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Holiday Songs and Skies with Mr. Jack Frost
To arrange a visit for your school group, please call (585) 697-1942.
A
special holiday treat for the 2009-2010 holiday season! Listen to Mr. Frost trade corny space jokes with
his sidekick, Ed, while introducing winter stars and background
information on holidays of the season. Hear and sing along with
well-loved holiday songs of broad appeal, choreographed to colorful
laser light, creating a unique listening experience. The music
selections come from the festive, public side of the holiday season. Observe and classify
the bright stars of winter. Hear about the significance of Christmas,
Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Diwali, Chinese New Year and Ramadan. Length about
45 minutes. Especially appropriate for younger children.
NYS Learning Standards: ELA1; SS1(2,3); 2(1); A2,3,4------------------------------------------------------------------------ Music for Holiday Songs & Skies with Mr. Jack Frost, 2008 editionSelections will include:
Trepak (Russian Dance) from "The Nutcracker" by Tchaikovsky
Erich Kunzel and the Rochester Pops
A brisk number from the most popular of all ballets, in a performance recorded in the Eastman Theater in 1984.
"For He Shall Give His Angels Charge Over Thee" from "Elijah" by Mendelssohn
London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Richard Hickox, conductor
The
teachings of the prophet Elijah are accepted by Jews, Christians and
Muslims alike. Felix Mendelssohn's oratorio about the prophet is one of
the most-performed works among amateur and community choral groups.
'Twas In the Moon of Wintertime
Cambridge Singers, John Rutter, conductor
A
French Canadian Christmas carol with Native American overtones. In this
interpretation of the Christmas story, the infant Jesus is born in the
woods and wrapped in a rabbit skin robe.
Seven Principles
Sweet Honey in the Rock
Kwanzaa
is a seven-day holiday that pays tribute to the cultural roots of
Americans of African ancestry, while carrying a message to all people
of good will. It teaches the seven principles of unity,
self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative
economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. Sweet Honey in the Rock, an
a cappella vocal group of African-American women, has made many
recordings since their founding in 1973.
"Song of the Well" from "Israeli Melodies" suite by Julius Chajes
Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, David Amos, conductor
While
not specifically a Hanukkah piece, this work, by a distinguished
composer, pianist, and longtime music director at Detroit's Jewish
Community Center, expresses the inner glow of determination and courage
exemplified in the Hanukkah story.
This Christmas
Yutaka
Yutaka
Yokokura seems to have been one of very few pop artists to make
successful recordings for the American market using the koto, a
Japanese instrument somewhat like a harp or guitar with 13 long silk
strings.
"Winter" from "The Four Seasons" by Vivaldi
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Gil Shaham, violin solo
According
to notes by Vivaldi himself, this music portrays "frozen shivering, the
icy snow, a dreadful storm, running and foot stamping because of the
cold, wind, chattering of teeth."
Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)
Trans-Siberian Orchestra
This
group brings together musicians from various backgrounds to create
performances of operatic scale. In our show, lasers and sound unite in
a powerful conclusion that searches for the magic of the holidays "in
the forgiving world of night."Special thanks to Julia Figueras, Music Director, WXXI-FM, for assistance with musical selections.
About Vivaldi's "Winter"Our
show uses the first movement of "Winter," one of four concertos for
violin and string orchestra, "The Four Seasons," by the Italian
composer Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741). Each concerto is connected to a
poem, possibly written by Vivaldi himself. Vivaldi's genius was to
create music that not only illustrates the poems but also stands on its
own. Here, in the original Italian and in English translation, are the
words connected to the first movement of "Winter":
"Aggiacciato tremar trà neri algenti
Al Severo Spirar d' orrido Vento,
Correr battendo i piedi ogni momento;
E pel Soverchio gel batter i denti
Shivering,
frozen mid the frosty snow in biting, stinging winds; running to and
fro to stamp one's icy feet, teeth chattering in the bitter chill
An
informative web page on Vivaldi's "Four Seasons," including all the
Italian poems and English translations (including the one quoted above):
http://www.baroque-music-club.com/vivaldiseasons.htmlFor more informationThe following web sites (outside RMSC) supply detailed information on calendars and holidays in many world traditions:
http://www.calendarzone.com. "Comprehensive categorized calendar catalog currently containing countless correlating connections & calzone recipes!"
http://www.interfaithcalendar.org. "Primary sacred times for world religions"
For
answers to some frequently asked questions about calendars and seasons,
check the U.S. Naval Observatory web site. Click on "FAQ," then scroll
down to the section on calendars: http://aa.usno.navy.mil
History
buffs may be intrigued (and possibly surprised) by the detailed
historical study of Christmas celebrations in the United States in the
book The Battle for Christmas by Stephen Nissenbaum.
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