(woman) welcome to st. olaf college in northfield, minnesota. where the 100th anniversary christmas festival concert is about to begin. a century ago, legendary conductor f. melius christiansan created the college's first christmas festival, which would become one of america's best-loved christmas traditions. through the century that has followed, thousands have come to northfield each december to be part of this special concert celebrating the spirit of humanity, fellowship, and service that is st. olaf college. and now... "christmas at st. olaf." [orchestra plays softly]

♪ as the dark awaits the dawn, ♪ ♪ so we await your light. ♪ o star of promise, scatter night, ♪ ♪ loving bright, loving bright ♪ ♪ till shades of fear are gone. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ as the blue expectant hour ♪ before the silv'ring skies, ♪ ♪ we long to see your day arise, ♪

♪ whole and wise, whole and wise, ♪ ♪ o lucent morning star. ♪ ♪ ♪ as the moon reflects the sun ♪ ♪ until the night's decrease, ♪ may we your healing light release, ♪ ♪ living peace, living peace, ♪ ♪ unto your holy dawn. ♪ ♪

♪ shine your future on this place, ♪ ♪ enlighten ev'ry guest, ♪ that through us stream your holiness, ♪ ♪ bright and blest, bright and blest; ♪ ♪ come dawn, o sun of grace. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ we await ♪ your light. ♪ ♪

♪ rejoice, rejoice believers, ♪ and let your lights appear; ♪ the evening is advancing ♪ and darker night is near. ♪ the bridegroom is arising ♪ and soon is drawing nigh. ♪ up, pray and watch and wrestle; ♪ ♪ at midnight comes the cry. ♪ ♪ ♪ rejoice, rejoice believers, ♪ land let your lights appear; ♪

♪ the evening is advancing ♪ and darker night is near. ♪ the bridegroom is arising ♪ and soon is drawing nigh. ♪ up, pray and watch and wrestle; ♪ ♪ at midnight comes the cry. ♪ ♪ ♪ our hope and expectation, ♪ o jesus, now appear; ♪ arise, o sun so longed for, ♪ o'er this benighted sphere. ♪ with hearts and hands uplifted, ♪

♪ we plead, o lord, to see ♪ the day of earth's redemption ♪ ♪ that sets your people free! ♪ ♪ ♪ amen! ♪ jesus your king is born, ♪ jesus is born, ♪ in excelsis gloria! ♪ 'twas in the moon of wintertime ♪ ♪ when all the birds had fled,

♪ the mighty gitchi manitou ♪ sent angel choirs instead; ♪ before their light the stars grew dim, ♪ ♪ and wand'ring hunters heard the hymn: ♪ ♪ jesus your king is born, jesus is born. ♪ ♪ jesus is born. ♪ in excelsis gloria! ♪ gloria! ♪ within a lodge of broken bark ♪ ♪ the tender babe was found; ♪ a ragged robe of rabbit skin ♪ ♪ enwrapped his beauty round; ♪

♪ but as the hunter braves drew nigh, ♪ ♪ the angel song rang loud and high: ♪ ♪ jesus your king is born! ♪ jesus is born. ♪ in excelsis gloria! ♪ in excelsis gloria! ♪ ♪ jesus is born. ♪ o children of the forest free, ♪ ♪ the angelsong is true; ♪ the holy child of earth and heav'n ♪ ♪ is born today for you. ♪ come kneel before the radiant boy, ♪ ♪ who brings you beauty, peace and joy. ♪ ♪ jesus your king is born, ♪ jesus your king is born. ♪

♪ jesus is born. ♪ jesus ♪ your king is born, ♪ gloria! ♪ jesus ♪ is born. ♪ today the virgin comes to the cave ♪ ♪ to give birth to the word eternal: ♪ ♪ rejoice, o world! with the angels and the shepherds ♪ ♪ give glory to the child! ♪ alleluia! ♪ mary my wife, o mary my wife! ♪ ♪ what do i see?

♪ i took you blameless before the lord ♪ ♪ from the priests of the temple♪ ♪ what do i see? ♪ rejoice, o world! with the angels and the shepherds ♪ ♪ give glory to the child! ♪ alleluia! ♪ joseph the bridegroom, ♪ o joseph the bridegroom! ♪ do not fear. ♪ god in his mercy has come down to earth, ♪ ♪ he takes flesh in my womb ♪ for all the world to see. ♪ rejoice, o world! with the angels and the shepherds ♪ ♪ give glory to the child! ♪ alleluia! ♪ mary, my bride, o mary my bride, ♪ ♪ what do i see? ♪ you, a virgin giving birth. ♪ strange mystery! ♪ rejoice, o world! with the angels and the shepherds ♪

♪ give glory to the child! ♪ alleluia! ♪ joseph the bridegroom, ♪ o joseph the bridegroom! do not fear. ♪ ♪ god in his mercy has come down to earth, ♪ ♪ he takes flesh in my womb ♪ for all the world to see. ♪ rejoice, o world! with the angels and the shepherds ♪ ♪ give glory to the child! ♪ alleluia! ♪ warned by the angel we believe ♪ ♪ that mary gives birth inexplicable ♪ ♪ to the infant, christ, our god. ♪ ♪ rejoice, o world! with the angels and the shepherds ♪ ♪ give glory to the child! ♪ alleluia! ♪ alleluia!

[playing solo] ♪ morning dawns, ♪ the moment of wonder, ♪ the threshold of darkness ♪ the threshold of darkness ♪ ♪ and light. ♪ the cardinals, ♪ the robins ask to live. ♪ god gives them breath and opens their eyes. ♪ ♪ god gives them breath and opens their eyes. ♪

♪ the birds begin ♪ to dance and sing. ♪ the birds begin ♪ to dance and sing. ♪ the birds begin to dance and sing. ♪ ♪ the birds begin ♪ to dance and sing. ♪ ♪ when gabriel told mary of god's plan, ♪ ♪ she was filled with doubt and fear. ♪ ♪ the angel assured her, ♪ "so it will be." ♪ "so it will be." ♪ she listened to ♪ her deepest heart.

♪ "here i am, ♪ "here i am, ♪ the servant of the lord." ♪ "here i am, the servant of the lord." ♪ ♪ "here we are!" "here we are!" ♪ ♪ "here we are!" "here we are!" ♪ ♪ help us to see ♪ the sacred place in every heart, ♪ ♪ where god's truth and glory ♪ ♪ and glory ♪ meet our despair, ♪ where the angels say,

♪ the angels say, ♪ "do not be afraid," ♪ "do not be afraid," ♪ ♪ where god ♪ has planted ♪ has planted the seed of love. ♪ ♪ has planted the seed of love. ♪ ♪ god calls us ♪ calls us to open our eyes, ♪ to see the divine ♪ the divine in ourselves ♪ and each other, ♪ to welcome the stranger,

♪ say "yes" to the outcast. ♪ "yes" to the outcast. ♪ may the loneliness ♪ and the darkness of this life ♪ ♪ vanish ♪ in love's healing light. ♪ love's healing light. ♪ let us dance and sing ♪ with the first birds of morning, ♪ ♪ god is with us, god our hope. ♪ ♪ god our hope and god our light. ♪ ♪ god our hope and god our light. ♪

♪ god our hope and god our light. ♪ [playing a bright melody] ♪ going through the hills on a night all starry ♪ ♪ on the way to bethlehem, ♪ far away i heard a shepherd boy piping ♪ ♪ on the way to bethlehem. ♪ angels in the sky brought this message nigh: ♪ ♪ "dance and sing for joy that christ ♪ ♪ the newborn king is come to bring us peace on earth, ♪ ♪ and he's lying cradled there at bethlehem." ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ "tell me, shepherd boy piping tunes so merrily ♪ ♪ on the way to bethlehem,

♪ who will hear your tunes on these hills so lonely ♪ ♪ on the way to bethlehem?" ♪ angels in the sky brought this message nigh: ♪ ♪ "dance and sing for joy that christ ♪ ♪ the newborn king is come to bring us peace on earth, ♪ ♪ and he's lying cradled there at bethlehem." ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ "where is this new king, shepherd boy piping merrily, ♪ ♪ is he there at bethlehem?" ♪ "i will find him soon by the star shining brightly ♪ ♪ in the sky o'er bethlehem." ♪ angels in the sky brought this message nigh: ♪ ♪ "dance and sing for joy that christ ♪ ♪ the newborn king is come to bring us peace on earth, ♪ ♪ and he's lying cradled there at bethlehem." ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ "may i come with you, shepherd boy piping merrily, ♪

♪ come with you to bethlehem? ♪ pay my homage too at the new king's cradle, ♪ ♪ is it far to bethlehem?" ♪ angels in the sky brought this message nigh: ♪ ♪ "dance and sing for joy that christ ♪ ♪ the infant king is born this night in ♪ ♪ lowly stable yonder, born for you at ♪ ♪ bethlehem." ♪ the tree of life ♪ my soul hath seen, ♪ laden with fruit and always green; ♪ ♪ the trees of nature

♪ fruitless be ♪ compared with christ the apple tree. ♪ ♪ oo-oo oo-oo-ooo ♪ oo-oo oo-oo-ooo oo-oo-oo ♪ ♪ oo-oo ooo ♪ his beauty doth all things excel: ♪ ♪ by faith i know, but ne'er can tell, ♪ ♪ the glory which i now can see ♪ ♪ in jesus christ the apple tree. ♪

♪ oo-oo oo-oo-ooo ♪ oo-oo oo-oo-ooo oo-oo ♪ ♪ for happiness i long have sought, ♪ ♪ and pleasure dearly ♪ i have bought: ♪ i missed of all; but now i see ♪ ♪ 'tis found in christ the apple tree. ♪ ♪ oo-oo oo-oo-ooo ♪ oo-oo oo-oo-ooo oo-oo-oo ♪ ♪ oo-oo oo-oo-ooo oo-oo-oo ♪ ♪ oo-oo oo-oo-ooo oo-oo-oo oo-oo ♪ ♪ this fruit

♪ doth make my soul to thrive, ♪ ♪ it keeps my dying faith alive: ♪ ♪ which makes my soul in haste to be ♪ ♪ with jesus christ the apple tree. ♪ ♪ i'm weary with my former toil, ♪ ♪ here i will sit and rest a while; ♪ ♪ under the shadow ♪ i will be,

♪ of jesus christ ♪ the apple tree. [playing in caribbean rhythm] ♪ the virgin mary had a baby boy. ♪ ♪ the virgin mary had a baby boy. ♪ ♪ the virgin mary had a baby boy. ♪ ♪ and they said that his name was jesus. ♪ ♪ he come down he come from the glory ♪ ♪ he come down, he come from the glorious kingdom ♪ ♪ he come down he come from the glory ♪ ♪ he come down, he come from the glorious kingdom ♪ ♪ oh yes, believer!

♪ oh yes, believer! ♪ ♪ oh yes, believer! ♪ born in bethlehem! ♪ the angels sang when the baby was born ♪ ♪ the angels sang when the baby was born ♪ ♪ the angels sang when the baby was born ♪ ♪ and they said that his name was jesus. ♪ ♪ he come down he come from the glory ♪ ♪ he come down, he come from the glorious kingdom ♪ ♪ he come down he come from the glory ♪ ♪ he come down, he come from the glorious kingdom ♪ ♪ oh yes, believer! ♪ oh yes, believer! ♪ ♪ oh yes, believer! ♪ born in bethlehem! ♪ ♪ ♪ wise men came from afar

♪ they came following that star ♪ ♪ they saw where the babe was born. ♪ ♪ and they said that his name was jesus. ♪ ♪ he come down he come from the glory ♪ ♪ he come down, he come from the glorious kingdom ♪ ♪ he come down he come from the glory ♪ ♪ he come down, he come from the glorious kingdom ♪ ♪ oh yes, believer! ♪ oh yes, believer! ♪ ♪ oh yes, believer! ♪ born in bethlehem! ♪ noel! ♪ noel! ♪ noel! ♪ noel!

♪ jesu me kwisa ku zinga ti beto. ♪ ♪ noel! ♪ noel! ♪ noel! ♪ noel! ♪ jesu me kwisa ku zinga ti beto. ♪ ♪ a ma mai, a ma mai, a ma mai, a ma mai ♪ ♪ a ma mai, a ma mai ♪ ♪ a ma mai, a ma mai ♪ noel! noel! ♪ jesu me kwisa ku zinga ti beto. ♪ ♪ noel! noel! ♪ jesu me kwisa ku zinga ti beto. ♪ ♪ noel! noel!

♪ jesu me kwisa ku zinga ti beto. ♪ ♪ noel! noel! ♪ jesu me kwisa ku zinga ti beto. ♪ ♪ kana nge zola ku zaba mwana. ♪ ♪ nge fwiti kwisa ku fukama. ♪ kana nge zola ku zaba mwana. ♪ ♪ nge fwiti kwisa ku fukama. ♪ noel! noel! ♪ jesu me kwisa ku zinga ti beto. ♪ ♪ noel! noel! ♪ jesu me kwisa ku zinga ti beto. ♪ [all exclaim joyously] ♪ noel! noel! ♪ jesu me kwisa ku zinga ti beto. ♪ ♪ noel! noel! ♪ jesu me kwisa ku zinga ti beto. ♪ ♪ noel! noel! ♪ jesu me kwisa ku zinga ti beto. ♪

♪ noel! noel! ♪ jesu me kwisa ku zinga ti beto. ♪ ♪ kana nge zola ku zaba mwana. ♪ ♪ nge fwiti kwisa ku fukama. ♪ kana nge zola ku zaba mwana. ♪ ♪ nge fwiti kwisa ku fukama. ♪ noel! noel! ♪ jesu me kwisa ku zinga ti beto. ♪ ♪ noel! noel! ♪ jesu me kwisa ku zinga ti beto. ♪ ♪ noel! noel! ♪ jesu me kwisa ku zinga ti beto. ♪ ♪ noel! noel! ♪ jesu me kwisa ku zinga ti beto. ♪ [handbell choir and orchestra play]

[instruments only; no vocals]

[instruments only; no vocals]

[instruments only; no vocals]

♪ ♪ [resonant, sustained tone of the bells] [playing softly] ♪ o yule full of gladness ♪ and cheer and delight, ♪ we welcome you now ♪ with our singing. ♪ our hearts open wide ♪ to the brilliance of light ♪ from heaven to earth you are bringing. ♪ ♪ we merrily clap and sing, ♪ a happy welcome bring, ♪ so glad are we, so glad are we, ♪ ♪ for joy and love are born now ♪

♪ at christmas! ♪ ♪ ♪ when christmas morn is dawning, ♪ ♪ to bethlehem i go ♪ to see the savior lying ♪ within the manger low. ♪ within the manger low. ♪ ♪ to see the savior lying ♪ within the manger low. ♪ ♪ ♪ beautiful the sky so blue, ♪ stars above are shining through. ♪ ♪ how they twinkle softly beaming, ♪

♪ how they smile and beckon gleaming, ♪ ♪ while they draw our hearts to heav'n, ♪ ♪ while they draw our hearts to heav'n. ♪ [orchestra only] ♪ while angel voices rang above, ♪