnificat in one concert
The Chattanooga Singers and Chamber Singers of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga will join voices with the choir of Second Presbyterian Church to present three different settings of the Magnificat on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 2, at Second Presbyterian Church.
The university and church choirs are under the direction of Dr. Kevin Ford. The choirs will be accompanied by organists David Friberg and Ethan McGrath.
The Magnificat — which is Latin for [ My soul] magnifies [the Lord] — is a canticle, also known as the Song of Mary or Canticle of Mary. Its text is taken directly from Luke 1:46-55, where it is spoken by Mary as she visits her cousin Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist.
The Chattanooga Singers will perform Francisco Durante’s setting of the Magnificat in six movements. The work will feature soloists Hannah Holtzclaw, Makayla Kyle, Timothy Hawn and Will Lowery.
Estonian composer Arvo Part sets the Magnificat in one movement, which will be sung by the Chamber Singers.
The final setting is by UTC alum Ethan McGrath, who splits the Magnificat into four movements. This will be performed by the Second Presbyterian Choir and Chamber Singers, with soloists Morgan Ferrel and Laura Marshall.
Ford says McGrath was accepted into the choral studies master’s program at Cambridge University after graduating from UTC. While he was in England, his works were performed in major churches there and in Germany. His music is now published in the United States as well as by Oxford in England and by Schott in Germany.
Sunday’s program also will include five more pieces by the Chattanooga Singers, and four others sung by the Chamber Singers.
Although the concert is free, donations will be accepted to benefit the Glenn Draper Choral Scholarship Fund.