North Bay Symphony Orchestra

Christmas Snowman

Saturday, December 11, 2010, 7:30pm

Concert Sponsor:

Program Notes

A Christmas Festival dates from 1952, written by the American composer Leroy Anderson (1908–1975).  He is best known for his light concert pieces, many of which were introduced by the Boston Pops Orchestra conducted by Arthur Fiedler.

Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958) wrote his Fantasia on Greensleeves based on a folk song that dates to the 1500s and which was even used by Shakespeare.  Shortly after the American Civil War, William Chatterton Dix used the melody for his Christmas carol, What Child is This?

British pianist, conductor and composer Howard Blake wrote The Snowman in 1982 for an animated film on BBC Channel 4.  With the song ‘Walking in the Air’, it has been popular ever since, in a concert version and in a stage version.  The movie was nominated for an Oscar when it first appeared. We hear the music along with the original movie this evening.

Composer Evelyn Stroobach lives in Ottawa. Her compositions have been performed internationally and been aired on CBC radio; Evelyn has scored for film and won awards. Aurora Borealis dates from 1995 and evokes the beauty but coldness of the northern lights.

Twas the Night Before Christmas is a setting of the Clement Clarke Moore (1779–1863) poem for narrator and orchestra.  The music was written by American composer, arranger, jazz musician and flute player, Wilford L. (Bill) Holcombe (1925–2010).  He had a very active career, including playing with Tommy Dorsey.  The original poem from 1823 is largely responsible for our perception of Santa Claus, including his physical appearance, the night of his visit, his mode of transportation, the number and names of his reindeer, and the tradition that he brings toys to children.

More than any one person, Jazz and Broadway legend Luther Henderson has helped define the Jazz sound of the Canadian Brass, arranging over 130 pieces for the ensemble. A Canadian Brass Christmas includes Ding Dong! Merrily on High, I Saw Three Ships, The Huron Carol, Here We Come A-Wassailing.

Sir David Willcocks (b. 1919), is a British choral conductor, organist, and composer.  From 1957 to 1974 he held the post for which he is probably best known, Director of Music at King's College, Cambridge. He is particularly known for his widely-used choral arrangements of Christmas Carols, most of which were originally written for the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols at King's College.  When he celebrated his 90th birthday last December, an amazing number of tributes poured in from his former choristers for these carol arrangements.

The Christmas Fugue based on We Wish You a Merry Christmas by Robert B. Brown was written in 1962 and is in the contrapuntal or fugue style – all the sections of the orchestra come in with the melody at overlapping times up to the grand finale – we do wish you a Merry Christmas.