Yes, I know that the temperature outside is frightful (103 degrees F) and the kids have just started the Fall semester of school, but September is always my signal to start preparing music for Christmas.
School concerts, Ward Choirs, Christmas Piano Recitals, Caroling Parties, and other Christmas Parties are all great reasons to start getting music prepared.
Over the years, I have put together many concerts, recitals and Christmas Parties. I was remembering some of the concerts my big family and a couple of other musical families collaborated on. For five years, together we did Christmas concerts during the Festival of Lights at the Washington D.C. Visitor's Center. After visiting the Visitors Center again this summer during the Open House of the Temple, so many memories came flooding back.
We sang holiday songs by many composers that featured our combined talents such as using vocal solos and different combinations of singers (and little grandchildren) as well as violins, recorders, guitars, and even a very talented dancer. We also sang some arrangements that I wrote specifically for us.
One favorite arrangement was "Sing a Christmas Carol" by Leslie Bricusse from the movie musical "Scrooge" combined with "Deck the Halls." (The counterpoint and use of melismas make it so much fun to sing!) The first iteration of this arrangement I wrote while still in college. My younger brother's High School a cappella choir performed it first. However, these many years later, I tweaked it a bit for our Family Choir. It gives me such joy to think that such a small family group of kids and parents could manage to sing in 6-8 parts and still stay balanced.
Enjoy!
"Sing a Christmas Carol" YouTube video
School concerts, Ward Choirs, Christmas Piano Recitals, Caroling Parties, and other Christmas Parties are all great reasons to start getting music prepared.
Over the years, I have put together many concerts, recitals and Christmas Parties. I was remembering some of the concerts my big family and a couple of other musical families collaborated on. For five years, together we did Christmas concerts during the Festival of Lights at the Washington D.C. Visitor's Center. After visiting the Visitors Center again this summer during the Open House of the Temple, so many memories came flooding back.
We sang holiday songs by many composers that featured our combined talents such as using vocal solos and different combinations of singers (and little grandchildren) as well as violins, recorders, guitars, and even a very talented dancer. We also sang some arrangements that I wrote specifically for us.
One favorite arrangement was "Sing a Christmas Carol" by Leslie Bricusse from the movie musical "Scrooge" combined with "Deck the Halls." (The counterpoint and use of melismas make it so much fun to sing!) The first iteration of this arrangement I wrote while still in college. My younger brother's High School a cappella choir performed it first. However, these many years later, I tweaked it a bit for our Family Choir. It gives me such joy to think that such a small family group of kids and parents could manage to sing in 6-8 parts and still stay balanced.
Enjoy!
"Sing a Christmas Carol" YouTube video
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