Easter Cantata

The title of the Easter cantata is "A Living Hope", which calls our attention to 1st Peter 1:3, which says "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who, according to his great Mercy, has given us rebirth into a Living Hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." Inspired by this Cornerstone of our faith the composer and arranger have created a cantata distinguished musically by its use of nineteenth-century American sources. The opening chorus, which is reprised as the finale, sets the tone with a lively tune from the Christian Lyre, an old American song book. The Shaker Melody, "Followers of the Lamb", is the perfect fit for the Palm Sunday chorus, the choir's antiphonal shouts are especially effective. The melody "Poor Wayfaring Stranger", is the perfect choice for the scene at Golgotha. Easter dawns with the little gem of a spiritual, "One Sunday Morning", that recounts the biblical narrative with simplicity, and drama. The resurrection chorus dances in triumph with the hymn tunes Nettleton (Come, Thou Fount) and Diademata (Crown Him with Many Crowns). Traditional American folk hymns pulse with the joy of salvation in A Living Hope! Come and enjoy the chorus and chamber orchestra of strings, woodwinds and brass in the joyous celebration of the resurrection of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ!