This preview has been provided by Triangle Brass.
The year’s end is a time for reflection, for family gatherings and for holiday stories. Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” the timeless tale of Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker Suite,” and even the 20th-century tale of Dr. Seuss’ Grinch, trying to steal Christmas from the Whos in Whoville, paint the cultural backdrop of the holidays in our society. In 1822, New York scholar Clement Clarke Moore penned a poem to read to his children on Christmas Eve. Originally titled “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” the author never intended for the poem to be published. A friend of the family heard about the poem from Moore’s children and submitted it to the New York Sentinel, where it was published at Christmastime in 1823. From these gentle beginnings, Moore’s poem, now known as “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,” has become one of the most-read, most-memorized and most-publicly-delivered Christmas stories of all-time.
Many composers have set this classic rhyme to music, in many different scorings. On December 21st, at 7:00 pm, in Raleigh’s Meymandi Concert Hall, local radio personality, Tara Lynn, carries on this tradition, reading Moore’s poem accompanied by the Triangle Brass Band in a setting by Anthony DiLorenzo. Other holiday stories come to life with the music of Gustav Holst (“Christmas Day”) and Georges Bizet (“Farandole” from “L’Arlesienne”). A contemporary holiday story, “The Snowman,” is represented by the delightful song, “Walking in the Air,” by Howard Blake.
Also featured is trumpeter Ryan Sharp. This virtuoso player is currently Assistant Professor of Trumpet at the University of Central Oklahoma, Principal Trumpet with the Edmond Chamber Orchestra and Soprano Cornetist with the award-winning Fountain City Brass Band. Mr. Sharp was Lead Trumpeter with Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus for a number of years, and enjoys a busy career as a performing and recording artist. He performs on a number of selections on the program, including “Three Kings Swing,” “O Holy Night,” “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” and “Silent Night.” From the traditional Christmas poem to Mr. Sharp’s swinging sounds, you’re sure to find new meaning in holiday stories past and present!
