The Hartsville Community Chorus and Children’s Chorale will present their annual Christmas Concert on Tuesday, Dec. 3rd at 7 p.m. at West Hartsville Baptist Church. Directing the music will be James Beaumier (adults) and Sandra Howard (children) with Elaine Dickinson, pianist. Featured on this program will be the “Ceremony of Carols” by Britten with harp accompaniment by Margaret Vance. The music of Benjamin Britten is being celebrated this year because it is the 100th anniversary of his birth. “Ceremony” was written in 1942 while Britten was at sea returning to England from the United States in the midst of World War II. Originally written entirely for Children’s Choir, the piece is also performed by mixed choirs or in combination with children as is performed here. The music is at times exuberant and joyful as well as somber which may reflect the time it was written. Stylistically it moves from the earliest form of music (Gregorian Chant as found in the opening chorus) to a canonic style in which the chorus imitates the sound of the harp.
Also included on the program are Christmas Carols both familiar and unique. There will be everything from the Appalachian Carol “I Wonder as I Wander,” to the Spanish Carol, “A la nanita nana,” to “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” and “Deck the Hall.” James Beaumier in his 24th year as Director of the Community Chorus is excited about this performance: “Our ensemble has grown this fall and we are performing some wonderful music. I’m delighted to feature Hartsville’s own Margaret Vance on the harp.”
The program is free and open to the public, although a free-will offering will be taken. For further information and to find out about how to join the Community Chorus or the Children’s Chorale contact James Beaumier at 857-3778 or James.Beaumier@Darlington.
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