Spring Break
Snowfall Sets Mood for Choir's DecemberSong
By Mike Perkins
Snow kicked off winter just in time this past weekend, setting all in the right spirits for December Song, the eleventh annual Christmas concert performed by the choir. The celebration was performed Saturday evening in the Abbey Church.
The Church was filled to hear the choir, led by the director Father Bede Camera, and according to Fr. Bede those in attendance got quite a treat, "They were at the top of their game, they learned to things they have never done before for this," he continued saying, "They surprised me. As much as I know how good they are, they did even better."
He later commented on how his students were also very happy with their performance, noting they usually know how well they did, and if they do not, he makes it, sometimes painfully, obvious.
The program began with all the lights off in the church while the choir filled the aisles. They were holding candles and their music, as they sang their first song standing among the audience. Following this they went to their seats where they sang for the rest of the concert, which lasted just over an hour. Singing was supplemented by passages from From Glory to Glory written by Susan Cherwien. Fr. Bede chose the passages, while members of the choir read them. The singing was also accompanied by flutes, and frequently the Brother Andrew's rousing play on the organ.
Fr. Bede explained he chose writings from a book rather than scripture simply because he "wanted to do something different."
He continued, "My philosophy has always been to feed the people that come. . . A lot of people come year after year and they tell me it puts them in the holiday."
Senior Kelly O'Dea, who was in attendance, echoed this saying, "It was such a relaxing experience that definitely got me in the mood for Christmas."
With messages like the one below spread all night, it was difficult not to be relaxed and in the holiday spirit, and if that was not enough, there was snow and ice for everyone when the show was over to remind everyone the Christmas season has arrived overnight.
"But beneath all the commotion
of human busy?ness
is a breath of eternal song
(God placed it there)
sweet/strong
causing the heart to beat
making the breath catch
beneath it all is a fair harmony,
the song of the hosts of heaven."
The Church was filled to hear the choir, led by the director Father Bede Camera, and according to Fr. Bede those in attendance got quite a treat, "They were at the top of their game, they learned to things they have never done before for this," he continued saying, "They surprised me. As much as I know how good they are, they did even better."
He later commented on how his students were also very happy with their performance, noting they usually know how well they did, and if they do not, he makes it, sometimes painfully, obvious.
The program began with all the lights off in the church while the choir filled the aisles. They were holding candles and their music, as they sang their first song standing among the audience. Following this they went to their seats where they sang for the rest of the concert, which lasted just over an hour. Singing was supplemented by passages from From Glory to Glory written by Susan Cherwien. Fr. Bede chose the passages, while members of the choir read them. The singing was also accompanied by flutes, and frequently the Brother Andrew's rousing play on the organ.
Fr. Bede explained he chose writings from a book rather than scripture simply because he "wanted to do something different."
He continued, "My philosophy has always been to feed the people that come. . . A lot of people come year after year and they tell me it puts them in the holiday."
Senior Kelly O'Dea, who was in attendance, echoed this saying, "It was such a relaxing experience that definitely got me in the mood for Christmas."
With messages like the one below spread all night, it was difficult not to be relaxed and in the holiday spirit, and if that was not enough, there was snow and ice for everyone when the show was over to remind everyone the Christmas season has arrived overnight.
"But beneath all the commotion
of human busy?ness
is a breath of eternal song
(God placed it there)
sweet/strong
causing the heart to beat
making the breath catch
beneath it all is a fair harmony,
the song of the hosts of heaven."
This article was published on 12/11/09 in the News section.
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