Vicksburg Chamber Choir to present a Christmas concert

The Vicksburg Chamber Choir will present a Christmas Concert for the community at First Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. There is no charge for the concert; however, donations will be accepted.

The Chamber Choir will perform a selection of pieces including All Bells in Paradise written by John Rutter. This is piece is considered by many in our community to be The Chamber Choir’s “signature” piece. It is, indeed, beautiful and enhanced by the magnificent acoustics in the First Pres sanctuary.

John Rutter declares he wanted to be a musician since he could walk and talk. At a very young age, he would sit at the piano and compose music for hours on end. His parents finally enrolled him in piano lessons at the age of 7 where he claims his piano teacher advised him to be a composer or a singer or anything but a pianist.

In his seventy-six years of life, Rutter has been a composer, conductor, editor, arranger and record producer, mainly of choral music. He graduated from Clare College where he founded the Cambridge Singers and served as the Director of Music from 1975 to 1979 which led the choir to international prominence.

His accomplishments are many. His fame is renowned. He has written music for royalty, including a piece for the wedding of Prince William and Princess Kate.

All Bells in Paradise was written in 2012 and performed by the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge. As churches around the English countryside celebrate Christ’s birth at midnight services and communion is shared, at midnight the church bells are rung and can be heard far and wide. The bells are rung to celebrate Christ’s birth.

Deep in the cold winter,

Darkness and silence were everywhere

Softly and clearly, there came through the stillness

A wonderful sound to hear:

All bells in paradise I heard them ring,

Sounding in majesty the news that they bring:

All bells in paradise I heard them ring,

Welcoming our Saviour, born on earth a heavenly King.

All bells in paradise I heard them ring:

‘Glory to God on high’ the angel voices sing.

Listen here: https://youtu.be/2p-0QOySDdA

You really do not want to miss this Christmas Concert. The Chamber Choir has worked tirelessly to present this gift of music to our community. Be sure to put this event on your calendar and be sure to be there, if for no other reason but to hear the choir sing All Bells in Paradise.