The University of St. Thomas in St. Paul commissioned Hagen for their annual Christmas concerts. The piece “Comfort and Joy” is based on this year’s concert theme, and is scored for a mass choir of over 200 singers, wind ensemble, and string orchestra.
This concert will be recorded and filmed, broadcast on Twin Cities Public Television as a one-hour holiday special. Concert information can be found here: https://www.stthomas.edu/music/events/christmas/
Hagen commissioned poet Brian Newhouse for this exciting project. Read his poem “A Fire in Winter” below.
Comfort and Joy
Here in the winter dark
our ministry is flame.
When you are lost,
we will build the signal fire,
a towering blaze of welcome.
When you are broken,
a hearthfire to mend a scattered heart.
When you are hungry,
living embers will bring you bread.
We are found,
we are whole,
we are fed by fire.
Angels fan these flames
so your way may
be lit by joy.
