Program for December 7, 2019 First Baptist Church
Videorecording of this concert
Carol of the Carols (2015) arr. Cedrick Leavell (1981)
The band director at Warren East Middle School near Bowling Green has assembled a medley of Carol of the Bells; O Come, O Come Emmanuel; We Three Kings; Jingle Bells; Hark the Herald Angels Sing; and Joy to the World.
Christmas Music for Winds (1964) arr. John Cacavas (1930–2014)
Adeste Fideles, Silent Night, Jolly Old St. Nicholas, O Little Town of Bethlehem, Away in a Manger, Twelve Days of Christmas, Angels We Have Heard On High
O Magnum Mysterium (2003) Morten Lauridsen (1943), trans. H. Robert Reynolds
Composer Lauridsen crafted a choral setting of the text to the ancient responsory “O Great Mystery,” which prayerfully tells of the birth of the Christ child. This band version authentically reflects the mood and spirit of the choral original.
There Was a Pig Went Out to Dig (1915 ), Percy Aldridge Grainger (1882–1961), trans. Gary Gackstatter
From Miss M. H.Mason’s collection titled Nursery Rhymes and Country Songs, Percy Grainger adapted the song “There was a Pig Went Out to Dig” for four voices, and Gary Gackstatter has transcribed it for wind band. The lyrics of the first verse declare, “There was a pig went out to dig on Christmas day in the morning.” Successive nonsensical verses mention a cow that went out to plough, a drake that went out to rake, and so forth.
A Merry Mariachi Christmas (2019) Paul Clark (1949)
Paul Clark has cleverly applied mariachi style to We Wish You a Merry Christmas and Jingle Bells. Feliz Navidad!
I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas (1950) John Rox (1902–1957), arr. James Kazik
Many of John Rox’s songs were recorded by top artists of the day, like Burl Ives and Gene Autrey. His novelty, I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas, was recorded in 1953 by ten-year-old Gayla Peavey. The recording was produced by Mitch Miller.
Genny Ledbetter, vocalist
Sleigh Ride (1957) Leroy Anderson (1908–1975)
It is surprising to learn that Sleigh Ride was written in the midst of a heat wave in Woodbury, Connecticut; but it effortlessly evokes the thrill of horse-drawn forward motion on a crisp, cold winter occasion. It is a light holiday classic without peer.
