2014/2015 FESTIVALS Fête des Lumières Saturday, October 11, 2014 @7:30 pm / Seton Hill Center for the Performing Arts
Join the Westmoreland Choral Society, Bodiography Contemporary Ballet, and the Pittsburgh Festival Orchestra in Fête des Lumières: Festival of Light featuring the French masterpiece, Gabriel Fauré’s transformative “Requiem.” This evening of music and motion will inspire, engage and lift the spirits of all present with original choreography by Maria Caruso, Artistic Director of Bodiography, with the luminous melodies of Fauré. Join Maestro Octave and the Westmoreland Choral Society for an evening of Light! ______________________________________________ A Christmas Festival Friday, December 5, 2014 @ 7:30 pm / First Presbyterian Church, Greensburg
The Westmoreland Choral Society and Children’s Chorus will present A Christmas Festival on Friday, December 5, 2014 at the majestic First Presbyterian Church in Greensburg. This concert will feature Christmas carols old and new. Join us for a carol sing-a-long and much more! _____________________________________________________________________________________
Christmas with River City Brass Saturday, December 6, 2014 @ 7:30 pm / Palace Theater, Greensburg
Thursday, December 11, 2014 @ 7:30 pm / Carnegie Music Hall, Pittsburgh
The Westmoreland Choral Society and the River City Brass join forces for a Christmas celebration like none other! Come hear your Christmas favorites and with some new exciting twists! Be sure to purchase your copy of the new Christmas album featuring the River City Brass and The Westmoreland Choral Society. www.rivercitybrass.org for tickets _____________________________________________________________________________________
Moravian Love Feast Sunday, March 22, 2015 @ 4:00 pm / First Presbyterian Church, Greensburg
The Moravian Church has given us the “Love Feast” as a time for sacred music, hymns and the sharing of some food and beverage as a sign of hospitality and our unity. John Rutter's "Gloria" will be featured in this concert. Join the Westmoreland Choral Society and Children’s Chorus for a “Love Feast” of music, joy and hope.
A little insight: The Moravians are a denomination which was started in the late 1400s. They began in Bohemia and eventually left due to persecution. In 1740, they came to America and started forming towns including, Nazareth, Bethlehem and Lititz all in Pennsylvania, and Winston-Salem in North Carolina.
Music has been a very important part of their history. Trombone choirs are a part of their community. In Lititz, which is just a couple miles north of Lancaster, the Moravian Trombone Choir would gather at 3:00 AM Easter morning and play through the town for several hours. There is a wonderful CD of Moravian Music entitled Lost Music of America.
The love feast is important to Moravian life. Based on the meals of the holy apostles where they broke the bread, the love feast is the meal to signify unity and equality. Moravians started these meals over 300 years ago, and center around various themes. It is a song service of hymns, anthems and often the participation of an orchestra or some instrumental ensemble. At one point in the service, the deneers of the church come out with trays of Moravian rolls and serve it to the congregation while the congregation sings hymns. Then, they come out and bring a beverage, usually coffee. While the people eat and drink, the choir sings several anthems. When the deeners return to collect the cups and napkins, the congregation sings several hymns til everything is "cleaned up." The love feast usually concludes with the singing of "Sing Hallelujah Praise the Lord" which is the "theme song" of the Moravians like "A Mighty Fortress" is to Lutherans. Love feasts are wonderful.
Festa Italiana ~ Storie di vita e di amore Saturday, May 9, 2014 @ 7:30 pm / Seton Hill Center for the Performing Arts
The Westmoreland Choral Society and Pittsburgh Festival Orchestra collaborate in a festival to celebrate life and love in the Italian spirit and the owner of the Italian-American immigrant story. Join us for an evening not to be missed! _____________________________________________________________________________________
Moravian Love Feast Sunday, March 22, 2015 @ 4:00 pm / First Presbyterian Church, Greensburg
The Moravian Church has given us the “Love Feast” as a time for sacred music, hymns and the sharing of some food and beverage as a sign of hospitality and our unity. John Rutter's "Gloria" will be featured in this concert. Join the Westmoreland Choral Society and Children’s Chorus for a “Love Feast” of music, joy and hope.
A little insight: The Moravians are a denomination which was started in the late 1400s. They began in Bohemia and eventually left due to persecution. In 1740, they came to America and started forming towns including, Nazareth, Bethlehem and Lititz all in Pennsylvania, and Winston-Salem in North Carolina.
Music has been a very important part of their history. Trombone choirs are a part of their community. In Lititz, which is just a couple miles north of Lancaster, the Moravian Trombone Choir would gather at 3:00 AM Easter morning and play through the town for several hours. There is a wonderful CD of Moravian Music entitled Lost Music of America.
The love feast is important to Moravian life. Based on the meals of the holy apostles where they broke the bread, the love feast is the meal to signify unity and equality. Moravians started these meals over 300 years ago, and center around various themes. It is a song service of hymns, anthems and often the participation of an orchestra or some instrumental ensemble. At one point in the service, the deneers of the church come out with trays of Moravian rolls and serve it to the congregation while the congregation sings hymns. Then, they come out and bring a beverage, usually coffee. While the people eat and drink, the choir sings several anthems. When the deeners return to collect the cups and napkins, the congregation sings several hymns til everything is "cleaned up." The love feast usually concludes with the singing of "Sing Hallelujah Praise the Lord" which is the "theme song" of the Moravians like "A Mighty Fortress" is to Lutherans. Love feasts are wonderful.
Festa Italiana ~ Storie di vita e di amore Saturday, May 9, 2014 @ 7:30 pm / Seton Hill Center for the Performing Arts
The Westmoreland Choral Society and Pittsburgh Festival Orchestra collaborate in a festival to celebrate life and love in the Italian spirit and the owner of the Italian-American immigrant story. Join us for an evening not to be missed!
2013-2014 MUSIC FROM HEAVEN AND EARTH
Our 2013-14 season was titled Music from Heaven and Earth. We seek through an expanded 6 concert series to celebrate the very best of earthly ecstasy, heavenly bliss, and the constant attempts to merge the two. Highlights of the season will include our reunions with Bodiography Contemporary Ballet, Pittsburgh Festival Orchestra, and River City Brass and a new partnership with the Pittsburgh Philharmonic. Join us on a year-long look at the way choral music helps us see ourselves more clearly and experience things beyond ourselves for the first time.
Music from Heaven ~ Light and Joy September 29, 2013, 7:30 p.m. - Seton Hill University Performing Arts Center, Greensburg
Experience an evening that reaches the heavens and captures a divine collection of angelic choral music. The Westmoreland Choral Society reunites with Bodiography Contemporary Ballet and the Pittsburgh Festival Orchestra to present a program highlighted by Morten Lauridsen’s Lux Aeterna and the familiar movements of Vivaldi’s Gloria. This evening of music and dance will touch your heart and let your soul sing.
Music where Heaven and Earth meet ~ Christmas Splendor December 6, 2013, 7:30 p.m.- First Presbyterian Church, Greensburg
Celebrate the holiday season with The Westmoreland Choral Society and Westmoreland Children’s Chorus. Staged in the beautiful seasonal splendor of the neo-gothic sanctuary at First Presbyterian Church of Greensburg, the concert will allow listeners to experience the radiance of the Christmas season through traditional and contemporary carols, popular selections from Handel’s Messiah, Carol of the Bells and so much more!
Heavenly Christmas River City Brass and Westmoreland Choral Society and Children's Chorus December 7, 2013, 7:30 p.m.- Palace Theater, Greensburg
By popular acclaim, we again combine with Maestro James Gourlay and the River City Brass to bring the sounds of Christmas to Greensburg. This year the Westmoreland Children’s Chorus will join us for this performance. Celebrate the season with brass and voices interpreting carols new and old in an exciting way – a great new tradition to usher in the season.
Lenten Vespers March 15, 2014, 7:00 p.m.- Zion Luther Church, Greensburg
Music from Heaven - Wondrous Love March 30, 2014, 4:00 p.m.- First Presbyterian Church, Greensburg
Beethoven’s exuberant Hallelujah from his oratorio Mount of Olives contrasts with the sublime Five Hebrew Love Songs by Eric Whitacre in this celebration of the heavenly love we find on earth. This concert features participation by Sylvia Andrae and Edgar Highberger, the Westmoreland Choral Society’s accompanist emeritus.
Music from Earth ~ Music from Your Neighborhood May 10, 2014, 7:30 p.m.- Waterworks Pub & Banquet Complex, Greensburg WCS and Westmoreland Children’s Chorus
“It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood.” Music from Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood and Sesame Street set the stage for a gala evening of song and celebration. Join us for a cabaret of choruses and solos, light food, decadent desserts, and Chinese auctions that will tickle your fancies and memories.
Beethoven's 9th Symphony with Pittsburgh Philharmonic May 16, 2014, 8:00 p.m., Butler County Community College May 17, 2014, 7:00 p.m., Westmoreland County Community College
WCS and the Pittsburgh Philharmonic join forces for 2 performances of Beethoven’s final symphonic masterpiece: the 9th Symphony (the Choral Symphony). Enjoy an evening of majestic music that will transport you beyond your earthly senses.
