Ensembles prepare for 86th vespers

The conductor hummed a note, encouraging the choir of voices to tune in and match the pitch. A herd of voices climbed up a scale of notes, quickly but precisely, before descending in a gentle, gradual harmony. 

A quietness settled over the room before a single voice rang out. 

“Deus, in adiutorium meum intende,” sang the bass, poking a hole in the otherwise tangible silence.

The whole of the chorus responded with a forceful “Doe,” filling the sanctuary of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church with song.

The final Sunday night rehearsal for 2023 Vespers had begun. 

The setting, musicians and musical pieces all differed from Augustana’s inaugural Christmas concert in 1938, which took place in the gymnasium — now the Edith Mortenson Center theatre. However, the School of Music plans to honor traditions of old and incorporate several changes in this year’s Vespers concerts. 

On Dec. 1 and 2, about 130 students from the School of Music will come together to perform “And a Little Child Shall Lead Them,” the 86th annual Christmas Vespers. 

Peter Folliard, dean of the School of Music, said Rev. Ann Rosendale, campus pastor, came up with this year’s theme from Isaiah 11:6 in the Bible’s Old Testament. In this verse, the prophet Isaiah predicts the arrival of Jesus Christ. 

“I think it’s kind of perfect,” Russell Svenningsen, conductor of the Augustana Choir, said. “We all sort of were immediately galvanized by it. It’s the story of the birth of Jesus, the little bitty baby, and it’s obviously the most important story in the world. It’s something that appeals to people.” 

Children and their voices will make up several facets of the Christmas concert. A child soloist will sing “Away in a Manger” with the choirs, children will read scripture and children’s artwork about the story of Jesus’ birth will be displayed.  

Angelus, the Augustana Choir, the Chamber Choir, the Brass Choir, a string quartet, a percussion ensemble and chapel organist Matthew Tylutki constitute this year’s Vespers participants. Svenningsen said they will play to crowds of more than 600 people. 

“There’s a tradition there that we all just enjoy being a part of,” senior Gilbert DeWitte, a cello player in the string quartet, said. “For even those who are new to Vespers, it’s just exciting to be in a concert this big.”

The Brass Choir will return to Vespers this winter for the first time since 2009.

Folliard said alumni have inquired about the return of the Brass Choir since he started teaching at Augustana in 2017.

“We were like, ‘Well, let’s do it. This will be the thing to supercharge the Brass Choir getting involved in Vespers,’” Folliard said. “In that dialogue, it was like, ‘Well, this is a neat opportunity to sort of rest the orchestra and give them something else to do and elevate the brass band by giving them a really premier performance spot.’” 

Matthew Erickson will conduct the Brass Choir, which is made up of 14 brass musicians. Erickson said the Brass Choir will play nine songs and be augmented by the percussion ensemble. 

“When [Svenningsen] asked the Brass Choir to be a part of Vespers, it was very humbling because I knew the impact and the weight of that request,” Erickson said. “I immediately started looking at music.”

Despite the excitement of reviving an old tradition, the Brass Choir’s return does not come without challenges. 

“It’s kind of like a double-edged sword,” Erickson said. “With a Brass Choir, it’s like you’re in charge of a team of thoroughbreds, but you kind of have to hold on the reins to keep them from letting go only until those really special moments.”  

As well as honoring past Vespers traditions, the 2023 concert will also establish new practices, such as a special matinee performance at 3 p.m. on Dec. 2.

The matinee performance will only be about 40 minutes long, rather than an hour and 10 minutes. 

Vespers will feature 20 musical pieces, two of which are in Latin and one of which is in Igbo.

“The [Vespers] music is always kind of on another level, kind of a higher level, just in terms of difficulty and all the extra rehearsals it takes to get the music down,” junior Elizabeth Gullikson, a member of Angelus, said. “It’s also Christmas music, which just makes it all that more enjoyable for people to sing.” 

Leading up to Vespers, the Augustana Choir and Angelus rehearsed four days a week while the Chamber choir and Brass Choir practiced twice a week. In the four weeks before Vespers, each ensemble also practiced together on Sunday nights. 

“There’s a lot of time and effort that goes into Vespers, and it can definitely cause a lot of, or most of, the students to get really burned out, especially if they’re very involved,” senior Liz Trygstad, a soprano in the Augustana Choir, said. 

Svenningsen said the first week of rehearsals showed the choir’s commitment to putting on a stellar performance. 

“I have never seen a choir be as engaged, as focused and just chew through notes and rhythms,” Svenningsen said. “I’ve never seen it happen. I’ve been teaching for almost 30 years, and the choir was voracious.”

There will be three Vespers concerts at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church on Dec. 1-2. Folliard said audience members can gather in the Gloria Dei atrium for cookies and hot cocoa after each performance, thanks to the sponsorship of Thrivent. 

People can purchase tickets for the concert at Augustana’s website or at the venue.