“The Concord Chamber Singers has been around for a little over 55 years and this year we decided to present a secular concert and embrace Winter,” says Board Director Janellea Macbeth, adding, “The program comprises three segments exploring Winter themes.”

Concord Chamber Singers presented “Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind,” on the first day of Winter, 4 p.m. Dec. 21, First Presbyterian Church, Bethlehem.

The first segment, “Let the Winter Winds Blow,” opens with a recitation of “Blow Blow Thou Winter Wind” found in Act 2, Scene 7 of the William Shakespeare (1564-1616) pastoral comedy “As You Like It” (published 1623). The work directly contrasts the natural elements of winter with human behavior.

The Stephen Chatman (b. 1950) vocal arrangement of the reading follows. The work, commissioned by the Choral Music Association of Calgary, Canada, for the Mount Royal Youth Choir, premiered in 1992.

The “Huron Carol” is Canada’s oldest Christmas song, dating to 1642 and written by then French Jesuit missionary, later known as Saint Jean de Brébeuf, serving among the Huron people.

The Singers perform composer Paul Aitken’s arrangement with alternate lyrics by Beverly Lewis, Choir Director, Bathurst United Church, Toronto, Canada. An introduction to the new carol by Bathurst United Church choir member Judi McCallum states: “It talks back to the Huron Carol, directs us to the sacred stories, and lifts up the notion of birth as it speaks of starting again in deep humility and in its invocation to God to help us grow in wisdom, peace and love.”

“In the Bleak Midwinter” (1872) by English poet Christina Rossetti (1830-1894) is set to a 1909 arrangement by English composer and organist Harold Darke (1888-1976).

The concert’s second segment, “We Gather Round the Fire,” begins with an excerpt from the Maya Angelou (1928-2014) poem “Amazing Peace” (2005), which encourages people to embrace the peace and promise of Christmas and to let hope and love light up the world.

“O Magnum Mysterium” (1952) by French composer Francis Poulenc (1899-1963), expresses the wonder “that animals should see the newborn Lord, lying in a manger.”

Macbeth describes the next two selections as “sweet and nostalgic.”

“In the Glow of the Moon” (2007) is a commissioned work by the Canadian Children’s Opera Chorus of a text by Canadian writer, poet and educator Tara Wohlberg (b. 1967), followed by “The Snow, Op 26, No. 1” (1894) with music by Sir Edward Elgar (1857-1934) and lyrics by his wife Caroline Alice Elgar (1848-1920).

The program’s third segment begins with “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” (1922), one of the most famous poems by Robert Frost (1874-1963). The text reflects the thoughts of a lone wagon driver pausing at dusk on the night of the Winter Solstice to watch snow falling in the woods.

The Singers present the music of Z. Randall Stroope (b.1953) in “And Sure Stars Shining” (2017), premised in part on the American poet Sara Teasdale (1884-1933) poem, “There Shall be Rest” (1933), embracing the hope that dreams may someday become reality.

The concert concludes with “The Sleigh (a la Russe),” composed in 1926 by Pittsburgh native Richard Kountz (1896-1950) and arranged by Wallingford Riegger (1885-1961). This joyful work depicts sleighing on a moonlit night and is filled with energy and enthusiasm.

David B. Macbeth, Artistic Director of Concord Chamber Singers, is Choirmaster and Director of Music Ministries, First Presbyterian Church Bethlehem. He is a founding vocal-choral faculty member of the Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts where he conducts two of the school’s five ensembles.

David Macbeth received undergraduate and graduate degrees in Music Education from West Chester University. He has an American Guild of Organists Choirmaster certification.

Established more than 55 years ago by Dr. Blaine Shover (1942-2022), the mission of the Concord Chamber Singers is to “foster excellent singing and impactful storytelling while engaging communities in the vibrancy of the choral art.”

Concord Chamber Singers, “Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind,” 4 p.m. Dec. 21, First Presbyterian Church, 2344 Center St., Bethlehem; Tickets: 484-714-0934, https://ccsingers.org/events

“Classical View” is a column about classical music concerts, conductors and performers. To request coverage, email: Paul Willistein, Focus editor, pwillistein@tnonline.com