First celebrated at King’s College, Cambridge in 1918, The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols has become a beloved Christmas institution worldwide. It is from this rich tradition that artistic director Andrew Major drew inspiration when crafting a narrative program for Roots in the Sky to contemplate the Nativity story as a means addressing wounds, looking forward, bringing us together, and reminding us of our shared humanity.

Through a series of readings, choral reflections, and congregational hymns, the program unfolds in five acts—Of the Snow and Winter, Of the Star and Seeking, Of the Mother and Service, Of the Child and Sacrifice, and Of Hope and Peace—each asking old questions in new ways, reminding us why these stories endure.

While traditional hymns like “In the Bleak Midwinter” and “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” will provide familiar anchors and moments for communal expression, the program is ultimately rooted in new works by a diverse range of living composers. Bob Chilcott’s “Shepherd’s Carol” offers a tender voice to the Nativity story, while Reena Esmail’s “We Look For You” captures the searching quality of the season, and considers our ancient impulse to gaze heavenwards, and to seek meaning in darkness.

Perhaps most striking is David Lang’s “Sleeper’s Prayer,” whose simple petition—“let me lie down in peace / let me rise up again in peace”—resonates with particular poignancy in the din of contemporary living. The evening concludes with Alex Berko’s earnest work “Exodus,” which leaves audiences with questions rather than easy answers: “Who is like you? Will you protect me? Should I thank you? Will you stay silent? Nevertheless, I pray.”

Readings & Carols (Re)imagined will be performed at 7:00 PM on Friday, December 19th at The Big Sky Chapel in Big Sky, 7:30 PM on Saturday, December 20th at Hope Lutheran Church in Bozeman, and 2:30 PM on Sunday, December 21st at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Bozeman. Each venue will bring its own acoustic character and atmosphere to the performance. For tickets visit: https://rootsinthesky.org


About Roots in the Sky

With performances described as “the best choral singing we’ve ever heard in Bozeman (or almost anywhere),” Roots in the Sky has established itself as Montana’s premier chamber choir through a commitment to presenting thoughtfully programmed performances of historical and contemporary choral works that ask questions about the world in which we are living.

Sought after for collaborations, Roots in the Sky has appeared in performance with the GRAMMY Award-winning chamber choir The Crossing, Jitro Czech Children’s Choir, and many of the Gallatin Valley’s finest instrumentalists. Roots in the Sky has performed in venues across the state of Montana, including the Tippet Rise Arts Center, the Bozeman Public Library, the Warren Miller Performing Arts Center in Big Sky, the Cathedral of St. Helena, and in concert in Missoula, Kalispell, Helena, Red Lodge, and Big Sky.

In their most recent season, Roots in the Sky joined forces with Baroque Music Montana to present the region’s first historically informed performances of Handel’s Messiah, an event filmed by Montana PBS. The ensemble also launched a Choral Composition Program for early career composers in partnership with Tinworks Art, and performed at the Tippet Rise Arts Center as part of their popular Wander concert series.   

Andrew Major is the Artistic Director & Conductor for Roots in the Sky.
Image credit: Blair Speed