With one last angelic hurrah, Choral Scholars will host their final concert of the semester titled “Everything That Hath Breath Praise the Lord,” on Friday, April 24, at 7:30 p.m. in Christ Chapel.

The concert will incorporate the themes of Psalm 150, which exhorts readers to praise God in all circumstances. It will include Mozart’s “Coronation Mass,” Beethoven’s “Elegischer Gesang,” Benjamin Britten’s “Rejoice in the Lamb,” Ēriks Ešenvalds’s “Trinity Te Deum,” and Puccini’s “Kyrie.” 

“It’s a very interesting series of pieces that all have different approaches to worship,” sophomore Choral Scholar Mary Brecount said. “There will be a lot of stylistic contrast in this concert.”

The concert will begin with Puccini’s “Kyrie” which Brecount described as “haunting.” 

“There are these haunting melodies of Puccini because of all the key changes. He calls upon the Lord’s mercy because it’s a Kyrie, which means ‘Lord, have mercy, Christ, have mercy.”

Brecount said she thinks the concert will surprise the audience because of the variety of styles and energy in the selections. According to Brecount, Benjamin Britten’s “Rejoice in the Lamb” was written in the cell of a mental asylum. She said the lyrics reflect the insanity, yet also his attempt to convey his yearning for God through music Britten might have felt during that time. 

“I think Britten’s piece will confuse a lot of audience members,” Brecount said. “But I’ve grown to like this piece a lot, as weird as it is, because it’s from a man who is trying. Trying to worship, trying to write something beautiful, but he is so caught in his own mind.”

As she has prepared for the concert, junior Choral Scholar Jillian Bober said she enjoyed meditating on the phrase “Hallelujah from the heart of God,” which is repeated in “Rejoice in the Lamb.” She said she hopes the audience will do the same. 

“I hope it invites others to hear and take part in the praise that all of creation always sings,” Bober said.

Brecount encouraged the audience to listen for Britten’s identification with the accusers of Christ. 

“Britten places himself in as a character that’s taking part in the pain that Christ has experienced as a man, being trapped in his own mind,” Brecount said. “It’s really interesting.”

Both Bober and Brecount said preparing for the concert has allowed them to meditate on the act of worship. 

“The pieces Dr. McDonnall chose beautifully highlight how literally all of creation — including even mice and flowers — gives glory to God,” Bober said. “Sometimes we as humans need to be reminded of this: That every breath we take, every ordinary moment of our lives, is meant to be an act of praise to the one who gave us breath.”