Fall Arts Celebration concludes with holiday celebration

Grand Valley State University's 13th annual Fall Arts Celebration concludes with Europe’s most beloved holiday music performed by university faculty, students and soloists.

“Stille Nacht: A Celebration of Holiday Music from Europe” will take place Monday, December 7, beginning at 7:30 p.m. at Fountain Street Church (24 Fountain St. NE) in Grand Rapids.

The evening will begin with Johan Sebastian Bach’s “Magnificat,” which has been etched in the history books as one of the holiday season’s most enduring musical classics. The voices of the Grand Valley State University Arts Chorale will bring Bach’s cantata to modern audiences to enjoy. “Magnificat” was composed after Bach took a new position of employment at St. Thomas Church in Leipzig, Germany, specifically for a performance at Christmas Vespers in 1723.

Spanning the centuries with holiday favorites, such as “Il est né, le divin Enfant;” “In dulci jubilo;” “Stille Nacht;” and Adolphe Adam’s “Cantique de Noël,” this musical gift to the West Michigan community will conclude with the iconic sounds of the GVSU Men’s Chorus singing melodies of Europe’s most cherished holiday music.

Since its start in 2003, Fall Arts Celebration has featured some of the preeminent writers, poets, musicians, dancers, artists and scholars of today.

All Fall Arts Celebration events are open to the public with free admission. For more information, visit www.gvsu.edu/fallarts, or call (616) 331-2185.