Musica Sacra Performs Buxtehude, Telemann for Baroque Christmas Concert

Musica Sacra Chorus and Orchestra’s “A Baroque Christmas,” will usher in the Yuletide season with music by Dieterich Buxtehude and Georg Philipp Telemann at 7 p.m., Friday, Dec. 6, at St. Francis Xavier Church.

Dieterich Buxtehude’s glorious “Magnificat” will be the concert’s centerpiece performance. Although a large number of his works have been lost, evidence supports that his life’s work chiefly consisted of sacred vocal music.

In addition, the ensemble will perform a cantata by Georg Philipp Telemann, “O Jesu Christ, mein Krippelein ist (O Jesus Christ, thy Bed of Straw Is Paradise)”, a cantata for the second day of Christmas for soprano, chorus, strings and organ.

The concert will also feature an instrumental suite of French Christmas carols by Marc-Antoine Charpentier, one of France’s premier 17th-century composers who worked and composed for Jesuit churches and colleges.

Musica Sacra will conclude the concert with an audience favorite—the singing of traditional Christmas carols.

Director Timothy L. McDonald will present “Live Program Notes” at 6:15 p.m. St. Francis Xavier Church is located at 52nd and Troost Avenue in midtown Kansas City. Concert tickets are $18 for adults, $12 for students and seniors. Tickets are available through the Central Ticket Office at 816-235-6222, atwww.rockhurst.edu/mstickets or at the performance.