With annual holiday concert, Bosque Chorale presents “I Wish You Christmas” ushering in the spirit of the Christmas season at the Bosque Arts Center’s Frazier Performance Hall
CLIFTON – With the Christmas music inundating every single retail establishment since the beginning of November, shoppers might become weary of the watered-down versions of the originals by the time December rolled around.
During their December concert "I Wish You Christmas" at the Bosque Arts Center's Frazier Performance Hall Dec. 7, the Bosque Chorale performed many of those popular Christmas songs. The harmonious choir though, elevated the prevalent pop songs to an uplifting and blissful level. More than 300 people filled the historic, restored third floor auditorium of the former Clifton Lutheran College for the choir’s 19th performance under the inspired leadership and artistic guidance of Musical Director David Anavitarte.
While “It’s Almost Christmas” and “It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas” are two of the most popular Christmas songs, two lesser known Christmas songs showed the Bosque Chorale in their best light. The songs also generated the concert’s more spiritual sentiment.
Dr. Cameron Hofmann on the BAC’s Chickering grand piano mellowed the mood with a long intro after a swinging “Rocking Around the Christmas Tree.” The Christmas Canon melody sounded as familiar as it was beautiful. The piece arranged by prolific composer and arranger of chorale music Andy Beck, is based on German Baroque composer Johan Pachelbel’s Canon in D – and is known as a popular piece played during wedding ceremonies.
The canon transported the audience to a serene clearing in the woods, a blanket of snow softening the sounds, snowflakes dancing in the crisp air. With the sun filtering through the bare branches, the music created a place of ultimate beauty and peace, free of discord or malice. The simple, but profound message “On this night, on this very Christmas night, we are waiting, we have not forgotten,” emphasized the season’s focal point, the celebration of Jesus Christ’s birth.
But before the audience mellowed too much, the theme from 2003 modern Christmas classic film "Elf" and audience participation in “Jingle Bells,” with the premier performance of the Bosque Kazoo Band – yes, the choir members themselves – had them bopping in their seats again.
Realizing “it is dangerous to give a preacher a microphone and a potential congregation,” Anavitarte took advantage of the evening to recognize 92-year-old Cleon Flanagan, the former Methodist minister who has supplied the chorale with an invaluable bass voice for many, many years. Music always played an important part in Flanagan’s life, who started singing when he was 12, singing “shape notes” at a singing school during the day, and singing all over Central Texas in Sunday Afternoon Singings concerts, paired with 19- and 20-year-olds.
“Music is the joy of life; it really is,” Flanagan said. “And the opportunity to sing and try to express yourself in music, it comes back one-hundred fold. Music has been my life, even as a minister. It was music that made the difference, all the way through it. And it’s the joy of participating.”
Anavitarte also commemorated the Dec. 7 date of the concert as the “day which will live in infamy," when the Japanese Imperial Air Force bombed Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, destroying or damaging 19 U.S. Navy ships, killing 2,403 U.S. Armed Forces personnel, including 68 civilians, injuring 1,178, and forcing the United States into World War II.
Not on the program, the song that leant its name to the concert title “I Wish You Christmas” brought the evening full circle with an ethereal finale. The English choral composer/conductor John Rutter composed and arranged many Christmas carols, like “I Wish You Christmas."
According to the JohnRutter.com website, “The melody weaves between different voices and scorings, while the piano parts complement the vocal lines with rich, luscious harmonies.” His musicianship shines through every measure of this heartfelt original, with lyrics that convey a universal, gentle message of peace, joy and love, not only during Christmas, but for every day of the year. The carol combines all that makes Christmas such a wondrous time of the year – sharing precious time and meals with caring family and dear friends, making cherished memories, rejoicing the birth of Jesus Christ.
“I wish you music, I wish you song, with voices echoing, joyous and strong,” the benediction’s lyrics say. And that is exactly what the Chorale’s angelic harmonies delivered to get the guests into the seasonal spirit.
The Bosque Chorale is part of the Bosque County Music Association, which was organized in 2009. The Chorale presented its first concert, "Handel's Messiah," in December 2010. Anavitarte has been directing the choir since the spring of 2013. Some three dozen vocalists comprising the Chorale have been rehearsing for the past two months for the Christmas concert.
The Chorale was accompanied by Dr. Cameron Hofmann on piano and Kenny Balinao on keyboard. Part of the chorale since its inception, alto Jan Schofield enjoyed the concert’s combination of both the pop and more spiritual songs. She said each song had its challenges, but Anavitarte always succeeds in bringing the chorale to its best performance.
A reception in the BAC Atrium following the concert gave admirers, friends and family the chance to congratulate the choir members on another wonderful and joyous concert. And from us at ChisholmCountry.com, we wish you Christmas – a blessed, harmonious Christmas with peace on Earth.
Photos by SIMONE WICHERS-VOSS
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All your articles are well written and informed. This article about the Bosque Chorale’s Christmas performance may top them all. Thank you for your continued efforts to inform Bosque County residents.