The Nativity Choir Inspires with Pachelbel’s Magnificat

You are cordially invited to attend the 3rd Annual Christmas Concert at the Church of the Nativity on Sunday, December 8, 2024, at 1:30 pm in the church sanctuary. The Nativity Choir, an ensemble of San Diego’s finest vocalists will be joined by San Diego Baroque, a collaborative ensemble made up of some of the area’s finest early music specialists with Dr. Alison Luedecke, Music Director. Admission is free. There will be a freewill offering with all proceeds going to support the Nativity Music Program. Our Christmas Concert illuminates Mary’s journey from the Annunciation through Jesus’ birth. When drawing inspiration for this concert, Dr. Luedecke recalls “I look at the statue of Mary every time I play the organ at Nativity. One day I wondered- wouldn’t it be great to have Christmas program from Mary’s perspective?” It is intended to be a beautiful and reverent sacred music journey. A featured choral piece is a double choir setting of the Magnificat by Charles Theodore Pachelbel. The son of the renowned Johann Pachelbel, he changed his name from Carl Theodorus after moving to America. The premiere of this amazing piece took place in New York City during the time of Bach. Other choral music includes excerpts from Händel’s Messiah, Ave Maria settings by Josquin Desprez and Franz Biebl, O magnum mysterium by Morton Lauridsen, Angelus ad Virginem, and John Rutter’s “Nativity Carol”. There will also be excerpts from Arcangelo Corelli: “Christmas” Concerto in g minor ‘Fatto per la Notte di Natale’ Op. 6, no. 8.