The Eastern Shore Wind Ensemble, the community concert band based in Chestertown, will present its annual free holiday concert at 4 p.m. on December 15, 2013, at Emmanuel Church, Cross and High streets, Chestertown. (The church is handicapped-accessible, via the ramp and automatic doors on the old-courthouse green side of the building.) The program theme of “The Joy of the Season” refers to both Christmas and Hanukkah.
The program will open with “And All the Bells Shall Ring,” Rob Romeyn’s festive 2013 arrangement based on the traditional carol “Ding, Dong, Merrily on High” and “The Ukrainian Bell Carol.”
“A Celebration of Hanukkah,” a medley of traditional tunes celebrating the eight-day “Festival of Lights” in remembrance of the Jewish people’s struggle for religious freedom, will follow. Unusually early this year, Hanukkah began in the evening of Nov. 27 and ends in the evening of Dec. 5. The medley includes “Y’malei,” “Maoz Tzur,” “The Dreydl Song,” “Chanukan Chag Yafe Kol Kach,” and “Hanerot Halalu.”
“The Toy Trumpet,” written in 1936 by Raymond Scott and featuring solo trumpet and the trumpet section, is a joyous reminder of a traditional Christmas gift for children. The song was famously sung by Shirley Temple, and versions by The Boston Pops and Al Hirt are classics.
Two popular Mannheim Steamroller Christmas albums (with arrangements by Chip Davis) inspired Calvin Custer to create “A Fresh Aire Christmas,” a medley for band that includes “Deck the Hall”; “Good King Wenceslas”; “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming”; and “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen.”
All brass sections of the band will play “Nimrod, Variation No. 9” from “The Enigma Variations,” Sir Edward Elgar’s large 1899 work. Not usually considered a Christmas piece, this variation is nonetheless an especially beautiful one that refers to Nimrod, an Old Testament patriarch described as “a mighty hunter before the Lord.”
The joy of the holiday season as seen through the eyes of Charlie Brown never grows old. “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” with music by Vince Guaraldi as arranged by Paul Murtha, will include “Linus and Lucy,” “Skating,” “O Tannenbaum,” and “Christmas Time is Here.”
Robert W. Smith’s “An American Christmas” merges familiar holiday melodies with unique American musical styles, such as jazz and rock. The piece ends with an inventive pairing of Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever” and “Jingle Bells,” which Smith has titled “Jingle Bells Forever.”
Jeff Simmons’ “First Noel” combines two beloved melodies (“The First Noel” and Pachelbel’s famous “Canon”) in a moving pairing, and Richard Saucedo’s “Carol of the Night” is a creative yet reverent version of “Silent Night.” It starts in a minor mode, then gradually moves to a more traditional presentation of the much-loved carol.
“All I Want for Christmas Is You,” with words and music by Mariah Carey and Walter Afanasieff, will conclude the program. This hip, swing version (newly arranged for concert band by Larry Kerchner) with its upbeat tempos will lead into the reception with refreshments for audience and band in the parish hall.
Dr. Keith Wharton has been the musical director of the band since its founding in 2001. The band always welcomes new members of all ages to join, without audition or fee. The next rehearsal will be on Jan. 6. For more information, call 410-778-2829 or 410-810-1834. The band is partially supported by a grant from the Kent County Arts Council.
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