The Adult Choir of First Parish Church in Brunswick will present their Spring Concert on April 27th at 7p.m. Under the direction of Dr. Jane Hagness, the concert will feature music reflecting on our spiritual connection with the natural world and will feature the premiere of a new choral song cycle composed by Dr. Hagness.

The concert—titled Echoes of Creation: A Choral Celebration of the Earth—will take place in the beautiful and historic sanctuary of First Parish Church at 217 Maine Street in Brunswick, ME. The concert will open with “There Will Come Soft Rains” by Matt Podd, accompanied by strings, piano, and percussion, followed by “Sure on This Shining Night” by Morten Lauridsen. The first half of the concert will close with “Meditation: Listen to the Earth,” accompanied by harp and handbells.

The second half of this concert will feature the premiere of the choral song cycle, Pilgrimage Through Sacred Lands that Dr. Jane Hagness, composed based upon her sabbatical trip to the national and state parks of Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and South Dakota.  Hagness journaled during and after each hike and after returning home set her journaled writings to music.  The poetry depicts what Hagness saw in each moment and how she experienced both herself and the Sacred in the landscape, the creatures, and those she encountered.  Pieces within this choral song cycle are “Dead Horse State Park: I’m Still Here,” “Canyonlands Islands in the Sky Grand View Point,” “Arches Park Avenue Trail: The Holy City,” “Goblin Valley State Park: Here is Where the Goblin’s Play,” “Capitol Reef Hike to Hickman Bridge: Early Morning in the Garden of Eden,” “Capitol Reef Panorama Point/Goosenecks: Do Not Tarry to Take This Time,” “Bryce Canyon National Park,” ”Zion National Park: Hustle and Bustle,” “Grand Canyon,” “Good Friday in Black Canyon of the Gunnison,” “Rocky Mountain National Park: Easter on the Adams Falls Trail,” and “Badlands National Park: The Creatures Who Dwell Here.” Projected photography will enrich the musical experience as you journey in both sight and sound in this Pilgrimage Through Sacred Lands.

Additional musicians for this concert are Joel Pierce, piano; Trevor and Avery Peterson, violins; Julia Eiten, viola; Karen Jung, cello; Quinn Gormley and Anna Peterson, percussion; Virginia Flanagan, harp; Candi Hine, Native American flute; members of The Parish Ringers handbell ensemble; and members of the Westminster Choir.

There will be free childcare provided by the First Parish Sunday School staff beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall, Pilgrim House second floor.  Tickets can be purchased at the church prior to the concert, at the door, or on this page. Adults: $20.00 (purchasable below); Tickets not required for students and children.