- [Announcer] Funding for this program is provided in part by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota.

(upbeat music) (reverential organ music) (reverential organ music continues) (choir singing in Latin) (choir singing in Latin) (choir singing in Latin) (choir singing in Latin) (choir singing in Latin) (choir singing in Latin) (choir singing in Latin) (choir singing in Latin) (choir singing in Latin) (choir singing in Latin) (choir singing in Latin) (choir singing in Latin) (choir singing in Latin) - So this is our first year back at Assisi Heights, the Lourdes Chapel here.

My name is Dr. Ryan Deignan.

I'm the new artistic director here at Choral Arts Ensemble.

And when I first arrived here as we were planning our season, the first thing I heard is, "Oh, and we get to be back at Assisi this year."

It was so exciting.

The traditional group that is the core of Christmas at Assisi is the Choral Arts Ensemble, which has been between 40 and 60, you know, semi-professional singers in this organization, and all adults.

And this year, this last summer, we actually had so many, especially women come out for auditions, really capable, talented, committed folks that I decided to start another ensemble.

So I started The Treble Singers.

(choir vocalizing) (choir vocalizing) ♪ This endris night I saw a sight ♪ ♪ A star as bright as day ♪ ♪ And 'ere among a maiden sang ♪ ♪ Lullay bye bye lullay ♪ ♪ This lovely lady sat and sang ♪ ♪ And to her child did say ♪ ♪ "My son, my brother, father, dear ♪ ♪ Why liest thou thus in hay" ♪ ♪ My sweetest bird, 'tis thus required ♪ ♪ Though thou be king veray, veray ♪ ♪ But nevertheless, I will not cease to sing by by, lullay ♪ ♪ The child then spake whilst she did sing ♪ ♪ And to his mother did say ♪ ♪ "Yea, I am known as Heaven King ♪ ♪ In crib though I be laid ♪ ♪ For angels bright down on me light ♪ ♪ Thou knowest 'tis no nay ♪ ♪ And for that sight thou may delight to sing by by, lullay ♪ (choir vocalizing) (choir vocalizing) ♪ Now sweet son, since it is so that all is at thy will ♪ ♪ I pray thee grant to me a boon ♪ ♪ If it be right and skill ♪ ♪ That child or man who will or can ♪ ♪ Be merry on my day ♪ ♪ To bliss them bring and I shall sing ♪ ♪ Lully, by by ♪ ♪ Lullay, by by ♪ ♪ Lully, by by, lullay ♪ (choir vocalizing) - Singing is sort of a gateway.

It's the lowest barrier to entry for people to participate, right?

There's something like over 50 million people singing in organized choirs per a study done by Chorus America in the last few years.

Just so many people do it for fun, to enrich their lives.

And so then often those folks end up in these audiences, right?

And so combine that with universally loved Christmas carols, et cetera, There's plenty of people that are excited to add their voice to the show.

(reverential organ music) ♪ Let us go into Bethlehem ♪ ♪ And see the thing which has come to pass ♪ ♪ Which the Lord has made known to us ♪ ♪ Which the Lord has made known to us ♪ (reverential organ music continues) ♪ O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant ♪ ♪ O come ye, o come ye to Bethlehem ♪ ♪ Come and behold Him, born the King of Angels ♪ ♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪ ♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪ ♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪ ♪ Christ the Lord ♪ ♪ Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation ♪ ♪ Sing, all disciples of Heaven above ♪ ♪ Glory to God ♪ ♪ Glory in the highest ♪ ♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪ ♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪ ♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪ ♪ Christ the Lord ♪ (reverential organ music) ♪ Yea, Lord, we greet thee ♪ ♪ Born this happy morning ♪ ♪ Jesus, to thee be glory given ♪ ♪ Word of the Father now in flesh appearing ♪ ♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪ ♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪ ♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪ ♪ Christ, he is Lord ♪ ♪ O he is Lord ♪ - Our concert this evening is entitled "Our Mother's Joy."

And I honestly picked the concert theme, you know, essentially about my wife, Abby.

You know, we have four little ones, four little boys at home, twin five-year-olds, a three-year-old, and a one-year-old.

So it's kind of our life right now.

(laughs) And so, you know, I just went with what I knew.

Religious people, obviously, we focus on Jesus.

For those who are, who are religious, it's the reason for the season.

But sometimes Mary is sort of an afterthought, and she did an awful lot.

(laughs) And so, so I sort of thought, "Hey, we could tie in this theme of combining pieces about motherhood with Christmas pieces that also focus on Mary."

(choir vocalizing) (choir vocalizing) (choir singing in Latin) (choir singing in Latin) (choir singing in Latin) (choir singing in Latin) (choir singing in Latin) (choir singing in Latin) (choir singing in Latin) (choir singing in Latin) (choir singing in Latin) (choir singing in Latin) (choir singing in Latin) (choir singing in Latin) (choir singing in Latin) (choir singing in Latin) (choir singing in Latin) (choir singing in Latin) (choir singing in Latin) (choir singing in Latin) (choir singing in Latin) (choir singing in Latin) (choir singing in Latin) (choir singing in Latin) (choir singing in Latin) (gentle music) (gentle music) (gentle music) ♪ In the bleak midwinter ♪ ♪ Frosty wind made moan ♪ ♪ Earth stood hard as iron ♪ ♪ Water like a stone ♪ ♪ Snow had fallen ♪ ♪ Snow on snow, snow on snow ♪ ♪ In the bleak midwinter, long, long ago ♪ ♪ Snow on snow, on snow, on snow, on snow ♪ ♪ On snow, on snow, on snow ♪ ♪ Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him ♪ ♪ Nor earth sustain ♪ ♪ Heaven and earth shall flee away ♪ ♪ When He comes to reign ♪ ♪ In the bleak mid-winter ♪ ♪ A stable-place sufficed ♪ ♪ Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ ♪ (dramatic music) ♪ Enough for Him whom cherubim ♪ ♪ Worship night and day ♪ ♪ A breastful of milk, and a mangerful of hay ♪ ♪ Enough for Him whom angels fall down before ♪ ♪ The ox and ass and camel ♪ ♪ Angels and archangels may have gathered there ♪ ♪ Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air ♪ ♪ What can I give Him ♪ ♪ What can I give You ♪ ♪ Poor as I am ♪ ♪ If I were a shepherd, I would give a lamb ♪ ♪ If I were a wise man, I would do my part ♪ ♪ I would do my part ♪ ♪ Yet what I can, I give Him ♪ ♪ Give my heart ♪ ♪ I give my heart ♪ ♪ I give my heart ♪ ♪ I give my heart ♪ ♪ I give my heart ♪ ♪ I give him all my heart ♪ ♪ What I can, I give him ♪ ♪ I give my heart ♪ ♪ I give my heart ♪ (gentle music concludes) - Then we have the high schoolers coming on, and they'll start with a ton of energy with a Zulu piece from South Africa, "Akhekho Ofana No Jesu," and arranged by a friend of mine, Charlotte Huerta.

And it's just gonna make people smile.

And there's a little choreography, a little hootin' and hollerin'.

It will be a great way to start the second half.

(choir singing in Zulu) (choir singing in Zulu) (choir singing in Zulu) (choir singing in Zulu) (choir singing in Zulu) (choir singing in Zulu) (choir singing in Zulu) (choir singing in Zulu) (choir singing in Zulu) (choir singing in Zulu) (choir singing in Zulu) (choir singing in Zulu) - We moved to the poignant lullaby piano accompaniment, a piece written by Ryan Murphy, the assistant conductor of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

And he actually wrote it shortly before, only a couple weeks before the Sandy Hook tragedy, and didn't realize how poignant it would be.

The middle verse speaks of a child lost and a mother standing or sitting by a graveside, and the depth of that lullaby.

And so it's not your average lullaby.

(chuckles) (gentle music) ♪ The stars are twinkling in the skies ♪ ♪ The earth is lost in slumbers deep ♪ ♪ So hush, my sweet, and close thine eyes ♪ ♪ And let me lull thy soul to sleep ♪ (gentle music) ♪ Compose thy dimpled hands to rest ♪ ♪ And like a little birdling lie ♪ ♪ Secure within thy cozy nest ♪ ♪ Upon my loving mother breast ♪ ♪ And slumber to my lullaby ♪ ♪ So hushaby, hushaby ♪ ♪ Hush my sweet and close thine eyes ♪ ♪ And slumber to my lullaby ♪ ♪ So hushaby, O hushaby ♪ (gentle music continues) ♪ The moon is singing to a star ♪ ♪ The little song I sing to you ♪ ♪ The father sun has strayed afar ♪ ♪ As baby's sire is straying too ♪ ♪ And so the loving mother moon ♪ ♪ Sings to the little star on high ♪ ♪ And as she sings, her gentle tune is borne to me ♪ ♪ And thus I croon for thee, my sweet ♪ ♪ That lullaby of hushaby, hushaby ♪ ♪ Hush my sweet and close thine eyes ♪ ♪ And slumber to my lullaby ♪ ♪ So hushaby, O hushaby ♪ (gentle music continues) (gentle music continues) ♪ There is a little one asleep ♪ ♪ That does not hear his mother's song ♪ ♪ But angel watchers, as I weep ♪ ♪ Surround his grave the night-tide long ♪ ♪ And as I sing, my sweet, to you ♪ ♪ Oh, would the lullaby I sing ♪ ♪ The same sweet lullaby he knew ♪ ♪ While slumb'ring on this bosom too ♪ ♪ Were borne to him on angel's wing ♪ ♪ So hushaby, hushaby ♪ ♪ Lullaby, lullaby, lullaby ♪ ♪ Lullaby, lullaby, lullaby ♪ ♪ So hushaby, so hushaby ♪ ♪ Lullaby, hushaby ♪ (gentle music continues) ♪ Lullaby ♪ (gentle music concludes) - So another sing along.

We've got "The First Noel."

And this one's really special to me, because I actually asked my sister-in-law, Christine Deignan, to add a verse about Mary.

She's not mentioned in this famous Christmas carol.

And so we added a third verse that we'll sing acapella.

(peaceful organ music) ♪ The first Noel the angel did say ♪ ♪ Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay ♪ ♪ In fields as they lay, keeping their sheep ♪ ♪ On a cold winter's night that was so deep ♪ ♪ Noel, Noel ♪ ♪ Noel, Noel ♪ ♪ Born is the King of Israel ♪ (peaceful organ music continues) (peaceful organ music continues) ♪ They looked up and saw a star ♪ ♪ Shining in the east beyond them far ♪ ♪ And to the earth it gave great light ♪ ♪ And so it continued both day and night ♪ ♪ Noel, Noel ♪ ♪ Noel, Noel ♪ ♪ Born is the King of Israel ♪ (peaceful organ music continues) (peaceful organ music continues) ♪ And in his eyes, the star did reflect ♪ ♪ That she saw (indistinct) would resurrect ♪ ♪ The mother's eyes would alight on her son ♪ ♪ The savior of nations, the Holy One ♪ ♪ Noel, Noel ♪ ♪ Noel, Noel ♪ ♪ Born is the king of Israel ♪ (peaceful organ music) (peaceful organ music continues) ♪ Then let us all with one accord ♪ ♪ Sing praises to our heavenly Lord ♪ ♪ That hath made heaven and earth of naught ♪ ♪ And with his blood, mankind hath bought ♪ ♪ Noel, Noel ♪ ♪ Noel, Noel ♪ ♪ Born is the King of Israel ♪ ♪ Noel, Noel ♪ ♪ Noel, Noel ♪ ♪ Born is the king of Israel ♪ (peaceful organ music continues) ♪ Noel, Noel ♪ ♪ Noel, Noel ♪ ♪ Noel ♪ (peaceful organ music continues) (peaceful organ music concludes) (upbeat, soulful music) ♪ Mary had a baby, oh, my Lord ♪ ♪ Mary had a baby ♪ ♪ Mary had a baby, oh, my lord ♪ ♪ Mary had a baby, oh, my lord ♪ ♪ Mary had a baby ♪ ♪ Oh, my Lord ♪ ♪ Mary had a baby ♪ ♪ Where was he born ♪ ♪ Oh, in a manger, Lord ♪ ♪ Where was he born ♪ ♪ Oh, in a manger, Lord ♪ ♪ Mary had a baby, oh, my Lord ♪ ♪ Oh, yes ♪ ♪ What did they call him ♪ ♪ Somebody- ♪ ♪ What did they call him ♪ ♪ But I call him another ♪ ♪ What did they call him ♪ ♪ Some say Emmanuel ♪ ♪ What did they call him ♪ ♪ I call him sweet little Jesus Christ ♪ ♪ I call him Jesus ♪ ♪ You just called him Jesus ♪ (choir singing indistinctly) ♪ Mighty God and mighty Father ♪ ♪ He's a prince to me ♪ ♪ Mary had a baby, oh, my Lord ♪ ♪ Oh, yes ♪ ♪ What did they call him ♪ ♪ Somebody- ♪ ♪ What did they call him ♪ ♪ But I call him another ♪ ♪ What did they call him ♪ ♪ Some say Emmanuel ♪ ♪ What did they call him ♪ ♪ I call him sweet little Jesus Christ ♪ ♪ I call him Jesus ♪ ♪ You just called him Jesus ♪ (choir singing indistinctly) ♪ Mighty God, everlasting Father ♪ ♪ He's a prince to me ♪ ♪ Mary had a baby ♪ ♪ Oh, yes ♪ ♪ Oh, my Lord ♪ ♪ We stood on the hills, Lady ♪ ♪ Our day's work done ♪ ♪ Watching the frosted meadows ♪ ♪ That winter had won ♪ ♪ The evening was calm, Lady ♪ ♪ The air so still ♪ ♪ Silence more lovely than music ♪ ♪ Folded the hill ♪ ♪ There was a star, Lady ♪ ♪ Shone in the night ♪ ♪ Larger than Venus it was ♪ ♪ And bright, so bright ♪ ♪ Oh, a voice from the sky, Lady ♪ ♪ It seemed to us then ♪ ♪ Telling of God being born ♪ ♪ In the world of men ♪ ♪ And so we have come, Lady ♪ ♪ Our day's work done ♪ ♪ Our love, our hopes, ourselves ♪ ♪ We give to your son ♪ (choir vocalizing) - "Stille Nacht" is probably the most popular Christmas carol.

That's German for Silent Night.

It's a German, originally a German carol.

And this is arranged by our former artistic director, Rick Kvam.

And he has done this for over 30 years at Christmas at Assisi most of the time, except for the last few.

And I'm very excited to continue with this tradition of his arrangement of "Stille Nacht," and the soloists and singing a little bit in German, a little bit in English, with some lovely low lighting to just, again, warm people's hearts as we send them out into the cold and back to our homes, and hopefully taking that connection and that warmth with them with this beloved Christmas Carol.

(vocalists humming) (vocalists humming) (vocalists humming) (vocalists humming) (vocalists humming) (vocalists humming) (vocalist singing in German) (vocalist singing in German) (vocalist singing in German) (vocalist singing in German) (vocalist singing in German) (vocalist singing in German) (vocalist singing in German) (vocalist singing in German) (vocalist singing in German) (vocalist singing in German) (vocalist singing in German) ♪ Silent night, holy night ♪ ♪ All is calm, all is bright ♪ ♪ Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child ♪ ♪ Holy Infant, so tender and mild ♪ ♪ Sleep in heavenly peace ♪ ♪ Sleep in heavenly peace ♪ (upbeat music) - [Announcer] Funding for this program is provided in part by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota.