Spring Break
Holiday music shows sell out Center
Editor Red & Black
- Page 1 of 1
|
What do "Silent Night" and "Deck the Halls" have in common? Yes, they're both traditional Christmas songs, but few know that they originated as Celtic tunes.
The songs are also part of this year's Athens Chamber Singers annual Yuletide Dinner, centering on the theme of Celtic music.
Celtic is the traditional folk music from areas of Europe such as Ireland, Scotland and Wales, said Kevin Kelly, group director since 1994.
"Celtic music seems to speak to everyone, whether they have an Irish/Welsh background or not," group member Janet Rodekohr said, "It's lyrical, sometimes hauntingly sad, often playful and fun."
The appeal of the Celtic tradition is one of the reasons that Kelly picked it for this year's theme.
"Record sales are always high in that genre," Kelly said.
|
The shows indeed already are sold out, and did so two weeks earlier than expected, said fellow Singers member Lynne Nagy.
The Singers is a nonprofit community choral group consisting of a wide variety of Athens students and retirees alike, and the event has been a group tradition ever since its creation in 1979.
Adding to the sound of the Singers this year will be local Celtic band Short Road Home. It will be the first time that the Singers have been accompanied by an instrumental group at the dinner.
Short Road Home is a six-member band and has been around for a few years playing "Celtic and old-timey music," said guitarist Daniel Promislow.
"The choir is fantastic," Promislow said. "They make us sound better, so it works pretty well."
- Josh White
Another traditional Christmas concert at Classic Center
The Athens Symphony Community Christmas Choir will give a traditional Christmas concert at the Classic Center.
Although tickets are required for entry, there is no admission price to pay - a definite plus to all college students.
The choir, which is composed of roughly 75 members of all ages and occupations from the Athens community, will focus the first half of the concert on more classic, traditional music and the second half on more popular holiday jingles set to pop tunes.
The show will also feature a traditional "white Christmas" piece, which includes a visit from Santa Claus himself.
Toward the end, the audience will be allowed to participate in the festivities and sing a number of songs along with the choir.
|
One thing that makes the Symphony unique is that it is completely voluntary. Although rehearsals are required in order to be a part of the choir, no one gets paid, including Albert Ligotti, the founder and conductor of the Symphony.
All support comes from the sponsors in the Athens community.
Nevertheless, it is an experience that all the members seem to enjoy.
"We get as much pleasure out of it as everyone who attends," said Ligotti.
Currently all tickets required for entry are reserved.
"Last Monday approximately 4000 tickets were available," said Ligotti. "Now they are completely gone."
However, there is no need to give up just yet. According to Ligotti, some tickets will come back, and although nothing can be guaranteed, it is likely that there will be approximately 100 empty seats that will be given on a "first come, first served" basis on the nights of the performances.
- Laura Galbraith
