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In the midst of darkness, there was light.
This past weekend, as the tri-state area struggled to
continue its recovery from the devastation of Super-storm
Sandy, and then reeled from the unimaginable slaying of 26
precious lives in Newton, Connecticut, the 14th
annual performance of The Pipes of Christmas brightened
hearts with blissful Christmas music and poetry in the
Celtic tradition.
On Saturday, December 15, the
evening opened with Reverend David Currie, Chaplain of the
Clan Currie Society, leading the capacity crowd at the
Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church in a moment of silence in
remembrance of the lost lives in the Sandy Hook Elementary
school shooting. Soon after, the distinct skirl of a solo
bagpipe sounded from the back of the church and The Kevin
Ray Blandford Memorial Pipe Band filed in, playing the
majestic tune “Highland Cathedral.” The overwhelming power
of the pipe and drum band captivated everyone and set the
mood for the evening of glorious music.
The first act included many familiar
Christmas hymns such as “Joy to the World” and “O Come, O
Come Emmanuel,” which featured Scottish tenor Paul McCallum,
making his New York debut. Scottish harpist Jennifer Port
played Bha Buachaillean and Dùthaich Shear (There Were
Shepherds in an Eastern Country), singing first in Scots
Gaelic and then in English.
Queen Elizabeth II’s sixty-year reign was
commemorated with the world premiere of “Balmoral Snow,”
written by Steve Gibb, guitarist and composer from
Inverness, Scotland and now with Broadway’s Jersey Boys,
and performed by Gibb along with fiddler Paul Woodiel,
cellist Sarah Hewitt-Roth, and Port.
Woven into the music like a rich Tartan was
narration provided by readers Susan Porterfield Currie,
Scottish actor James Robinson, and Scotch whisky expert Evan
Thomson Cattanach. They shared wondrous Celtic stories,
poetry by Robert Burns and Dylan Thomas, Scripture read in
broad Scots, and yuletide traditions from Ireland, Scotland
and Wales.
The first act came to a close with “Amazing
Grace,” and the audience was encouraged to sing along with
the performers. The structure of this centuries-old hymn and
the intensity of sound delivered by the bagpipes and drums,
the ensemble called Solid Brass, and the entire company
created a breathtaking atmosphere throughout the church,
bringing tears to the eyes of many.
In the second act, the worshipful environment gave way to a
lively set by the pipe band, culminating in a high-intensity
drum solo that included staccato rhythms and whirling
hand-stick movements. The mood became reflective during the
world premiere of “The Sea of Tranquility,” composed by
James Ross and commissioned by The Clan Currie Society in
celebration and honor of American hero, Neil Armstrong. Few
in the audience on Saturday evening were aware that the
astronaut’s daughter, Molly Van Wagenan, was sitting among
them, listening to the music written in memory of her
father.
The fun-loving trio known as Local Hero
(fiddler Paul Woodiel, pianist Susie Petrov and uilleann
piper Christopher Layer) led the company in an intriguing
and lighthearted melody “Hymn to the Saviour,” that had the
audience tapping their toes along with the music.
Toward the end of the evening, Ms. Port wowed
the crowd with her mesmerizing voice and soft strums on the
harp as she led the audience in singing “Silent Night,” also
in Scots Gaelic and in English. With a stirring rendition of
“O Come All Ye Faithful” that included every member of the
company, the evening ended with twirling drum sticks,
blowing bagpipes, and blaring brass, giving voice to the
valiant sound of the season. The audience leapt to its feet
in a spontaneous standing ovation. The Pipes of Christmas
was a joyful reminder for all to keep Christmas in their
hearts this holiday season.
Presented by the Clan Currie Society, the 14th
annual Pipes of Christmas concert was made possible by gifts
from Edinburgh Napier University, Mercedes-Benz, USA and the
Grand Summit Hotel.
About “The
Pipes of
Christmas”
Since making its debut in 1999, The Pipes of Christmas has
played to standing room only audiences. Now a cherished
holiday event, the concert provides audiences with a
stirring and reverent celebration of the Christmas season
and the Celtic spirit.
Audience-goers return year after year to experience the
program, many reporting that the Pipes of Christmas has
become part of their family’s annual Christmas tradition.
The concert has been lavished with critical acclaim.
In his review for Classical New Jersey Magazine, Paul Somers
wrote, “The whole evening was constructed to introduce gem
after gem and still have a finale which raised the roof. In
short, it was like a well constructed fireworks show on the
Glorious Fourth.
The Westfield (NJ) Leader described the concert as
“a unique sound of power and glory nowhere else to be
found.”
www.pipesofchristmas.com
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