Chorale Coeur d’Alene will highlight two traditions intertwined with Christmas — candles and carols — when the Chorale performs Dec. 8 and 9 at Trinity Lutheran Church.

The 60-voice group, now in its 17th year, has ranged worldwide to find music, ancient to new, which expresses the universal Christmas themes of hope, joy, love and peace. Selections come from Israel, Russia, France, Germany and the U.S.

Chorale Artistic Director Stan McDaniel said a centerpiece of the Christmas concerts is Camille Saint Saens’ “Christmas Oratorio.” with soloists chosen from the ranks of present and former members of the Chorale.

Audience members will get to vocalize as well, with a sing-along of familiar carols arranged by nationally known trumpet virtuoso William Berry, founder of the Clarion Brass Ensemble in Spokane.

The concerts at Trinity Lutheran, 812 N. Fifth St., Coeur d’Alene, will open with a candlelight procession of singers chanting an ancient Hebrew folk tune that Jesus himself might have known from childhood. It’s called “El Yivneh Hagalil” (The Lord Built Galilee).

And candles will light the way as the concert ends with an arrangement of an old Czech carol called “Rocking.”

In between will be musical Christmas presents, some performed by Chorale Coeur d’Alene’s chamber chorus “Vocal Essence.” The smaller group will do a rendition of an old hymn — “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks” — in a traditional southern “shaped note” folk style.

And the full chorale will evoke memories of Spokane native Bing Crosby with the still-popular “White Christmas,” a classic song he first performed shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Trinity Lutheran organist Rose Dempsey will accompany the Saint Saens “Christmas Oratorio,” and Byrl Cinnamon, a carillonneur at St. John’s Cathedral in Spokane, will accompany Felix Mendelssohn’s “There Shall a Star.”

Chorale Coeur d’Alene, a nonprofit, has been promoting quality choral music from its inception in 2001. The Chorale’s primary focus is to present beautiful and uplifting sacred music based on the belief that music is an art form that transcends all boundaries of religious creeds and brings unity, peace and joy to all who attend their concerts.

For complete information about the concert season, soloists, the Chorale and its artistic director, visit www.choralecda.com.