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I need your help again. My small chamber choir at the high school (all girls) is ending our Holiday concert by singing "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.) We're doing the true blue, Judy Garland jazzy version.
Here's how it will happen:
They'll come down off the risers from the big choir and sing the piece once through by themselves. Then, because the accompaniment is so cool and jazzy, I wanted to just sit play the whole piece through again without the singing before the whole group (large and small choirs) sing it together as a warm and fuzzy ending to our concert.
I need something for the students to read/say during the interlude part. I have a vision or some rather lounge-lizardy things like "Congrats to the newlyweds in the front," but that would take some improv skill that I don't think my girls have. I was thinking of having one of them read a story, or a great poem, or a few of them just talk to the audience about....something.
What do you think would go well there? Do you have any great texts that might fit in? Lines from a movie? "In the heat of battle, my father wove a tapestry of obsenities that, as far as we know, is still hanging in space over Lake Michigan..."
I know you'll have some brilliant ideas.
Posts: 6415 | Registered: Jul 2000
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Something from A Christmas Carol (Dickens)? It doesn't really fit with the music but it's time honoured and often read at Christmas.
Posts: 8473 | Registered: Apr 2003
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Yeah, it has to be relatively non-religious because of the public school thing. We're singing Christmas songs, but we're also doing one in Hebrew and a couple cheesy songs about 'winter.' This is an equal opportunity concert and it's turning out pretty nicely actually. Posts: 6415 | Registered: Jul 2000
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JenniK Posting without changing Kwea's screen name--- sorry too lazy!
Linus' speech is a good idea, or they could read a little about Hannukah and Kwanza to be "politically correct", something about the different holiday traditions that children / families share at this festive time of year. Or they could say something about traditions in their own families...or traditions of other countries / nationalities. I know my family has this weird German tradition of the "Pickle Gift" that involves hiding a glass "pickle" on the Christmas tree after the kids are all asleep...the first one to find it gets a special gift (suitable for boys or girls), hence the "Pickle Gift" ...or other traditions. They could each say something like, " In my family we open presents on Christmas eve after going to church together as a family" or "We have a special game involving a toy called a Dredle(explain a little about the game)"... and so on. Just a thought! Have a great concert and lots of fun! -JenniK
Posts: 15082 | Registered: Jul 2001
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How about a local community report on the number of homeless and hungry and the various options and ways for those with a little to spare to spare . . .
Community service is always so good for folks, don't you think?
Heck, how about a donation basket for the local food bank or homeless shelter . . . ?
*sigh*
Never mind me - just generally appalled at the number of people (families) on the streets and hungry.
Otherwise, I vote for lines from Linus' or from the old-fashioned Grinch. Something cute about Max or little Cindy Lou Who who was no more than Two . . .
Posts: 5609 | Registered: Jan 2003
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Please don't talk about "Kwanza," OK? It was invented in 1968 in somebody's garage in Long Beach, California as an alternative to Xmas.
If you really want to do something at your concert that might get the audience really going, I would recommend that you have somebody read from King Henry V (Act 4, Scene 3; I believe) the famous St. Crispian's speech and remind the audience of all of the soldiers who are in harm's way half-way aound the world. (Actually, considering how violently many people oppose our military and anything they do, you might NOT want to do it.) At this time of year, I always think about those who are far away from home and loved ones, sentimental guy that I am.
Posts: 101 | Registered: Nov 2005
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I'll have to dig out Linus' speech, I haven't heard/read it in years.
I thought last night of having the choir members write down what they're thankful for this holiday season and then reading a few of those without names...I like the idea about traditions too Jenni, that's a cool one.
I've also thought of Shakespeare, or a really great old poem (besides all the famous Christmas ones.) It would be awesome to find a poem or story that deals with what Shan mentioned too...
I'll keep looking. Thanks for the suggestions!
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Charlie Brown begs someone to tell him what Christmas is all about... he quotes the passage in Luke about the shepherds receiving a vist from the angels up to the words "Peace on Earth, Goodwill towards men", and then says "That's what Christmas is about, Charlie Brown."
It would be good, but a bit exclusive.
But the Grinch's realizations on the top of Mt. Crumpett ("maybe Christmas doesn't come from a store...") might do the trick nicely.
Posts: 3846 | Registered: Apr 2004
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That is really my all-time favorite Christmas cartoon. I LOVE the Grinch. I love Max. I need a Max . . .
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This is an equal opportunity concert and it's turning out pretty nicely actually. 
