Concert Program Template (Page 3 of 4) in pdf

Program Notes

Twenty years ago, the Music Committee of the Park

cloth and placed in a box. On St. Steven’s Day,

Avenue Congregational Church undertook the task of

(December 26) young children carried the wren from

restoring our historic Skinner organ. At that time, a price

door to door as a sort of mumming, usually asking for a

of $60,000 was quoted for the restoration work. The

penny to show the “King” to the household.

Organist and Choir Director at the time, John Cavicchia,

There are some early music pieces (Magnum Mysterium,

suggested a Christmas concert as a way to raise money

Psallite), and our current director, Jeffrey Brody, has

towards the restoration. This was the start of the PACC

composed a poignant, ethereal setting reminiscent of

Concert Series. Over these twenty years, the annual

early music for the traditional Ave Maria text.

Christmas concert has become PACC’s gift to the

We are also pleased to continue our tradition of

community, and has presented music ranging from early

instrumentalists and would like to thank our flutists

plainsong to modern pieces, accompanied by piano or

Gretchen Durning, Andrea Hart, Kazumi Kobayashi and

organ, and has also featured additional instruments such

Jayna McLaughlin, and our trumpeter Philip Sullivan.

as violin, cello, recorder, guitar, flute, trumpet and

We would also like to thank Andrea Hart, the Youth

harpsichord.

Choir director, for her amazing work with PACC’s

Today’s concert is built around a celebration of musical

Youth Music program. Finally, many thanks to our

selections from our twenty years of Christmas concerts.

Organist and Choir Director, Jeffrey Brody, whose talent

Christmas concert themes have covered a wide range of

and leadership have shaped today’s concert and our

musical periods and styles, from “Visions of

concert series.

Sugarplums” (a child’s view of Christmas), “Advent

We invite you to enjoy our Christmas celebration and

Evensong,” “Christmas Through the Centuries,” “An

join in the carol singing. Peace on Earth and Good will

Early American Christmas,” “Lessons and Carols,” to

to all.

“Christmas Long Ago” (medieval music). Some of

Merrith Sabo-Jones

today’s selections (“Carol of the Bells,” “Coventry

Carol,” “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming,” “Let All

It is a very great pleasure indeed to welcome one and all

Mortal Flesh Keep Silence,” “Go Tell It on the

to this traditional PACC event, the annual Christmas

Mountain”) are from our very first concert.

Concert. This year’s program is centered on the concept

of plain, pure and simple joy, the joy that fills us all at

Some concerts have been built around a complete piece:

this special time of the year as we celebrate and rejoice

“Gloria” (the Vivaldi Gloria, with harpsichord and a

in the birth of Christ Jesus. It is now, more than ever,

string quartet), “An 18th Century Christmas” (the J. S.

that the shining beacon light of the Nativity brightens

Bach Christmas Oratorio) and “Christmas at Midnight”

our dark world, beset as it is with recession and

(Charpentier’s “Midnight Mass”). We feature some

depressing problems. This afternoon we can dispel this

selections from these concerts as well.

gloom by listening and enjoying the efforts of a

While our concerts have many familiar carols (“I

multitude of performers in works of great diversity of

Wonder as I Wander,” “In the Bleak Mid Winter,” “O

compositional style and expression. I would like to take

Holy Night”) and classical pieces (“Jesu, Joy of Man’s

this opportunity to thank all involved in this afternoon’s

Desiring,” “Break Forth O Beauteous Heavenly Light”),

performance for the many months of unceasing effort

we also present some less well known pieces: Sowerby’s

which has made this program of difficult and diverse

“The Snow Lay on the Ground,” Chadwick’s “O Holy

music possible. May our musical endeavors enable us to

Child of Bethlehem,” the 15th century German Carol

enjoy a most blessed and joyous Christmastide as we

“Song of the Crib.” One that might need a little

ponder the Mystery of God’s gift to us in the form of his

explanation is “Please to See the King,” a traditional

only-begotten Son.

carol from Pembrokeshire in South Wales, from 2006’s

Jeffrey Brody

“A Celtic Christmas.” The wren was the “king of the

birds.” A wren was killed and dressed in ribbons and

Concert Program Template Page 3

Related Articles

Related forms

Related Categories