I love the music of this wonderful season. You just can’t beat Christmas music. This month Cameron and I got to hear two wonderful concerts right here in the Foster City area. One was a concert called Alleluia, by Foster City Community Chorus, and then we heard Gloria by Viva la Musica.
In the first concert I knew most of the music including the Randall Thompson, Alleluia, and the Magnificat, by John Rutter. Both were excellent, tried and true pieces. I also loved hearing From a Distance, by Julie Gold whom I knew from my days as a Cabaret performer in New York City. On the other hand I did not know any of the featured music performed by Viva la Musica. One was a A Savior is Born written by Texas composer, Randall Alan Bates, and the other was Gloria, by Giovanni Maria Ruggieri, a Baroque Venetian composer. Both concerts ended with a series of familiar carols.
And, who doesn’t like a Christmas carol sing-a long? It is truly what makes the season bright. I like singing them all. You will notice I start right away programming all the Carols in our December worship services. Outside of just two or three, the Advent songs don’t do very much for me. By the way, I was also pleased to see names of IUC church members in each of the choruses including our own wonderful Anna Khaydarova who accompanies both choruses.
Listening to the music that boldly proclaims the coming of the Christ child into our midst, gives us the opportunity to pause and reflect, and yes, even escape from some of the horrific happenings we have experienced recently. The music tells the story that we need to hear so much — that God is with us, bringing us the peace, hope, joy, and love we need to keep us going – calling us to be bearers of the light.
Faithfully,
Jarv