11/30/2006: "Benefit Players Present A Ceremony of Carols"

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A small women's chorus directed by RuthE. Wells will present three performances of Benjamin Britten's popular oratorio A Ceremony of Carols and other holiday music Friday and Saturday, December 1 and 2, at 7:30 pm, and Sunday, December 3, at 2:00 pm. Admission is by donation, and all contributions to San Juan Benefit Players are tax deductible. In honor of the humble Holy family, which is celebrated by this work, audience members are asked to bring an item of non-perishable food for the Food Bank in addition to cash donations for admission. All donations are tax-deductible.

The program will open with a set of English carols – "See amid the winter's snow," the Kirkpatrick melody of "Away in a Manger," and the jubilant cannon carol "Rejoice and Be Merry" – a plainsong-inspired arrangement of "O Come, O Come Emmanuel," a 15th-century setting of "O Magnum Mysterium," and a lively 20th-century setting of "Deo Gracias."

A Ceremony of Carols was written at the height of the second World War in 1942, and eloquently combines the texts of medieval Christianity with 20th century harmonic development. It is framed by a plainsong chant, Hodie Christus Natus Est, and is otherwise largely homophonic (all parts moving together as one voice) and dance-like. Strategic use of counterpoint in places effectively recreates raindrops in "As dew in Aprille," or the sun-lit quality of the duet in the "Spring Carol," and reinforces the intensity of contrasts of the "freezing winter night" where the "silly tender babe" lies in a stable which itself becomes, by His very presence, "a Prince's court."

Perhaps the most striking movement is the virtual Holy War between the new-born Babe and the powers of Satan described in the movement "This little Babe." The angular, metrically irregular melody is set over a rhythmically relentless accompaniment. As the war between good (love) and evil (fear) expands, the chorus separates first into a canon in two parts, then in three, expanding the poetic imagery to create a vivid picture of apocalyptic conflict – which no doubt was informed by the Britten's wartime experience.

The choir is comprised of Margaret Barger, Jill Danby, Kate Hunter, Abby Kitchen, Denise King, Angel Michaels, Corinne Stevens, Shannon Sword and Jennifer Lehn Travers, with RuthE. Wells at the Horugel grand piano (a recent gift to the Benefit Players).

The Benefit Players Theater has festival seating and does not take reservations. Plan to arrive early for best seating choice. Doors open 30 minutes before the performance.

San Juan Benefit Players is a 501(c)3 organization that was established to provide quality theater productions for the benefit of the community, and to assist the community in charitable and educational benefits. For more information, call 370-5560, or go to www.sanjuanbenefitplayers.com.