Contributed by Nan Potts, Mat-Su Community Chorus
Holiday Favorites: 2017 Winter Concert
12/10/2017 – 4PM
Mat-Su Community Chorus
St. John’s Lutheran Church
440 E Elmwood Ave. Palmer
Tickets: FREE Students/Seniors, $5 General
What do Johann Sebastian Bach and Gustov Holst have in common with Johnny Mann, Irving Berlin, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Mariah Carey? If you said music, you’d be partially correct. Thinking a bit harder, I’m certain you’d guess, specifically, Christmas music.
With the coming of Christmas and the holidays, many Valley voices will be singing or whistling their favorite carol or Holiday tune. “In The Bleak Midwinter” by Holst and “Beside Thy Cradle Here I Stand” by JS Bach are long-time, Christmas standards and excerpts from Yuletide oratorios, usually sung by choirs. More contemporary pieces such as, “White Christmas” by Berlin, “Pie Jesu” by Webber and “All I Want For Christmas Is You” by Carey and Afanasieff, to name a few, will pop up on the radio to which vocalizing drivers will portray their renditions while in their vehicles. And, don’t forget those one or two hummers in transit on the elevator.
Yes, Christmas and the holidays bring out the musical aptness in most of us. “Bah, hum-bug! I can’t carry a tune!” someone will exclaim. “Bah, hum-bug!” I reply. “You don’t have to sing! You can listen! Good listeners are always appreciated,” I point out. Let’s face it, Christmas music recaptures pleasant childhood memories for a good portion of us who have been on this planet awhile. My mother never accused me of being a good listener, nor has my husband. However, over the years with vocal training and choral singing, listening plays a huge part in tuning one’s voice to the music and those around you, so they don’t scatter. By those terms, I guess I could claim to be a good listener.
Having been involved in many choral groups, I have come across many audiences that listen well. My favorite folks are those tapping their feet and bobbing their heads in time to the music. I know they’re enjoying themselves. Some people will sit quietly with pleased expressions on their faces. I assume they too take joy in what is being sung. But it’s the stoic, still and stern type that make me wonder, “Are they listening? Are they enjoying themselves? Are they breathing?”
It doesn’t matter what kind of listening audience member you categorize yourself, you are welcome to attend the Mat-Su Community Chorus as we present, “Holiday Favorites”. The afore mentioned works occupy the program that Anna Crowther, MCC’s music director, has assembled for your enjoyment. And, what would be a Christmas concert without traditional carols and spirituals included? In addition, there will be a few surprises, but no spoilers here!
To warm-up your auditory senses, you can catch the Chorus Carolers on Saturday, December 9th, crooning along the streets and in merchant’s shops during Palmer’s Colony Christmas from 2pm to 4pm. Chime in if you wish! This will be a brief set, for their Christmas concert is the following day:
Sunday, December 10th at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 440 E Elmwood Ave, Palmer, will be hosting the Chorus. Doors open at 3:30pm, the concert is at 4:00pm. Tickets are available at the door for $5.00. Seniors and students are admitted free.
Now, if you still wish to, “Bah, hum-bug!”, it’s alright. Maybe if you come listen, you may just change your tune. And, if you do . . . you might just join our group! Singers are always welcomed.
