365 True Things: 251/Music

This evening was the first of David's chorus's two Christmas concerts. I of course went; I always do, and am always impressed. They do a terrific job.

It doesn't hurt that they perform in the Carmel Mission, which is beautiful visually and has great acoustics for a big choral sound.

The conductor, Sal Ferrantelli—he's been leading this chorus, I Cantori di Carmel, for thirty years—has a sort-of "policy" of not performing well-known works, but tonight he broke that rule and led the group in a couple of pieces from Handel's Messiah: "For Unto Us a Child Is Born" and, to end things, the "Hallelujah!" Chorus. They filled the church with glory. It was spectacular.

They also sang some Christmas carols—"Adeste Fidelis," the processional; "Veni, Veni Emmanuel"; a traditional French carol, "Noel Nouvelet"; and a lovely Catalan folksong sung only by the women, "El Cant Dels Ocels." And Schubert's Mass in G, which I love. And other works besides, including a Magnificat by Sal himself and a song, "The Lord Is My Shepherd," by a 26-year-old member of the chorus, very lovely. It was a good program.

So: this kicks off the Christmas season for me, musically. I will continue to avoid shops that play insipid Christmas music, but at home I may, now and then, put on a CD of seasonal music that I like. The Messiah, of course; a Christmas album by Chanticleer, a San Francisco men's chorus, called Our Heart's Joy; Duke Ellington's take on the "Nutcracker" Suite; Béla Fleck and the Flecktones' Jingle All the Way, yes indeed: banjo jazz takes on Christmas; Anonymous 4's On Yoolis Night, medieval carols and motets; a Berlin Philharmonic compilation Weihnachtskonzert; and an old favorite from my childhood, Bing Crosby's White Christmas. 

Now I guess it's time to think about decorating with lights. Everybody else has already . . .