Now without further ado, please join me in welcoming Artistic Director Joshua Habermann and your Santa Fe Desert Chorale.

[ APPLAUSE ] [ VOCALIZING ] [ HUMMING ] Eit barn er født i Betlehem i Betlehem No frydar seg Jerusalem.

Halleluja.

Eit barn er født i Betlehem i Betlehem Eit barn er født i Betlehem Her ligg han i eit krubberom, eit krubberom, men rår evig herredom.

Halleluja.

Eit barn er født i Betlehem Men okse der og asen stod og asen stod og såg den Gud og Herre god.

Halleluja.

[ HUMMING ] [ VOCALIZING ] Eit barn er født i Betlehem Tre kongar kom frå Austerland, frå Austerland, gull røkjels myrra gav dei han.

Halleluja.

Ein gong vi vert vår Herre lik.

vår Herre lik.

Han leier oss til himmelrik.

Halleluja.

[ VOCALIZING ] Lov takk og pris i aeva all.

i aeva all.

Treenig Gud det vera skal.

Halleluja!

Eit barn er født i Betlehem [ VOCALIZING ] Good evening and welcome.

We're so glad you're with us here in the middle of our 42nd year of great choral music here in northern New Mexico and we are glad that you're a part of it and we're so thrilled to have two wonderful instrumentalist collaborators with the Chorale this evening.

That's Elizabeth Young on the violin and Nathan Salazar on the piano.

We're so glad you're here.

[ APPLAUSE ] Nate and Elizabeth are going to be back with us in just a moment for a gospel take on an old 16th century German carol.

But first we have an English composer Bob Chilcott whose piece invites us to imagine the most impossible thing, a rose blooming in the middle of winter.

There’s a rose in the middle of winter, a rose which has no thorn, into the garden it comes like a child that is waiting to be born.

And while he waits for the rose to bloom, the gardener sings and the clouds all dance to his tune.

There’s a bird in the middle of winter, a bird whose song is a prayer, into our dreams it comes, like a child who is almost here.

And while he waits for the bird to sound the gardener sings and the stars all dance in a round.

There’s a child in the middle of winter, a child like a flower in the snow, into our days he comes, like a child who is with us now.

And while he listens to the song of a rose, the gardener sings and the child is a dance in his soul.

There’s a rose in the middle of winter Lo, how a Rose e’er blooming, from tender stem has sprung!

Of Jesse’s lineage coming as saints of old have sung.

It came, a flow’ret bright, amid the cold of winter, when half spent was the night.

Isaiah ‘twas foretold it, this Rose I have in mind.

With Mary we behold it, the virgin mother kind.

To show God’s love aright, she bore to us a Savior, when half spent was the night.

This flow’r whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air, dispels in glorious splendor the darkness everywhere.

True man, yet very God, from sin and death He saves us, and lightens every load.

from sin and death He saves us, and lightens every load.

O magnum mysterium O magnum mysterium O magnum mysterium et admirabile sacramentum Ut animalia viderent Dominum natum jacentem in praesepio.

O beata Virgo, cujus viscera meruerunt magnum mysterium (portare) Dominum Christum Alleluia.

On Christmas Night all Christians sing To hear the news the angels bring, On Christmas Night all Christians sing To hear the news the angels bring, News of great joy, news of great mirth, News of our merciful King’s birth.

Then why should men on earth be so sad, Since our Redeemer made us glad?

Then why should men on earth be so sad, Since our Redeemer made us glad?

When from our sin he set us free, All for to gain our liberty?

When sin departs before his grace, Then life and health come in its place; When sin departs before his grace, Then life and health come in its place; Angels and men with joy may sing All for to see the newborn King.

All out of darkness we have light, Which made the angels sing this night: All out of darkness we have light, Which made the angels sing this night: Glory to God and peace to men Now and forevermore.

Amen.

What child is this, who laid to rest On Mary’s lap is sleeping?

Whom angels greet with anthems sweet While shepherds watch are keeping.

This, this is Christ the King Whom shepherds guard and angels sing.

Haste, haste to bring Him laud, The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Why lies He in such mean estate Where ox and ass are feeding?

Good Christian, fear, for sinners here The silent word is pleading.

This, this is Christ the King Whom shepherds guard and angels sing.

Haste, haste to bring Him laud, The Babe, the Son of Mary.

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh Come peasant, king, to own Him.

The King of Kings salvation brings, Let loving hearts enthrone Him.

This, this is Christ the King Whom shepherds guard and angels sing.

Haste, haste to bring Him laud, The Babe, the Son of Mary.

[ PIANO MUSIC ] Ooo O Mary shining glory!

The Lord smiles upon you.

What a blessing is this little baby that you brought to our world, Oh, all for the love of one sweet little baby.

All for the love of one sweet baby child.

All for the love of one sweet little baby, we have come so far.

Oh, a good old man named Simeon said, “I’m never gonna rest till I see that Messiah child, and hold him to my breast.” Oh, all for the love of one sweet little baby.

All for the love of one sweet baby child.

All for the love of one sweet little baby, we have come so far.

Many gonna speak against you child, They’ll crucify all that’s true.

And your mother Mary she will bear a pain That will pierce her heart through.

Oh, all for the love of one sweet little baby.

All for the love of one sweet baby child.

All for the love of one sweet little baby, we have come so far.

O Jerusalem your children are so tired of war.

My Lord, it's time to walk with your children once more.

All for the love of one sweet little baby, All for the love of one sweet baby child.

All for the love of one sweet little baby, we have come so far.

Ooo All for the love of one sweet little baby, we have come so far.

All for the love All for the love of a sweet little baby There’s a star in the east on Christmas morn, Rise up shepherd and follow.

It will lead to the place where the Savior’s born, Rise up shepherd and follow.

Leave your sheep and leave your lambs, Rise up shepherd and follow.

Leave your ewes and leave your rams, Rise up shepherd and follow.

Follow!

Take good heed to the angel's word, Rise up shepherd and follow.

Rise up shepherd and follow.

Follow!

Rise up shepherd and follow.

Follow!

Rise up shepherd and follow.

Follow!

Rise up shepherd and follow!

[ APPLAUSE ] Hail the bless’d morn, see the Great Mediator Down from the regions of glory descend.

Shepherds go worship the babe in the manger Lo, for his guard the bright angels attend.

Brightest and best of the stars of the morning, Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid.

Star in the East, the horizon adorning, Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.

Cold on his cradle the dewdrops are shining, Low lies his bed with the beasts of the stall.

Angels adore him in slumber reclining, Maker and Monarch and Savior of all.

Brightest and best of the stars of the morning, Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid.

Star in the East, the horizon adorning, Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.

Shall we not yield him in costly devotion Odors of Edom and offerings divine?

Gems of the mountains and pearls of the ocean, Myrrh from the forest or gold from the mine?

Brightest and best of the stars of the morning, Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid.

Star in the East, the horizon adorning, Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.

Brightest and best of the stars of the morning, Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid.

Star in the East, the horizon adorning, Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.

[ APPLAUSE ] Thank you so much.

You know that singing together with others is a heart-opening experience.

And scientists tell us that when we sing together, our brain waves align.

Our hearts come into sync.

Everything that singing does works on the body and the spirit.

And this is true for these wonderful singers here, but I want you to know that it's also true for people with no musical training whatsoever.

This experience is available to everyone.

There's a great, deep human need in each one of us to belong to something bigger than just ourselves.

And we know that for many of us, singing is it.

So we're going to envelop you in sound now as we close the circle around you.

And we wish you at the end of this year, and for your holiday season, a joyous, serene heart and more over much singing in 2025.

The tree of life my soul hath seen, Laden with fruit and always green; The tree of life my soul hath seen, Laden with fruit and always green; The trees of nature fruitless be, Compared with Christ the Apple Tree.

His beauty doth all things excel, By faith I know but ne'er can tell His beauty doth all things excel, By faith I know but ne'er can tell The glory which I now can see, In Jesus Christ the Apple Tree.

For happiness I long have sought, And pleasure dearly I have bought; For happiness I long have sought, And pleasure dearly I have bought; I missed of all but now I see 'Tis found in Christ the Apple Tree.

I'm weary with my former toil Here I will sit and rest awhile, I'm weary with my former toil Here I will sit and rest awhile, Under the shadow I will be, Of Jesus Christ the Apple Tree.

This fruit doth make my soul to thrive, It keeps my dying faith alive; This fruit doth make my soul to thrive, It keeps my dying faith alive; Which makes my soul in haste to be With Jesus Christ the Apple Tree.

This fruit doth make my soul to thrive, It keeps my dying faith alive; This fruit doth make my soul to thrive, It keeps my dying faith alive; Which makes my soul in haste to be With Jesus Christ the Apple Tree.

Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright; ‘Round yon virgin Mother and Child.

Holy infant so tender and mild, Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night, Son of God, love’s pure light, Radiant beams from Thy holy face, With the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth, Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.

Silent night, holy night, wond’rous star lend thy light With the angels let us sing “alleluia” to our King.

Christ the Savior is born, Christ the Savior is born.

Christ the Savior is born.

[ APPLAUSE ]