The Eastern Shore Wind Ensemble, shortly before their November 2 concert.
The Eastern Shore Wind Ensemble, the community concert band based in Chestertown, will present its annual free December concert, “A Holiday Tapestry,” at 4 p.m. on December 14, 2014, at Emmanuel Church, Cross and High streets, Chestertown. The audience is invited to have refreshments with the band in the parish hall following the concert. (The church is handicapped-accessible, via the ramp and automatic doors on the courthouse-green side of the building.)
The program will include numerous familiar Christmas carols, some less well-known carols, music in celebration of Hanukkah, and a suite of music from G. F. Handel’s Messiah.
James Christensen’s celebratory original composition “Season’s Greetings!” will open the program, followed by arranger Brendan McElliget’s Christmas Suite No. 3, which features three traditional carols. His arrangement of “See, Amid the Winter’s Snow,” a 19th-century English hymn carol will follow.
An ensemble of eight flutists will be A special feature of this concert will be an ensemble of eight flutists (Jodi Bortz, Carla Gerber, Mollie Jewell, Brenda Lyons, Ashton Mooday, Helen Noble, Laura Rocco, and Antoinette Smith). They will play “Christians, Awake!” with organ accompaniment by G. Robert Tyson, Emmanuel’s organist and choirmaster, and an unaccompanied set of three traditional English and Irish carols. Mr. Tyson will also accompany the full band for several pieces.
In recognition of Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish observance also known as the Festival of Lights (this year beginning on the evening of Dec. 16), the band will play a medley of five historically popular Yiddish tunes, including “Tum Balalaika.”
The program will also include “Christmas Isn’t Christmas (Till It Happens in Your Heart),” the opening song in the Glory of Christmas musical for children by Jimmy and Carol Owens; “Good Tidings to All,” a medley of familiar carols; and “A Holst Christmas,” an arrangement of both familiar carol tunes and some of the notable original Christmas music by English composer Gustav Holst (1874-1934).
The program will conclude with a suite from Handel’s Messiah, six sections of the well-known monumental oratorio that he composed in 1741 for chorus, soloists, and orchestra while living in London. He worked from text compiled from the Old and New Testaments by his friend, Charles Jennens, to tell the story of Christ from before his birth through his life, passion, resurrection, and more. Although the “Hallelujah Chorus” is not in its original context when played at Christmas, ending a program with it has come to be expected and relished by audiences.
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. Rehearsals for the next concert, on March 15, will begin on January 5. For more information, call 410-778-2829. The band is partially supported by a grant from the Kent County Arts Council.
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