The Moravian Music Foundation (MMF), with offices in Winston-Salem (NC) and Bethlehem (PA), has sponsored Moravian Music Weekends in various locations for years. These events are filled with opportunities for choral and instrumental musicians of all levels and abilities to come together in harmony and fellowship. Participants learn some new music and enjoy some old favorites as well. For the first time ever, to celebrate the Lititz congregation’s 275th Anniversary, a Lititz Moravian Music Weekend took place at the church from September 21-22. Hosted and sponsored jointly by MMF, the Lititz Moravian Congregation, and the Lititz Collegium Musicum, educational workshops, stimulating rehearsals, engaging talks, and enjoyable local tours were offered. A public concert featuring the Collegium Musicum and festival ensembles culminated the enriching and fulfilling weekend.
The choral-orchestral concert was performed in the Fellowship Hall. The Lititz Collegium Musicum, an ensemble originally founded in the 18th century and revived in 2018 as Lancaster County’s “newest, yet oldest chamber orchestra,” was joined by a Festival Chorus to perform Moravian music, old and new. A Festival Band Prelude preceded the concert on Church Square.
The Festival Chorus included members of the Lititz Moravian Senior Choir, Millersville University’s Tell School of Music Chorale, singers from across Pennsylvania, and guests from other states as well. Historic choral anthems composed by Johannes Herbst, former pastor/composer who served the Lititz congregation from 1791-1811, were performed, along with contemporary choral works by Zach Bailey and Brian Henkelmann. The Collegium Musicum presented a variety of secular instrumental pieces by lesser-known composers including Karl Eder, Johan Grenser, Johan Brandl, and Joseph Morris. The 1787 David Tannenberg pipe organ was featured as a solo instrument and used to accompany the hymn singing. The concert was under the direction of Dr. Jeffrey S. Gemmell, Artistic Director and Conductor of the Collegium Musicum, Coordinator of Choral Studies at Millersville University, and Director of Music Ministries at the Lititz Moravian Congregation. This was an exciting opportunity to experience History You Can Hear!
Below is a copy of the printed program:
Below is a recording of the concert (audio only) followed by an Index to search for specific repertoire:
INDEX
0:00 Eder, K. K. (1751-post 1802): “Allegro Maestoso” from Simphonie, Op. 5
6:43 Grenser, J. F. (1758-1795): “Duetto 6” from Six Duos pour Deux Clarinettes
9:00 Rivers, G.-G. (16732-1714): Prelude du Cinquième Ton
10:08 Handel, G. F. (1685-1759): Fugue in C Major
11:25 Weidner, J. C. (n.d.): “Duetto III” (Moderato) from Six Duets for Two Flutes
14:37 Brandl, J. E. (1760-1837): “Allegro” from Sinfonie á grand Orchestre
24:07 Morris, J. (n.d.): Parthia (Excerpts)
29:32 Bechler, J. (1784-1857): Sing Hallelujah, Praise the Lord
32:02 Herbst, J. (1735-1812): Lobet den Herrn, alle seine Heerscharen
34:00 Herbst, J.: Sie flochten Ihm eine Dornenkrone
37:20 Herbst, J.: Blessed shalt thou be
39:00 Herbst, J.: Praise the Lord
41:20 Bailey, Z. (b.1988): God’s Gifts
43:32 Henkelmann, B. (b.1956): Live in Harmony, One with Another
47:32 Eder, K. K.: “Allegro Assai” from Simphonie, Op. 5
Stay tuned for selected embedded videos in the future!!
Jeffrey Gemmell's Repository of Artful Things! 