Sounds of Seasons Concerts - Weekend of Music Recap

Concert Chorale, University Singers and Symphonic Wind Ensemble performing at the "Sounds of the Season" choir concert in Weber Music Hall. Photo by Jackie Allen

This past weekend at UMD the Department of Music had its annual “Sounds of the Season” holiday concerts to end off the music events for the semester. Starting off the weekend was the Symphony Orchestra on Friday, Dec. 6. To begin the concert, the ensemble performed the French piece “Marche Hongroise,” by composer Hector Berlioz, which is a part of the larger piece of work “La damnation de Faust.” The ensemble's second piece “Merry Wives of Windsor,” is from the opera by the same name composed by Otto Nicolai. The opera itself is based on the play of the same name by Shakespeare.

The ensemble performed three more songs, “Danse Bacchanale,” “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “Christmas Overture.” The last piece they performed was directed by student conductor Laura Johnson. This piece, entitled “A Christmas Festival,” comprises several traditional Christmas carols, such as “Deck the Halls,” “Silent Night,” “Jingle Bells” and “O Come All Ye Faithful.” It is traditional for this song to be played at every Sounds of the Season concert as it gives the audience a chance to participate and sing along.

On Saturday, Dec. 7 the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and the Concert Band Ensemble had their concert. The Concert Band opened with three pieces. The first two pieces, “In the Bleak Midwinter” and “Wassail” are arranged by composer Robert W. Smith. The former song is based on a poem by the same name written by English poet Christina Rossetti first published in 1872. The story of the poem describes the birth of Jesus Christ in his nativity on a “bleak midwinter” day and the worship of those who came to see him.

The ensemble’s third piece, “Utopia” by Randall D. Standridge brings together the sounds of different cultures throughout the world and conveys emotions of joy and harmony. In the words of Strandridge when he released the song on YouTube in 2021, “I drew inspiration from numerous musical customs throughout the world and channeled it through my own personal aesthetic to create a celebration of all of the faces and identities of humanity. While not every single culture is represented, I tried to pull from every continent in some facet or another.”

The Symphonic Wind Ensemble performed their portion of the concert next. The ensemble opened with “Patapan” arranged by Shelley Hanson, followed by “Candlelight Carol” by John Rutter. These carol-based songs were a great way to get people in the holiday spirit for the second portion of the concert. After these two songs, the University Singers made a special appearance and sang two songs, “In Dulci Jubilo,” an a capella latin piece, and “Hacia Belen,” a comedic Spanish song telling the story of the misfortunes the Wise Men faced as they embarked on their journey to Bethlehem.

The Symphonic Wind Ensemble, along with Concert Chorale, joined with University Singers to perform another Spanish piece, “Jesus Nasciera” and “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” The latter song is based on the 1863 poem "Christmas Bells" by poet Henry W. Longfellow. The song tells of the narrator hearing Christmas bells during the American Civil War, but despairing that "Hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth, good will to men." After much anguish and despondency the carol concludes with the bells ringing out with resolution that "God is not dead, nor doth He sleep" and that there will ultimately be "peace on earth, good will to men".

For the Symphonic Wind Ensemble’s last piece they played a 10 minute song “Russian Christmas Music” by composer Alfred Reed. To end the concert, in the usual tradition of the “Sounds of the Season” concerts, the band and the choirs performed “A Christmas Festival.”

On Sunday, Dec. 8 the UMD choirs, which included Concert Chorale, University Singers and Chamber Singers, had their concert to end off Sounds of the Season. Concert Chorale opened the concert with three pieces: the latin hymn “Veni, Emmanuel,” “Season of Light” and “First Noel,” based on the traditional English Chrsitmas carol.

After Concert Chorale’s performance, Chamber Singers performed their four songs: the Spanish song “Serenísima una noche,” the 15th century French chanson “Mille regretz” and the Scottish Gaelic “Seinn O.” Their fourth song, “The 12 Days of Christmas,” by Straight No Chaser is an adaptation of a 1968 comic arrangement of the song by Richard C. Gregory. In this version, they also include such songs as "I Have a Little Dreidel" and Toto's "Africa".

Finally, University Singers performed their repertoire of songs. The group performed the same songs as they did the previous day, with the addition of three more songs, “Joy and Woe,” “Work of Christmas” and “Ring Out Wild Bells.” The Symphonic Wind Ensemble also performed their “Russian Christmas Music” song once again. For the finale of the concert, Symphonic Wind Ensemble, University Singers and Concert Chorale came together to perform “Jesus Nasciera” and “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” Just like they did at the previous concerts, they ended with “A Christmas Festival.”.

This weekend was full of wonderful holiday music and showed off the talents of the musicians here at UMD. The “Sounds of the Season” is always a great set of concerts to finish the end of the semester as it puts people in the holiday spirit. For information about future Department of Music events, visit the CAHSS website.