Santa Fe Women's Ensemble celebrates 'Winter Lights' with holiday concerts

Dec. 3—The radiance of light helps support us all during this dark time of year.

Kicking off their 43rd season, the Santa Fe Women's Ensemble is preparing for "Winter Lights," a series of holiday concerts celebrating candlelight, moonlight and spiritual light.

Slated for Sunday, Dec. 10, Tuesday, Dec. 12, Saturday, Dec. 16, and Sunday, Dec. 17, at the city's First Presbyterian Church, the shows feature inspirational music from new and old composers.

Joined by percussionist Diana Sharpe, along with ensemble pianist Bill Epstein, the program features exuberant pieces, including new settings of the "Huron Carol" and the Spanish carol "Riu, Riu, Chiu." More contemplative pieces include settings of texts by civil rights leader Harold Thurman with "I Will Light Candles This Christmas" and "The Work of Christmas," and May Sarton's haunting "December Moon."

Jumping back eras, the group will sing "Gloria in altissimis Deo" by Chiara Margarita Cozzolani, a Milanese nun (1602-c. 1677). Her piece tells the story of the birth of Christ using the voices of the angels and shepherds.

Not forgetting the days of Hanukkah, the ensemble will perform "Eight Days of Lights." Joan Szymoko, one of the ensemble's favorite composers, will contribute a rollicking version of "Red and Green," adding a Celtic flair to the concert.

In 1981, Sakina von Briesen brought nine women together to sing Benjamin Britten's "Ceremony of Carols" at the Chapel of Loretto, the first performance there after the Sisters of Loretto retired. Under the direction of Suzanne MacLean and accompanied by harpist Rosalind Simpson, the Santa Fe Women's Ensemble was born.

The ensemble performs music from many centuries and cultures from a limited collection of choral music written specifically for treble voices. As part of its mission, SFWE's contribution to the arts is commissioning new music, with 42 premieres in 43 seasons. The group received the 2012 Chorus America/ASCAP Adventurous Programming Award, giving national recognition to its efforts to expand the repertoire of women's choral music.