Thanksgiving Choral Festivals
While Director of Music at Redlands Community Church, Michael Roy organized two festivals to which other choirs were invited to participate. The two choirs joining the RCC Choir for these events were Redlands Baptist Church and Silver Palm Unit. Methodist Church. The combined choir had about 45 singers and afforded an opportunity to sing some choral works with increased forces at hand. Below are a few selected choral pieces from those two festivals.
Thanksgiving Introit (arr. MR): The introit takes the two most beloved and well-known Thanksgiving hymns: Now, Thank We All Our God, and "Come, Ye Thankful People, Come," and sounds them simultaneously. Jan plays trumpet.
Thanks Be To Thee (G. F. Handel): When one has a larger choir, this might be one of the anthems to present. This languid and soaring choralwork lends itself to mightier forces and appropriately befits the season. Diane M. is at the piano.
Praise Him! (Craig Courtney): The anthem is based on the Thomas Ken doxology tune of 1709. Diane M. is the accompanist.
We Thank Thee Lord, Full Well (Music: David Ayers; Words: MR). This choral piece is mostly based on a two-part canon. The flute and piano play those parts in the instrumental interludes. Flute: Doris Hurwitt; piano: Diane M.
This was the first of two festivals which features the host choir, Redlands Community Church, and two invited guest choirs from the Redlands area. The church was packed to the rafters.