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 Nashua Choir #1Return to index of stories... |
The sounds of the holiday season. |
| Hello Return to index of stories... |
Hello I'm Chip Neal. Welcome to this special edition of NH Outlook. |
| Holiday Music #2 Return to index of stories... |
All over the Granite State, people are celebrating their holidays with music. In this program, we'll visit with Peterborough's Mariposa Museum of Cultures. |
| Ed Gerhard #3 Return to index of stories... |
We'll spend some time with world renowned guitarist Ed Gerhard. |
| Robert Thompson #4 Return to index of stories... |
And later, we'll listen to the soulful sound of spiritual gospel music with the Reverand Robert Thompson of Phillips Exeter Academy. |
| Intro Music Return to index of stories... |
But first, nothing gets you in the mood for the holidays like music. Around the world, music plays an important part in the celebration. Songs have been handed down through generations in every culture - and often they're only brought out once a year. Celene Ramadan met up with musicians from around the state to hear some of these songs and the traditions behind them. |
| Holiday Music Return to index of stories... |
TRACK - What would the holidays be without music? Megan Cork - Alto, Notables Snowy. I would think of snow when I thought of the holidays. TRACK - Without music, it seems the only noise that would be associated with the holidays would be the "cha-ching" of a cash register. But music adds a lot more than just noise to the season… Sheara Singer, Notables director I think we're at the point where it's so materialistic and everybody's in bad moods because they have to fight lines in the parking lots and I'm just walkin' around humming to myself and I'm very happy. It adds the happiness to the holiday season for me. Donna Kraus, Nashua Chamber Choir It's the best way to experience and to express the entire season. All the commercialism aside the joy the wonder the mystery there's no other way to express it through music. TRACK - Whatever holiday you celebrate and whatever way you choose to celebrate it - at this time of year, music plays a part in everyone's lives. Play some of the notables song - key Notables Megan Cork - Alto, Notables My family is very musical - so everyone is in a singing group. So I've always had music around me at the holidays. My father sings at the church and my mom plays bells and my sister sings in a group and my best friend and I perform on Christmas eve at my church. So, it's always been a big part of the holiday season. Sheara Singer - Notables - Director I have kind of an interesting tradition because my father is catholic and my mom is jewish but I was raised Jewish - so I have, you know, the dradle song which we play and sing and play dradle - we have a couple other holiday songs - like when I used to go to synagouge regularly. We'd sing around Hannuakah time. But then we had the holiday songs and the Christmas songs and since I've always been involved in music, I've always sung the Christmas songs and I am definitely partial to them. Play some of Nashua Choir - Hallelujah chorus John Hoffacker - Director Well the season of Christmas is full of love and joy and hope and nostalgia. Missing home, wanting to be home. And dealing with things. And it's so full that it really goes past speech. And that's why everybody starts singing on Christmas. And the whole season is full of music. Every time I drive my four year olds twins to playschool - we go through or repertoire - Santa Claus is coming to Town, Jingle Bells and Rudolph the Red…and sharing those songs with your kids is - there's nothing like it. Play Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer in French TRACK - At the Mariposa museum in Peterborough, they share songs from different cultures all over the world. And although the cultures may differ, there is a common thread among them all. Eve Kodiak: Musician Really, all of the traditions are about the same thing. All of the traditions are about that day of the year when the night is really, really long and the day is really short. And every tradition that's a very special and dangerous time because there's this sense of the forces of darkness getting greater and greater and will the light ever come back? So all the traditions that I know about that happen at this time have to do with light. Gene Faxon - Musician There's a wonderful song from Hungary called "The Changes". And it's about the changes of the seasons. It acknowledges all the seasons. That's where a lot of these songs come from. TRACK - Sometimes, even non-traditional songs are sung in the spirit of a holiday. Eve - I grew up during the civil rights movements and we would just take the idea of Hannukah being about an oppressed group of people finding their own liberation and peace and we found songs that were contemporary to that time that had to do with that topic. We sang the songs of the civil rights movement. We Shall Overcome and those kinds of songs and it fell right in. Play an international song TRACK - So, if the "spirit of the season" is leaving you, and your wallet, feeling empty - these people suggest opening your heart and letting out a song - any song. Montage of songs --- Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Uno Candelikas, Dos Candelikas… Notables Eve - Music carries the soul of the people, basically. Music - we are vibrations. We are and music is any music is carrying that identity really of the self of a culture of all people out to a space where it can be heard and seen and danced and it just encompasses the spirit of the holiday. TRACK - For NH Outlook, I'm Celene Ramadan. HALLELUJAH! |
| Intro Gerhard Return to index of stories... |
Next we'll meet a world reknowned guitarist who loves Christmas music. A few years ago, I sat down with Ed Gerhard at his local Grange Hall where he shared his love of Christmas songs with us. |
| Ed Gerhard Return to index of stories... |
WELL, THE WAY I GOT STARTED RECORDING THESE ALBUMS WAS MANY YEARS AGO I GOT AN OLD REAL TO REEL FOUR-TRACK RECORDER AND I THOUGHT THAT MAKING A LITTLE CHRISTMAS TAPE FOR MY FRIENDS WOULD BE A NICE THING DO. EVERY YEAR I GOT STARTED AND EVERY YEAR I'D GET TWO SONGS FINISHED AND IT WOULD BE TOO COMPLICATED TO GO ALL THE WAY THROUGH IT. BUT I REALLY FELL IN LOVE WITH THE MUSIC, IT'S SO MELODIC AND IT'S SUCH A CHALLENGE TO PLAY SOMETHING ON THE GUITAR THAT DIDN'T GET OBSCURED WITH THE INNER HARMONYS, BECAUSE A NOTE DIES QUICKLY ON A GUITAR. AND I BEGAN, IT WAS IN 1980 PLAYING CHRISTMAS CONCERTS AND I'VE BEEN DOING THEM EVER SINCE. I LOVE PLAYING THE MUSIC. MY OWN PHILOSOPHY ABOUT IT IS THAT I TRY TO MAKE IT PERSONAL. PEOPLE HAVE A NOSTALGIC ASSOCIATION WITH SOME PIECES OF MUSIC AND SOME ARE MORE REFER RENT THAN OTHERS, AND I JUST TRY TO BRING MY OWN PERSONAL FEELINGS ABOUT THE MUSIC TO THE FRONT. SOME SONGS YOU ASSOCIATE WITH FAMILIES OR MEMORIES OF CHRISTMASES IN THE PAST. SOME ARE MORE DEDICATED TO THE REVERENCE AND THE MIRACLE THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY. A COMBINATION OF MANY OF THESE THINGS TO ME IS WHAT MAKES IT REALLY SPECIAL. I'VE ALWAYS HAD A REAL STRONG ASSOCIATION WITH THE WHOLE STORY, AND WITH WHAT THE CHURCH REPRESENTS TO ME IN TERMS OF A SENSE OF COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY. THAT'S ONE OF THE NICE THINGS ABOUT THE CHRISTMAS CONCERTS THAT I DO, IT'S LIKE HAVING A HUGE FAMILY THAT GETS TOGETHER EVERY YEAR. |
| Intro Revels Return to index of stories... |
The holiday season is a special time of year in New Hampshire's Upper Valley. It's when people from many walks of life put down what they're doing and become actors, jugglers, singers and dancers. With a cast of more than one hundred, Christmas Revels is a performance that includes grandchildren to grandparents. Allison McNair takes us to a rehearsal from 2001. |
| Revels Return to index of stories... |
Ridge clip - "I come to Revels to start the Christmas season. I doesn't feel like Christmas without it." narr - This is Christmas Revels -- performed by Revels North. Started in New York fifty years ago, Christmas Revels found its way to New Hampshire and has become an annual tradition in the Upper Valley. Ridge clip - "This year's story is about the medieval gathering of performers from all over Europe who get together to celebrate their faiths." narr - Director David Guy decides on the story a year in advance. Coincidentially, this year's has a strong, multi-faith theme. David clip - "Afterwards, we were all thinking, boy if there's a year when we want to have Jewish, Christian and Islamic music all in the same show, this is the year." sound of rehearsal narr - But Revels is more than a performance. Ridge clip - "I met my wife through Revels." narr - It's an opportunity for people throughout the Upper Valley to get together and celebrate. Krysta clip - "It feels like home. You're with other actors and you're having a lot of fun up on stage. It's magical." Ridge clip - "This is a community. We have people on stage and people in the audience and we interrelate. Many of the people in the audience have been involved with Revels at one time or another." narr - Some of the more than one hundred cast members, are on stage for the first time. They're teachers, farmers, doctors and neighbors. Many become involved, first by watching. Kyrsta clip - "A lot of my friends come to see this and think it's really cool. They say wow, I want to do this and get involved the next year." David clip - "Theres' an opportunity to surround audience and sing carols of blessing. They sing with us and get up and join us. The audience brings a lot of energy to the performance." Kyrsat clip - "I like to sing all the time and I know that I want to sing for the rest of my life. I'm having a lot of fun with my friends and family." |
| Intro Robert Thompson Return to index of stories... |
Religions throughout the world celebrate their faith through music. And so, we leave you this Christmas day with some sounds of faith. In 1999, Rev. Robert Thompson of Phillips Exeter Adademy sang some of his favorite spirituals for us. |
| Robert Thompson Return to index of stories... |
§ BEHOLD THAT STAR §. BEHOLD THAT STAR. OF YONDER. BEHOLD THAT STAR. IT IS THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM. § THERE WAS NO ROOM FOUND AT THE INN. IT IS THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM. FOR HIM WHO WAS BORN FREE FROM SIN. IT IS THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM. THE WISE MEN CAME OUT FROM THE EAST, IT IS THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM. TO WORSHIP HIM, THE PRINCE OF PEACE. IT IS THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM. §. BEHOLD THAT STAR, BEHOLD THAT STAR. OF YONDER. BEHOLD THAT STAR. IT IS THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM. A SOUND BROKE FORTH UPON THE EARTH, IT IS THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM. THE ANGEL HOSTS ALL ROBED IN WHITE, IT IS THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM. GLORY TO GOD, WORLD WITHOUT END. IT IS THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM. PEACE ON EARTH, GOOD WILL TOWARD MEN. IT IS THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM. §. BEHOLD THAT STAR, BEHOLD THAT STAR UP YONDER. BEHOLD THAT STAR, IT IS THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM. § OH, POOR LITTLE JESUS, THIS WORLD GOING TO BREAK YOUR HEART. THERE WILL BE NO PLACE TO LAY YOUR HEAD. MY LORD. OH, POOR LITTLE JESUS. §. OH, MARY, SHE THE MOTHER, OH, MARY SHE BREAK DOWN AND CRY, FOR THERE'S NO PLACE TO LAY HIS HEAD. MY LORD. OH, POOR LITTLE JESUS. COME DOWN ALL YE HOLY ANGELS, SING AROUND HIM WITH YOUR GOLDEN HARPS, FOR SOME DAY HE WILL DIE TO SAVE THIS WORLD. OH, POOR LITTLE JESUS. OH, POOR LITTLE JESUS. §. § THE LORD HATH BROUGHT THIS GOOD TO ME, THIS WORD BY HOPE ENDURES. § AS LONG AS LIFE. |
| Web Pointer Return to index of stories... |
That is it for this edition of our program. For more information and links to our guests and interviews, connect with us on-line at nhptv.org. or Join our online discussion and tell us what's on your mind. You can also find streaming video of all our broadcasts. |
| Founders Return to index of stories... |
Thanks to our founding sponsors who have provided major funding for the production of New Hampshire Outlook: New Hampshire Charitable Foundation Public Service of New Hampshire Stratford Foundation |
| key: Culture / Arts Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 12/24/03 HOST: Chip Neal Length: 26:46 minutes In this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, the sounds of the holiday season. We'll spend some time with world renowned guitarist Ed Gerhard. And later, we'll listen to the soulful sound of spiritual gospel music with the Reverand Robert Thompson of Phillips Exeter Academy. But first, nothing gets you in the mood for the holidays like music. Around the world, music plays an important part in the celebration. Songs have been handed down through generations in every culture - and often they're only brought out once a year. Celene Ramadan met up with musicians from around the state to hear some of these songs and the traditions behind them. Next we'll meet a world reknowned guitarist who loves Christmas music. A few years ago, I sat down with Ed Gerhard at his local Grange Hall where he shared his love of Christmas songs with us. The holiday season is a special time of year in New Hampshire's Upper Valley. It's when people from many walks of life put down what they're doing and become actors, jugglers, singers and dancers. With a cast of more than one hundred, Christmas Revels is a performance that includes grandchildren to grandparents. Allison McNair takes us to a rehearsal from 2001. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Celene Ramadan, Chip Neal, Phil Vaughn, Allison McNair NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Sheara Singer\UNH Notables, Donna Kraus\Nashua Chamber Choir, Megan Cork\UNH Notables, John Hoffacker\Director, Nashua Chamber Choir, Eve Kodiak\Musician, Gene Faxon\Musician, Ed Gerhard\Musician, Ridge Satterthwaite\Revel Actor, David Gay\Director, Krysta Frye\Revel Actor |
| Tonight 10:00 Return to index of stories... |
Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook: Join us tonight at 10:00 only on New Hampshire Public Television. |
| WEB PROMO Return to index of stories... |
Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook. . Tonight at 10pm on New Hampshire Public Television. |