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Christmas music
a collective
FEATURE
hallelujah
in Guelph
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42 guelphlife November | December 2015
November | December 2015 guelphlife 43
I
t’s a little less than two weeks
before Christmas and I’m seated in
the River Run Centre, just two rows
from the front of the large stage.
Toronto’s Faith Chorale has sung
a syncopated, a cappella first verse to its
gospel version of “Hark! The Herald Angels
Sing” quite unlike any I’ve heard before.
Then the chorus leader, Sharon Riley,
comes forward, walking with a cane and a
pronounced limp, the result of a devastating car accident 25 years ago.
She begins the second verse softly, in the
alto register: “Christ by highest, heaven
adored; Christ the everlasting Lord.” The
tension rises as the key modulates higher
and the chorus sings the third verse in
unison (“Hail the heaven-born Prince of
Peace”). They don’t quite finish the verse,
repeating but not completing the last line,
“Glory to the new …”
They alternate this penultimate phrase
while Riley repeats the entire third verse,
line by line, on her own. Her energy is irrepressible and her vocal power astounding,
transcending her partially disabled body
and filling the hall with wonder.
I glance around me. I can see the audience
is very moved by this sharing of joy
on stage. People are clapping, smiling,
revelling in an old, traditional Christmas
carol sung in a very modern jazz arrangement. Finally, there’s an emotional release
when Riley completes the last refrain of
the chorus with her singers: “Glory to the
newborn king!”
Amen.
…
performed there again this year, on Dec. 20.
Craig says: “I wanted to make the project
as inclusive as possible, to non-Christians
and those of other faiths. The central
themes of Christmas are hope, joy, the
return of light. And in this part of the
world, people have a more open spirit
at this time of year. It’s a window for
optimism, and I wanted to fill it with light
— that’s the whole purpose of the show.”
How is it this music can hold such appeal,
extending a reach that goes well beyond the
Christian faithful? Faith Chorale, Canada’s
pre-eminent gospel choir, sings with utter
religious conviction, there’s no doubt of
that. But it doesn’t feel exclusive. They do
it with an openness and love that could
resonate with anyone.
That was the aim of Guelph musician
Andrew Craig, who first conceived and
arranged the Gospel Christmas Project 10
years ago for CBC radio and television,
and has performed it everywhere from the
National Arts Centre in Ottawa to Massey
Hall in Toronto. It has also been staged four
times in Guelph, including the last three
years at the River Run Centre, and is being
We have a large number of choices when
it comes to Christmas music performance
in Guelph. The oldest of the regularly
performed concerts in town is “Messiah,”
which has been staged for more than 20
years by the Guelph Chamber Choir, led
by Gerald Neufeld. It’s been a staple at the
River Run Centre ever since the facility
opened 18 years ago.
He says that performing Handel’s popular
oratorio every December is like “greeting
an old friend, but getting to know it in a
different way each time.” The professionals
he conducts in the string orchestra and the
four soloists who perform at the front of
the stage are so familiar with “Messiah” they
…
“don’t have to learn the notes” and are
free to interpret it afresh each year. They
can “bend, pause, stress and add colour”
in a way that expresses the emotion of
the music in a personal way.
Why is “Messiah” so successful and
such a part of many people’s annual
tradition? “Simply because it’s set so
beautifully,” Neufeld says, “a gorgeous,
huge work that you can immerse
yourself in on so many levels.”
He refers to “Messiah” as “salvation
history” and says it was initially written
by Handel to be performed at Easter,
focusing more on the resurrection than
the birth of Christ. But Neufeld says he
thinks it’s accessible to anyone, even
those not familiar with the biblical texts
it is based on.
Is it opera? “No, but it uses some of the
Photography • Mark Stutman
same techniques,” he says. The story is
Boreal is a trio of local singer-songwriters: Katherine Wheatley, Jude Vadala and Tannis Slimmon. told through song. But the singers are
not playing individual roles, they don’t
act, and much of the story is told through
Besides “Messiah,” the concert included
“Everybody is singing on the same page,”
the choruses, of which there are many.
a short personal testimony from a former
says Neufeld, “bringing their individual
“Messiah” was written and became
foster teen who was supported at university
emotions to the collective endeavour.” He
popular when operas were failing, Neufeld
by the Children First Fund, the Family and
describes it as a “cathartic” experience.
says. Handel, a German with a career backChildren’s Services arm that is the benefiThe singalong version is different in
ground in Italian opera, wrote “Messiah”
ciary of the singalong show.
other ways. It’s not a ticketed show, but
while living in Britain, based on English
Having the Messiah linked to children’s
rather a by-donation, pay-what-you-can
texts, which appealed to a whole new
welfare is quite à propos, because Handel
English and Irish audience in the mid-18th
himself performed it annually at the chapel
century. It has since become one of the
of the Foundling Hospital in London — the
most widely performed choral works in
city’s first home for abandoned children —
Everybody
is
singing
on
the
the world.
from 1749 to 1759. It was the discovery of
same page, bringing their indithis historical footnote that led the Guelph
agency to propose the annual fundraiser to
vidual emotions to the collective
the Guelph Chamber Choir in the
Two years ago, the chamber choir began a
endeavour. It’s cathartic.”
first place.
new tradition, in partnership with Family
Gerald Neufeld, about ‘Singalong Messiah’
and Children’s Services of Guelph and Wellington County — a singalong “Messiah”
performed the day after the River Run
Another growing tradition in Guelph is
concert, in St. George’s Church just up the
sort of event, with all proceeds going to
the annual “Songs for the Snowy Season,”
Family and Children’s Services nonstreet, on Sunday afternoon.
performed by a trio of local female
government-funded programs for older
It’s a somewhat abridged program and
singer-songwriters. Although they now call
children.
different in format. The choir is seated
themselves “Boreal,” that’s a convenient
It began in 2013, although that year’s
among the audience in the sanctuary, with
shorthand for Katherine Wheatley, Tannis
the soloists close by. People can sing along
show was actually cancelled due to severe
Slimmon and Jude Vadala, very familiar
weather on the day of the event. Last year’s
from a borrowed score, just follow the
names in folk music circles. They only play
music or simply listen. But in any case, the
event was the first performance, and it
together in December, for the winter shows.
exceeded expectations, raising $28,000.
experience is participatory.
Their program, which they released
…
Toronto’s Faith Chorale will perform as part of the
Gospel Christmas Project on Dec. 20 at the River
Run Centre. Photography • Brian Naimer
44 guelphlife November | December 2015
“
…
November | December 2015 guelphlife 45
as a CD last year, is a mix of seasonal
and Christmas songs, arranged for three
harmony voices with minimal instrumentation. They began performing the music nine
years ago, first in the intimate confines of
the local Folkway Music store and then in
the larger Dublin Street United Church.
Last year, they took it on the road through
southern Ontario for eight performances,
including one at Hugh’s Room in Toronto, a
premier roots music venue.
Wheatley grew up singing carols around
the piano with her family, and she loves
Christmas music wholeheartedly, even
though some of her friends can’t stand it. “I
can’t think of a Christmas song I don’t like,”
she says, laughing, although she sometimes
doesn’t care for the overly commercial
arrangements.
She doesn’t distinguish between traditional carols (her favourite is “Silent Night”)
and 20th-century standards such as “I’ll
Be Home for Christmas,” which is on the
recent CD. She loves them all.
She says that Boreal’s songs celebrate
winter and the romance of snow. But the
CD does include a Slimmon song called
“Shovelling Snow,” a minor key dirge that
advises “slow and steady” when shovel46 guelphlife November | December 2015
“
…
Gwen Swick says “audiences
are different at Christmas,” not
so much coming out to be
entertained, but rather to be
moved and to connect with their
traditions.
A sampling of Christmas music in Guelph.
• C a r o l s f o r C h r i s t m a s : Sunday,
Nov. 29, 2:30 p.m., St. George’s Anglican Church,
99 Woolwich St. Performed by the Guelph
Chamber Choir. A mix of readings, carols and
classical music led by a string quintet and harp
and featuring a short Christmas oratorio by SaintSaens. $25. More info and tickets: 519-836-5103,
guelphchamberchoir.ca.
ling or “you’ll pay the price” and asks the
questions, “Where does it come from?
When will it go?”
Wheatley notes that “Songs for the
Snowy Season” is an easy sell in December,
pre-Christmas, but they don’t attempt to
perform it in January, after winter whining
sets in!
• S n o w f o r m s : Saturday, Dec. 5, 7 p.m.,
Harcourt Memorial United Church, 97 Dean Ave.
Performed by the combined choirs of the Guelph
Youth Singers. $25, discounts for seniors and
students. More info: 519-341-8576,
guelphyouthsingers.com. (Guelph Youth Singers
are also carolling at local seniors’ centres Dec. 8
and 9.)
There’s another all-female group of singers
performing a winter-themed show this
year at the River Run Centre, just a week
before Christmas. “A Quartette Christmas”
includes Elora’s Gwen Swick, who is
slightly more guarded than Wheatley about
seasonal music.
• Songs for a Snowy Season:
Saturday, Dec. 5, 8 p.m., Guelph Little Theatre,
176 Morris St. Performed by Boreal (Tannis Slimmon, Katherine Wheatley, Jude Vadala). A vocal
trio of singers playing original winter music and
Christmas favourites, with lots of singalong. $25.
More info: borealsongs.ca. Tickets 855-772-0424,
http://bit.ly/1KTW9cE or in person at The Bookshelf (Guelph) or Folkway Music (Waterloo).
…
• Guelph Symphony Orchestra
H o l i d a y C e l e b r a t i o n : Saturday, Dec.
13, 3 p.m., River Run Centre main stage, 35
Woolwich St. A very child-friendly concert with the
Guelph Symphony Orchestra performing Raymond
Briggs’ animated classic “The Snowman” (the
video plays on screen as the orchestra performs
the soundtrack), plus the Battle and Snow Scenes
from Act 1 of “The Nutcracker.” $35 adults, $10
kids under 17 and other discounts. More info or
tickets: 519-763-3000, riverrun.ca.
• A Q u a r t e t t e C h r i s t m a s : Friday,
Dec. 18, 8 p.m., River Run Centre main stage, 35
Woolwich St. This acclaimed vocal group includes
Sylvia Tyson and Elora’s Gwen Swick, performing
original and seasonal music. $32 to $39. More
info: quartette.com. Tickets: 519-763-3000, riverrun.ca.
• M e s s i a h : Saturday, Dec. 19, 7:30 p.m.,
River Run Centre main stage, 35 Woolwich St.
Musica Viva Orchestra on period instruments, four
soloists and the choir perform Handel’s oratorio.
$35 with various discounts. More info: 519-8365103, guelphchamberchoir.ca, with tickets at
519-763-3000, riverrun.ca.
• S i n g a l o n g M e s s i a h : Sunday, Dec.
20, 2:30 p.m., St. George’s Anglican Church, 99
Woolwich St. Join the soloists and choir, borrow a
score and sing the choruses (or just sit and listen)
at this participatory event. Admission is by donation, which goes to Family and Children’s Service
of Guelph and Wellington County. More info: 519836-5103, guelphchamberchoir.ca. To donate in
advance by credit card, contact 519-824-2410 or
go to fcsgw.org.
• Andrew
C r a i g ’s G o s p e l
C h r i s t m a s P r o j e c t : Sunday, Dec. 20, 7
p.m., River Run Centre main stage, 35 Woolwich
St. Guelph resident and musical impresario
Andrew Craig leads this uptempo gospel and jazz
take on Christmas music, with Toronto’s Faith
Chorale and four leading soloists. This is the 10th
anniversary of his infectious, spirited project. More
info: andrewcraig.me. Tickets: 519-763-3000,
riverrun.ca.
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• T h e N u t c r a c k e r : Tuesday and
Wednesday, Dec. 22 and 23, 7:30 p.m., River Run
Centre main stage, 35 Woolwich St. Performed by
Ballet Jörgen in collaboration with the McMichael
Canadian Art Collection and set to the traditional Tchaikovsky music, this uniquely Canadian
“Nutcracker” features the vibrant works of the
great Group of Seven landscape artists. $30 to
$69 (discounts available). More info and tickets:
519-763-3000, riverrun.ca.
November | December 2015 guelphlife 47
R0013493922
A Quartette Christmas, with Elora’s Gwen Swick, left, is performing a show at the River Run Centre a week
before Christmas.
Photography • Andrew MacNaughtan
Swick thinks “it’s easy to get hokey” (she
provides “Here Comes Santa Claus” as
an example), but she gets swept away by
reverential songs like “O Come, O Come,
Emmanuel,” an advent hymn whose origins
go back many centuries.
She finds that “audiences are different at
Christmas,” not so much coming out to be
entertained, but rather to be moved and to
connect with their traditions. “They want to
be immersed in a spirit,” she says. “Human
beings reach for something deeper, and that
makes our Christmas shows very easy.”
She also observes that going to a
Christmas concert is a refuge from the commercial bustle of the season. The Quartette
show has lots of room for “quiet musical
things,” says Swick, which is a break
from the frantic preparations of the weeks
leading up to the holiday.
Quartette is touring its Christmas show
in Western Canada in December and will
make the Dec. 18 River Run show its
final stop.