Music Department’s 2011 Winterfest Features Holiday Favorites

Beca Paez
The Paw Print
The Adams State College Music Department’s Winterfest 2011 Concert featured holiday favorites performed by the ASC Concert Choir, Jazz Band, 68 West, and Chamber Choir, Steel Drums, Orchestra, Concert Band, Brass Quartet, Tripping Upstairs and others.
Winterfest opened with Chamber Choir and their spectacular deliverance of Carol of the Bells by M. Leontovich arranged by Peter J Wilhousy. The choir delivered the song with passion and intensity. The next song they performed was Salve puerule by Marc-Antoine Charpenteir. Beautifully done, Chamber Choir told the story of the birth of Jesus. Their final song Sing We Now of Christmas by Noël Nouvelet arranged by Craig Courtney captivated the audience.
Brass Quartet followed the chamber choir, with Fum Fum Fum, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, and The Chipmunk Song. The sound, though robust, captured the moment perfectly.
Concert Choir, the next to perform, delivered their Jubilant Christmas and Erev Shel Shoshamin with enthusiasm and intensity. Erev Shel Shoshamin is a delicate Israeli folk song, with the open feeling of the desert at night while the scent of roses drifts on the cool air. Vocals weave in a sensitive arrangement complemented by a fluid, but not difficult piano accompaniment. A delicate Israeli folk song, with the open feeling of the desert at night while the scent of roses drifts on the cool air.  It is also a beautiful song that is widely used by belly dancers for veil work. Although originally released in Hebrew, the song is popular throughout the Middle East. In Arabic-speaking countries it is known as Yarus, and Armenian lyrics have also been written for it.
Next was the spectacular performance by Chelsea Oden and Josh Wohlrabe with their display of O Holy Night by Adolphe Adam and Walking in the Air from The Snowman by Howard Blake. Both did a stupendous job.
Tripping Upstairs was the next group to perform. Their performance of O Come, O Come, Emmanuel and The First Noel was done spectacularly Tripping Upstairs will also be performing at A Celtic Christmas Celebration which will be held on Friday, Dec. 16, in Leon Memorial Hall at 7:30pm.
Guitarist Jared Masar performed Silent Night by Franz Gruber. Masar is clearly a master of his work.
Flute Choir performed Feliz Navidad by Jose Feliciano arranged by Ricky Lombardo. The flute choir kept the spirit flowing through the audience with their spectacular performance.
68 West performed Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! by Sammy Cahn/Jule Styne arranged by Michele Weir and O Little Town of Hackensack by PDQ Bach reverently edited by Peter Shickele. Their performance was delivered with a perfect balance of energy and holiday spirit.
Wind Ensemble performed Greensleves arranged by Davis/Longfield.
In the spirit of the holidays there was also an Audience sing-along with the carols Jingle Bells by James Lord Pierpont, Chestnuts Roasting (The Christmas Song) Mel Torme and Bob Wells, Joy to the World by George Frederick Handel.
Concert Band performed Fanfare on an Old French Carol arranged by Robert W. Smith. As the last to perform, Concert Band had to deal with a tired audience; however, they delivered their fanfare with energy and passion that kept the audience entertained until the very end.
Both the students and faculty directors worked very hard to make the concert a success. We can all look forward to the next concert and expect it to be as great as this one.