ALAMOSA — In yet another stellar production from the Music Department at Adams State, the audience gathered at Richardson Hall on Wednesday evening was serenaded by the talented musicians at the university
At the beginning of the concert, Director Beth Robison handed off the conductor position to Madelynn Siegrist, a student who conducted the first piece of the evening, “Mary Sat A-Rockin,” by Ruth Morris Gray. The work was a great start to the concert and is described by Choristers Guild as a "Vibrant up-tempo a cappella Christmas choral set in the style of a traditional spiritual." The Chamber Choir with Randy Macy on piano continued with a performance of “Happy Xmas (War is Over)” by John Lennon and Yoko Ono. The set finished with “Brightest and Best,” a traditional Southern Harmony from 1835.
The Jazz and Percussion Ensembles under the direction of Prof. Melinda A. Leoce, performed, “I'll Be Home for Christmas” with vocals by Madelynn Siegrist.
The audience was then invited to participate in a sing-along of the Christmas favorites “Deck the Halls” and “Let it Snow! Let it Snow!, Let it Snow!” William Lipke was on piano.
The university's vocal jazz ensemble, 68 West, directed by Robison had a robust interpretation of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” composed by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane.
The remainder of the concert was led by James Lind and included a splendid rendition of the 1916 composition, “Carol of the Bells,” by Mykola Leontovich. In a personable interaction with the audience, Lind explained the popular holiday tune is a traditional Ukrainian tune to celebrate plentiful harvests. The song's original name is “Schedryj,” a Ukranian word that translates to bountiful.
Before performing “Stille Nacht (Silent Night),” Lind told the story of the origin of the song in Austria where Joseph Mohr collaborated with Franz Gruber and first sang it together in 1818. The work had its first performance in the United States in 1839, when the Rainier family singers delighted the audience at Trinity Church on Wall Street in New York. The ASU rendition was a version as recorded by Mannheim Steamroller, an American neoclassical new music ensemble.
“Silent Night” was been translated into 300 languages and is now recognized as a UNESCO item of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Tonight, as part of the Celebration of Lights festivities at City Hall in Alamosa, the Adams State Winds and Chamber Brass will perform holiday music from 5:30-6 p.m.
On Dec. 5, at 7 p.m., Brooke Miller will perform a Clarinet Recital in Leon Memorial Hall on campus.
