- [Announcer] Funding for this program is provided by the Montana Power Company, providing comprehensive energy services throughout the West.

And by Touch America, a leading provider of broadband telecommunication services all across America.

A spport for this program eded by Montana PBS, and by viewers like you.

(exciting orchestral music) (exciting orchestral music continues) (exciting orchestral music continues) (audience applauds) - Thank you very much, and welcome to this annual advent concert, Christmas at the Cathedral.

This evening we'll be performing a couple of things for you, opening our concert, as you can see in your program, with the overture to the Royal Fireworks by George Frederick Handel, following that with parts one, two, and three of Bach's stunningly beautiful and sacred Christmas oratorio, and closing with you joining us in three traditional Christmas carols, first verses of which are written on the back of one of the pieces of paper in your program.

One of the most beautiful parts of the evening, with 1,000 voices strong joining in song, all about peace on earth here at the end of the millennium.

But before we proceed, I wanted to verbally thank our sponsors for this evening's concert, American Federal Savings and KTVH TV.

I also wanted to mention that I've chosen a couple of soloists for this evening just selected last Tuesday that are not yet on your program, so I just wanted to tell you who they were, so when you see different people singing from the pulpit over there, you'll know who they are.

They are, on baritone recitatives, Larry Sheldon, the part of the angel sung together by Jackie Brown and Faye Bunis, and a beautiful bass and soprano duet by Jill and Gary Guthrie.

We're going to be opening this evening's concert with the Overture to the Royal Fireworks by George Frederick Handel.

This piece was originally scored for 24 oboes, nine bassoons, nine French horns, nine trombones, nine trumpets, three timpanists, and a bunch of snare drummers.

It's because King George II didn't want "any fiddles," is the way that he said it.

It was to celebrate a peace treaty, which seemed a fitting thing for us because this is a time of great peace in the world.

So our orchestration for this is our symphonic wind ensemble, which means the orchestra without the strings, no fiddles, as King George II would've asked, and it gives them a chance to play for you.

This is really the beginning of what we call the concert band or the park band, for those of you who enjoy summer band here in Helena or elsewhere.

When you take the strings away, you have winds and brass and percussion.

So we will open with that work for you right now.

(dramatic orchestral music) (dramatic orchestral music continues) (dramatic orchestral music continues) (dramatic orchestral music continues) (dramatic orchestral music continues) (dramatic orchestral music continues) (audience applauding) The Christmas oratorio is really a very wonderful piece, and especially in the last 20 or 30 years, has started to be held up equally with the St. Matthew Passion, which many people feel is Bach's strongest sacred work.

The text for this, the biblical text, is taken from the book of Luke 2:1-21.

Our evangelist, Anne Lamfier, will be singing that to you and telling you the Christmas story as most of you know it.

The rest of the text is attributed to an but scholars suspect that it was the longtime colleague and collaborator of J.S.

Bach, CH, I always mess up his last name, Henrici, C.H.

Henrici, also known as Pindaren.

It's a very beautiful text in that it becomes quite personal.

We get the biblical story, the narrative, and then the various solos that come to us and the choruses are almost like testimonials on a more personal, on a more human front.

It's an absolutely gorgeous piece of music.

I would ask you to hold your applause to the very end.

You'll know when that is because my right arm will finally fall off.

I would like, if you can, for you to suspend yourself in time back to the time when this was written, a time when there were no CDs, no record players, no radios, no shopping malls with piped in music.

It was a silent world, it was a quiet world, and the only music that was ever heard was live music, and it was very rare and it was very special.

So even though we're going to be performing this for you in what takes about one and a half hours, the special treat of that to the people who lived in that time was so rare and such a unique gift that I hope that you'll just settle back and if you feel like it, close your eyes, there's not very much to see up here other than this very beautiful room and the wonderful faces of my musician friends who are seated behind me.

But just sit back and let the music wash over you and just enjoy.

I know when I used to go to concerts as a child, forced almost at gunpoint, I used to look at the program and try to figure out when it was going to be over, and when I got older I would try to position myself so I could see the music pages turning on the stand so I could try to get a sense of how far they were through it and when they were getting near the back page.

But I'm a little wiser now, and this piece really is splendid.

I have to say that it represents an apex for this ensemble in the five years that I've been here.

It's the best that they've ever played.

Please enjoy.

Thank you.

(dramatic classical music) (dramatic classical music continues) ♪ Stand up be joyful ♪ ♪ And hail the glad morning ♪ ♪ Stand up ♪ ♪ Be joyful ♪ ♪ Stand up be joyful ♪ ♪ And hail the glad morning ♪ ♪ Tell what the Father Almighty has done ♪ ♪ Cast out all sorrow and banish all mourning ♪ ♪ Cast out all sorrow and banish all mourning ♪ ♪ Cast out all sorrow and banish all mourning ♪ ♪ Cast out all sorrow and banish all mourning ♪ ♪ Banish all mourning ♪ ♪ Cast out all sorrow and banish all mourning ♪ ♪ Cast out all sorrow and banish all mourning ♪ ♪ Praise joy and gladness be blended in one ♪ (dramatic classical music continues) ♪ Stand up be joyful ♪ ♪ And hail the glad morning ♪ ♪ Stand up be joyful ♪ ♪ Stand up be joyful ♪ ♪ And hail the glad morning ♪ ♪ Cast out all sorrow and banish all mourning ♪ ♪ Cast out all sorrow and banish all mourning ♪ ♪ Cast out all sorrow and banish all mourning ♪ ♪ Cast out all sorrow and banish all mourning ♪ ♪ Cast out all sorrow and banish all mourning ♪ ♪ Cast out all sorrow and banish all mourning ♪ ♪ Cast out all sorrow and banish all mourning ♪ ♪ Cast out all sorrow and banish all mourning ♪ ♪ Worship the Highest ♪ ♪ Worship the Highest ♪ ♪ Worship the Highest ♪ ♪ Worship the Highest and fall down before Him ♪ ♪ Worship the Highest ♪ ♪ Worship the Highest ♪ ♪ Worship the Highest ♪ ♪ And fall down before Him ♪ ♪ (dramatic classical music continues) ♪ ♪ Let us with jubilant chorus adore Him ♪ ♪ Let us with jubilant chorus adore Him ♪ ♪ Let us with jubilant chorus adore Him ♪ (dramatic classical music continues) (dramatic classical music continues) ♪ Stand up be joyful ♪ ♪ And hail the glad morning ♪ ♪ Stand up be joyful ♪ ♪ Stand up be joyful ♪ ♪ And hail the glad morning ♪ ♪ Tell what the Father Almighty has done ♪ ♪ Cast out all sorrow and banish all mourning ♪ ♪ Cast out all sorrow and banish all mourning ♪ ♪ Cast out all sorrow and banish all mourning ♪ ♪ Cast out all sorrow and banish all mourning ♪ ♪ Cast out all sorrow and banish all mourning ♪ ♪ Cast out all sorrow and banish all mourning ♪ ♪ Praise joy and gladness be blended in one ♪ (dramatic classical music continues) ♪ Stand up be joyful ♪ ♪ And hail the glad morning ♪ ♪ Stand up be joyful ♪ ♪ Stand up be joyful and hail the glad morning ♪ ♪ Tell what the Father Almighty has done ♪ ♪ Cast out all sorrow and banish all mourning ♪ ♪ Cast out, cast out, cast out ♪ ♪ Cast out all sorrow and banish all mourning ♪ ♪ Cast out all sorrow and banish all mourning ♪ ♪ Cast out all sorrow and banish all mourning ♪ ♪ Praise joy and gladness be blended in one ♪ ♪ Now it came to pass in those days ♪ ♪ That there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus ♪ ♪ That all the world should be enrolled ♪ ♪ And all went to enroll themselves ♪ ♪ Every one to his own city ♪ ♪ And there also went up Joseph from Galilee ♪ ♪ Out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea ♪ ♪ To the city of David, which is called Bethlehem ♪ ♪ For he was of the house and family of David ♪ ♪ To enroll himself with Mary ♪ ♪ His betrothed wife being great with child ♪ ♪ And while they were there, the days were fulfilled ♪ ♪ That she should be delivered ♪ ♪ Behold the Bridegroom, full of grace ♪ ♪ The hero of King David's race ♪ ♪ To save and heal the earth ♪ ♪ Doth stoop to mortal birth ♪ ♪ Seek now the Star of Jacob shining ♪ ♪ Its beams delight our eyes ♪ ♪ Up, Zion, and forget thy sad repining ♪ ♪ For high thy bliss doth rise ♪ (dramatic orchestral music) ♪ Prepare thyself, Zion, with tender affection ♪ ♪ The purest, the fairest this day to receive ♪ ♪ The purest, the fairest ♪ ♪ Prepare thyself, Zion ♪ ♪ With tender affection ♪ ♪ Prepare thyself, Zion, with tender affection ♪ ♪ The purest, the fairest this day to receive ♪ ♪ Prepare thyself, Zion, with tender affection ♪ ♪ The purest, the fairest this day to receive ♪ ♪ The fairest, the purest ♪ ♪ Prepare thyself, Zion ♪ ♪ With tender affection ♪ ♪ Prepare thyself, Zion, with tender affection ♪ ♪ The purest, the fairest this day to receive ♪ (dramatic orchestral music continues) ♪ Thou must meet Him with a heart with love o'erflowing ♪ ♪ With a heart with love o'erflowing ♪ ♪ Haste, then, with ardour the Bridegroom to welcome ♪ ♪ Haste, then, with ardour the Bridegroom to welcome ♪ ♪ Haste, then, with ardour the Bridegroom to welcome ♪ (dramatic orchestral music continues) ♪ Thou must meet Him with a heart with love o'erflowing ♪ ♪ Haste, then, with ardour the Bridegroom to welcome ♪ (dramatic orchestral music continues) ♪ Prepare thyself, Zion, with tender affection ♪ ♪ The purest, the fairest this day to receive ♪ ♪ The purest, the fairest ♪ ♪ Prepare thyself, Zion ♪ ♪ With tender affection ♪ ♪ Prepare thyself, Zion, with tender affection ♪ ♪ The purest, the fairest this day to receive ♪ ♪ Prepare thyself, Zion, with tender affection ♪ ♪ The purest, the fairest this day to receive ♪ ♪ The fairest, the purest ♪ ♪ Prepare thyself, Zion ♪ ♪ With tender affection ♪ ♪ Prepare thyself, Zion, with tender affection ♪ ♪ The purest, the fairest this day to receive ♪ (dramatic orchestral music continues) ♪ How can I best admire thee ♪ ♪ To meet thee how prepare ♪ ♪ The nations all desire Thee ♪ ♪ My soul would also dare ♪ ♪ O Jesu, Jesu ♪ ♪ Brightly illuminate my heart ♪ ♪ That I may serve Thee rightly ♪ ♪ And know Thee as Thou art ♪ ♪ And she brought forth her first-born Son ♪ ♪ And she wrapped Him in swaddling clothes ♪ ♪ And laid Him in a manger because there ♪ ♪ Was no room for them in the inn ♪ (bright orchestral music) (bright orchestral music continues) ♪ In poverty to Earth he came ♪ ♪ What man can calculate the love ♪ ♪ That sets on fire our Saviour's heart ♪ (bright orchestral music) ♪ Fallen sinners to reclaim ♪ ♪ Way, his compassion towers above ♪ ♪ Our brightest human counterpart ♪ (bright orchestral music continues) ♪ That rich in heaven we must be free ♪ ♪ The Highest came on earth to live ♪ ♪ That He might fall redemption give ♪ ♪ To join the angels minstrelsy ♪ ♪ So now for this as man He must be born ♪ ♪ O Lord have mercy ♪ (bright music continues) (cheerful orchestral music) ♪ Sovereign Lord and King Almighty ♪ ♪ Savior dear, behold, how lightly ♪ ♪ Holdest Thou all pride and state ♪ ♪ All pride and state ♪ ♪ Sovereign Lord and King Almighty ♪ ♪ Savior dear, behold, how lightly ♪ ♪ Holdest Thou all pride and state ♪ ♪ Savior dear ♪ ♪ Sovereign Lord and King Almighty ♪ ♪ Holdest Thou all pride and state ♪ ♪ Sovereign Lord and King Almighty ♪ ♪ Savior dear, behold, how lightly ♪ ♪ Holdest Thou all pride and state ♪ ♪ All pride and state ♪ (cheerful orchestral music) ♪ On whom vast hosts of heaven wait ♪ ♪ Vast hosts of heaven ♪ ♪ Vast hosts of heaven wait ♪ ♪ Who hath shielded worlds from danger ♪ ♪ Lieth lowly in a manger ♪ ♪ On whom vast hosts of heaven wait ♪ ♪ Vast hosts of heaven wait ♪ ♪ Who hath shielded worlds from danger ♪ ♪ Lieth lowly in a manger ♪ (bright orchestral music) ♪ Ah dearest Jesu Child Divine ♪ ♪ Prepare my heart, and make a shrine ♪ ♪ From faint of self and mammon free ♪ ♪ A temple sanctified for Thee ♪ (gentle orchestral music) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) ♪ And there were shepherds in the same country ♪ ♪ Abiding in the field ♪ ♪ Keeping watch over their flocks by night ♪ ♪ And lo, an angel of the Lord stood by them ♪ ♪ And the glory of the Lord shone round about them ♪ ♪ And they were sore afraid ♪ ♪ Break forth, O bright and rosy morn ♪ ♪ Till earth with splendor blases ♪ ♪ Ye shepherds, consternation scorn ♪ ♪ And hear the angels' praises ♪ ♪ This child that lies, a helpless boy ♪ ♪ Shall yet become your endless joy ♪ ♪ Shall frustrate Hell's endeavor ♪ ♪ And reign in peace for ever ♪ ♪ And the angel said to them ♪ ♪ "Be not afraid ♪ ♪ Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy ♪ ♪ Which shall be to all people ♪ ♪ For today is born to you in the city of David ♪ ♪ A Savior, which is Christ the Lord" ♪ ♪ What God to Abraham revealed ♪ ♪ He to the shepherds doth accord to see fulfilled ♪ ♪ To shepherds, lo, our gracious Lord ♪ ♪ His purposes unfoldeth ♪ ♪ That blessing which, in days of old ♪ ♪ He to a shepherd first behold ♪ ♪ A shepherd first beholdeth ♪ (gentle orchestral music) (gentle orchestral music continues) ♪ Haste, ye shepherds, haste to meet Him ♪ ♪ Why should ye delay to greet Him ♪ ♪ Haste this gracious Child to see ♪ ♪ Haste to meet Him ♪ ♪ Haste this gracious Child to see ♪ ♪ Haste, ye shepherds, haste to meet Him ♪ ♪ Why should ye delay to greet Him ♪ ♪ Haste this gracious Child to see ♪ ♪ Haste ♪ ♪ Haste this gracious Child to see ♪ (gentle orchestral music continues) ♪ Glad and joyful ye should be ♪ ♪ Glad and joyful ye should be ♪ ♪ Of His wondrous ♪ ♪ His wondrous love partaking ♪ ♪ Wondrous love ♪ ♪ Wondrous love ♪ ♪ And comfort making ♪ ♪ Hope ♪ ♪ And comfort making ♪ ♪ Glad and joyful ye should be ♪ ♪ Glad and joyful ye should be ♪ ♪ Of His wondrous love partaking ♪ ♪ Him your hope and comfort making ♪ ♪ Hope and comfort making ♪ (gentle orchestral music continues) ♪ And this is the sign to you: ye shall find a babe ♪ ♪ Wrapped in swaddling clothes ♪ ♪ And lying in a manger ♪ ♪ Behold in yonder gloomy stall ♪ ♪ The Lord whose bounty feedeth all ♪ ♪ For Mary laid where beasts are fed ♪ ♪ The savior in his manger ♪ ♪ O haste ye, then, ye shepherds, go ♪ ♪ Since you this wonder know ♪ ♪ And seek for God's Almighty Son ♪ ♪ Within a manger lying lowly ♪ ♪ And there beside that cradle holy ♪ ♪ In sweet harmonious tone ♪ ♪ Sing all with one accord ♪ ♪ To soothe your infant Lord ♪ (bright orchestral music) (bright orchestral music continues) (bright orchestral music continues) ♪ Slumber ♪ ♪ Beloved ♪ ♪ And take ♪ ♪ Thy repose ♪ ♪ Slumber, beloved, and take Thy repose ♪ ♪ Soon wilt Thou waken, our joy and salvation ♪ ♪ Slumber, beloved, and take Thy repose ♪ ♪ Soon wilt Thou waken, our joy and salvation ♪ (bright orchestral music continues) ♪ Slumber, beloved, and take Thy repose ♪ ♪ Slumber, beloved, and take Thy repose ♪ ♪ Soon wilt Thou waken, our joy and salvation ♪ ♪ Soon wilt Thou waken, our joy and salvation ♪ ♪ Waken ♪ ♪ Waken ♪ ♪ Soon wilt Thou waken ♪ ♪ Soon wilt Thou waken, our joy ♪ ♪ And salvation ♪ (bright orchestral music continues) (bright orchestral music continues) ♪ O may Thy breast find gladness and rest ♪ ♪ In our heartfelt exultation ♪ ♪ In our heartfelt exultation ♪ ♪ O may Thy breast find gladness and rest ♪ ♪ In our heartfelt exultation ♪ ♪ O may Thy breast find gladness and rest ♪ ♪ In our heartfelt exultation ♪ ♪ O may Thy breast find gladness and rest ♪ ♪ In our heartfelt exultation ♪ (bright orchestral music continues) (bright orchestral music continues) (bright orchestral music continues) ♪ Slumber ♪ ♪ Beloved ♪ ♪ And take ♪ ♪ Thy repose ♪ ♪ Slumber, beloved, and take Thy repose ♪ ♪ Soon wilt Thou waken, our joy and salvation ♪ ♪ Slumber, beloved, and take Thy repose ♪ ♪ Soon wilt Thou waken, our joy and salvation ♪ (bright orchestral music continues) ♪ Slumber, beloved, and take Thy repose ♪ ♪ Slumber, beloved, and take Thy repose ♪ ♪ Soon wilt Thou waken, our joy and salvation ♪ ♪ Soon wilt Thou waken, our joy and salvation ♪ ♪ Waken ♪ ♪ Waken ♪ ♪ Soon wilt Thou waken ♪ ♪ Soon wilt Thou waken, our joy ♪ ♪ And salvation ♪ (bright orchestral music continues) (bright orchestral music continues) ♪ And suddenly there was with the Angel ♪ ♪ A multitude of the heavenly host ♪ ♪ Praising God, and saying ♪ ♪ Glory to God ♪ ♪ Glory to God ♪ ♪ Glory to God in the highest ♪ ♪ Glory to God in the highest ♪ ♪ Glory to God in the highest ♪ ♪ Glory to God in the highest ♪ ♪ Glory to God in the highest ♪ ♪ Glory to God in the highest ♪ ♪ And peace on the earth ♪ ♪ And peace on the earth ♪ ♪ Peace on the earth ♪ ♪ Unto men in whom He is well pleased ♪ ♪ Unto men in whom He is well pleased ♪ ♪ Unto men in whom He is well pleased ♪ ♪ Unto men in whom He is well pleased ♪ ♪ Unto men in whom He is well pleased ♪ ♪ Unto men in whom He is well pleased ♪ ♪ Glory to God in the highest ♪ ♪ And peace on the earth ♪ ♪ And peace on the earth ♪ ♪ Unto men in whom He is well pleased ♪ ♪ 'Tis right that angels thus should sing ♪ ♪ To us this day such joy doth bring ♪ ♪ Come, then, our voices let us raise ♪ ♪ And join with them in songs of praise ♪ ♪ We sing to Thee, all glorious Lord ♪ (gentle orchestral music) ♪ Praise, might and honor we (indistinct) ♪ (gentle orchestral music continues) (choir sings indistinctly) (gentle orchestral music continues) ♪ Hast come at length to make us blest ♪ (gentle orchestral music continues) (bright dramatic orchestral music) ♪ Ruler of Heaven, regard our poor praises ♪ ♪ Hear the glad anthems and songs ♪ (choir sings indistinctly) ♪ For of Thy goodness we pray Thee to hear ♪ ♪ For of Thy goodness we pray Thee to hear ♪ ♪ To hear ♪ ♪ Pray Thee to hear ♪ ♪ Hearken, O Lord, to our jubilant chanting ♪ ♪ Hark to Thy Zion on her gratitude granting ♪ (choir sings indistinctly) ♪ Now that our Life and salvation appear ♪ ♪ Salvation appear ♪ ♪ And when the angels were gone from them into heav'n ♪ ♪ The shepherds said one to another ♪ ♪ Let us even now go to Bethlehem ♪ ♪ Let us even now go to Bethlehem ♪ ♪ Let us even now go to Bethlehem ♪ ♪ To Bethlehem ♪ ♪ And see this thing which is come to pass ♪ ♪ Which the Lord hath made known to us ♪ ♪ He hath his nation blest and gained for Israel his rest ♪ ♪ He hath to Zion ransom granted ♪ ♪ Sorrow he hath supplanted ♪ ♪ His glory ye shepherds proclaim ♪ ♪ Haste to declare His name ♪ ♪ With us the Lord hath kindly dealt ♪ ♪ Mark how great love He felt ♪ ♪ Then let the Christian world give praise ♪ ♪ In thankful songs thro' endless days ♪ ♪ Mercy, Lord ♪ (light orchestral music) ♪ Lord, Thy kindness ♪ ♪ And Thy goodness ♪ ♪ Lord, Thy goodness and Thy kindness ♪ ♪ Comfort us and break our chain ♪ ♪ Comfort us and break our chain ♪ ♪ Comfort us and break our chain ♪ ♪ Lord, Thy goodness and Thy kindness ♪ ♪ Comfort us and break our chain ♪ ♪ Comfort us and break our chain ♪ ♪ And break our chain ♪ (light orchestral music continues) ♪ Lord, Thy goodness and Thy kindness ♪ ♪ Thy goodness and Thy kindness ♪ ♪ They kindness ♪ ♪ Comfort us and break our chain ♪ ♪ Comfort us and break our chain ♪ ♪ Comfort us and break our chain ♪ ♪ Comfort us and break our chain ♪ ♪ Lord, Thy goodness and Thy kindness ♪ ♪ Comfort us and break our chain ♪ ♪ And Thy kindness ♪ ♪ Comfort us and break our chain ♪ ♪ Comfort us and break our chain ♪ ♪ Thy goodness and Thy kindness ♪ ♪ Comfort us and break our chain ♪ ♪ Comfort us and break our chain ♪ ♪ And break our chain ♪ ♪ And break our chain ♪ (light orchestral music continues) ♪ For Thy wonderful forbearance ♪ ♪ For Thy wonderful forbearance ♪ ♪ Shields our pitiful appearance ♪ ♪ And the love of Thy compassion ♪ ♪ Thy compassion makes plain ♪ (light orchestral music continues) ♪ For Thy wonderful forbearance ♪ ♪ For Thy wonderful forbearance ♪ ♪ Shields our pitiful appearance ♪ ♪ And the love of Thy compassion ♪ ♪ Thy compassion makes plain ♪ ♪ Makes plain ♪ ♪ And they came with haste ♪ ♪ And found both Mary and Joseph ♪ ♪ And the Babe lying in the manger ♪ ♪ And having seen it, they made known abroad ♪ ♪ Concerning the saying ♪ ♪ Which had been spoken unto them about this Child ♪ ♪ And all that heard it wonder'd ♪ ♪ At the things which had been spoken unto them ♪ ♪ By the shepherds ♪ ♪ But Mary kept all these things ♪ ♪ And ponder'd them in her heart ♪ (pensive orchestral music) (pensive orchestral music continues) ♪ Keep, O my spirit, this blessing and wonder ♪ ♪ Close within thyself contained ♪ ♪ Close within thyself contained ♪ ♪ Keep, O my spirit, this blessing and wonder ♪ ♪ Close within thyself ♪ ♪ Close within thyself contained ♪ ♪ Keep, O my spirit, this blessing and wonder ♪ ♪ Close within thyself contained ♪ ♪ Close within thyself contained ♪ ♪ Close within thyself contained ♪ ♪ Within thyself contained ♪ ♪ Close within thyself contained ♪ (pensive orchestral music continues) ♪ O, by the wonders thy Saviour hath shewed thee ♪ ♪ Of His great mercy ♪ ♪ Be thy feeble faith sustained ♪ ♪ O, by the wonders thy Saviour hath shewed thee ♪ ♪ Of His great mercy ♪ ♪ Be thy feeble faith sustained ♪ ♪ O, by the wonders ♪ ♪ Be thy feeble faith sustained ♪ ♪ Keep, O my spirit, this blessing and wonder ♪ ♪ Close within thyself contained ♪ ♪ Close within thyself ♪ ♪ Close within thyself contained ♪ ♪ Keep, O my spirit, this blessing and wonder ♪ ♪ Close within thyself contained ♪ ♪ Close within thyself ♪ ♪ Close within thyself contained ♪ ♪ Close within thyself contained ♪ ♪ Close within thyself contained ♪ (pensive orchestral music continues) ♪ Yes, yes, my heart will keep and ponder ♪ ♪ The things that in this hour of grace ♪ ♪ To its own happiness ♪ ♪ It learns about this heavenly wonder ♪ ♪ King and Master, I will love Thee ♪ ♪ To thee climb, in my prime ♪ ♪ Rating not above Thee ♪ ♪ And with Thee at last abiding ♪ ♪ Glad, sublime, outlive time ♪ ♪ In Thy love (indistinct) ♪ ♪ And the shepherds returned ♪ ♪ Glorifying and praising God for all the things ♪ ♪ That they had heard and seen ♪ ♪ Even as it was told unto them ♪ ♪ Be glad and sing ♪ ♪ Be glad and sing ♪ ♪ How Christ your King ♪ ♪ Leaves his glory for the world's salvation ♪ ♪ That star doth shine ♪ ♪ Of David's line ♪ ♪ Which yet shall save ♪ ♪ The whole of God's creation ♪ (cheerful orchestral music) ♪ Ruler of Heaven, regard our poor praises ♪ ♪ Hear the glad anthems and songs ♪ ♪ For of Thy we pray Thee to hear ♪ ♪ Praises ♪ (choir sings indistinctly) ♪ For of Thy goodness we pray Thee to hear ♪ ♪ We pray, we pray ♪ ♪ Thee to hear ♪ (triumphant orchestral music) ♪ Hearken, O Lord, to our jubilant chanting ♪ ♪ Hark to Thy Zion on her gratitude granting ♪ (choir sings indistinctly) ♪ Hark to Thy Zion on her gratitude granting ♪ ♪ Now that our Life and salvation appear ♪ ♪ Salvation appear ♪ (audience applauds) (audience applauds) (audience applauds) (audience applauds) (audience applauds) - You have the words to three carols on the back of one of the inserts in your program.

We're just doing the first verse of each and we'll go directly from one to the other with a little bit of an introduction.

I'll always turn around and start you.

The only two things you have to remember is on "Silent Night" we're going to sing it three times.

We'll sing the first verse with the orchestra.

Then the instrumentals will stop playing and sing with you and then we'll all hum it together.

That's one thing you have to remember.

So three times through "Silent Night," it's absolutely gorgeous.

And the other thing is where to put the breath.

You probably grew up thinking all is calm, all is bright, round yon virgin.

Well actually there's no punctuation mark there.

So we're supposed to, you can do this for the rest of your lives caroling, you'll be so full of common knowledge here.

All is calm, all is bright round yon Virgin, mother and child.

That's the sentence.

It's calm and bright around them, just so you know that.

We wouldn't want everybody to think that Mary was round.

(audience laughs) So please enjoy.

Thank you once again, very much for coming and for being such a warm and wonderful audience.

And I'm not gonna say goodbye to you after "Silent Night," 'cause it tears me apart.

So see you later.

(bright orchestral music) (bright orchestral music continues) ♪ O come all ye faithful ♪ ♪ Joyful and triumphant ♪ ♪ O come ye, o come ye to Bethlehem ♪ ♪ Come and behold Him ♪ ♪ Born the King of Angels ♪ ♪ O come let us adore Him ♪ ♪ O come let us adore Him ♪ ♪ O come let us adore Him ♪ ♪ Christ, the Lord ♪ (gentle orchestral music) ♪ O little town of Bethlehem ♪ ♪ How still we see thee lie ♪ ♪ Above thy deep and dreamless sleep ♪ ♪ The silent stars go by ♪ ♪ Yet in the dark street shineth ♪ ♪ The everlasting Light ♪ ♪ The hopes and fears of all the years ♪ ♪ Are met in thee tonight ♪ (light orchestral music) ♪ 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 ♪ ♪ 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 ♪ (all humming) (all humming) (all humming) (audience applauds) (choir sings indistinctly) (light orchestral music) (light orchestral music continues) (light orchestral music continues) - [Announcer] Funding for this program is provided by the Montana Power Company, providing comprehensive energy services throughout the West; and by Touch America, a leading provider of broadband telecommunication services all across America.

Additional support for this program is provided by Montana PBS and by viewers like you.

- [Announcer] If you have enjoyed Christmas at the Cathedral, here's a way to show your support of Montana PBS.

The VHS Home video of this concert featuring the Helena Symphony Orchestra and Chorale will be sent to your home for a pledge of $75 to Montana PBS.

Send your donation of $75 by check or money order to Friends of Montana PBS, Christmas at the Cathedral, Post office box 10715, Bozeman, Montana, 59719-0715.

As a friend of Montana PBS, you help ensure that we can produce more programs like Christmas at the Cathedral.

You will also be adding a wonderful Christmas special to your own video library for holiday seasons to come.

Your home video will be delivered in February, 2000.

Montana PBS wishes you a very happy holiday.