The Spectrum

Issue date: 12/7/06 Section: A & E

The Concert Choir got everyone in the holiday spirit, at their Winter concert.

The winter concert is an annual holiday-themed concert, and it is the culmination of a whole semester of work. Members of the academic music program spend the entire first semester learning the repertoire for this concert.

The choral groups performed a selection of classical, jazz, and special holiday collections. It always helps to bring the spirit of Christmas early in December. The choral ensembles featured The Concert Choir, The Liturgical Choir Leaders, and 4 Heart Harmony.

The concert began with the Concert Choir singing "Give Us Hope" by Jim Papoulis' Sounds from a Better World. The Concert Choir voices sang with sway and gave a powerful sound. The 38 members voices soared throughout the theater singing "Caroling, Caroling" and they ended with a holiday favorite tune "Baby It's Cold Outside."

The Liturgical Choir Leaders were up next performing two secular pieces. The first was "Angelus Ad Virginem" meaning angel to the virgin. The choir had a really good balance. The mixture of boys and girls created a homogenous tone for the traditional Latin song. The second song performed was "Jesus on the Waterside".

The choral assembly 4 Heart Harmony performed after with an assortment of Christmas songs. Included was "Deck the Halls", hummed with a cheery resonance and "Winter Wonderland of Snow", tenor-filled tones that pitched quality and brought personality to the stage.

"They sang really well and it really puts you in the holiday spirit. I enjoyed that the assortment of songs were diverse in their sound," said Alex Gastiger, junior, Mystic.

Also included was the song "Homeward Bound," a powerful tribute to America's Veterans. The beautiful poetic lyrics in addition with magnificent arrangement made a superb act including quality tenor tones from Gregory Chase.

The finale of the winter concert included a combination of choirs 4 Heart Harmony and the Concert Choir.

"My favorite performance was the 'Voices of Light' piece by Paul Halley. We worked extremely hard in both ensembles to put it together, and it sounded beautiful with the flute, piano, bass, and percussion accompaniment," said 4 Heart Harmony Member, Kristen McIntire, sophomore, Avon. "The piece is extremely difficult for all parts and was a significant accomplishment for us" sa

The choirs put on two concerts each year and you can catch the spring concert in May that plans to be themed with music from Broadway shows.

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