At the West Vancouver United Church on Sunday, December 14. Remaining performance December 19 at Christ Church Cathedral

The singers of musica intima put so much thought and preparation into their performances, it’s tempting to believe they orchestrated last weekend’s turn in the weather to create the perfect setting for their seasonal concert, Angels Bright.

One moment Vancouverites were being assaulted with dismal rain showers; the next, they were traipsing down sidewalks covered in a hefty layer of the white stuff and watching drivers skid across unsalted roads in slow motion. And suddenly, the prospect of spending a Sunday afternoon listening to Christmas music at West Vancouver United Church seemed positively delightful-even for a nonpractising Jew like me.

In case there was any doubt as to the spiritual nature of their program, the ensemble’s entrance made it clear that this concert was all about the babe in the manger: five singers stood at the front of the church and the remaining seven walked slowly down the aisle toward them, holding candles and singing the opening bars of “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”, arranged by local composer Stephen Chatman. This carefully orchestrated moment had the desired effect of drawing the audience into a sense of attentive calm.

A mix of 20th-century works and new arrangements of traditional carols followed over the next two hours, with the group never once faltering in its purity of sound and even-tempered delivery. Particularly entrancing was Eric Whitacre’s “Lux Aurumque”, whose lines unfolded and diverged into thrumming close harmonies that peaked and resolved into an overall sense of jubilation.

Also intriguing was Jonathan Quick’s “Angels From Heaven Came”-something of a signature piece for the group-which dramatizes a scene from the gospel of Luke. The men, intoning solemn text together, represent shepherds; the women, as angels, stand a few steps behind them and sing fluttering, overlapping lines. Slowly the “angels” come closer, their chattering voices contrasting with those of the solemn shepherds, until they stand together and declare “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

As enjoyable as they are to listen to, musica intima’s singers are also fascinating to observe. Working without a conductor, they rely on each other for cues as to tempo, dynamic, and phrasing. Watching them is an intimate experience, as every glance, nod, or smile between musicians is laid bare. It’s also, as it turns out, a wonderful way to escape from icy streets and ease into the Yuletide season.