Arts & Leisure
'Tis the season for beautiful music
By Jennifer L. Saunders
The York Singers, pictured here, will perform their 2006 Christmas Concerts in Portsmouth, N.H., and York in the week ahead.
Courtesy photo
YORK - With the holidays come memories from the past, traditions shared through generations and, of course, one of the favorite sounds of the season: beautiful voices woven in harmony.
If that's just what you're longing to hear in the midst of your holiday celebrations and preparations, then you have less than a week to wait before the York Singers, conducted by local resident Dr. Bill Wieting, will present their series 2006 Christmas Concerts.
The 20-member York-based a cappella ensemble will perform both in Portsmouth, N.H., and in York. The first performance is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 19, at the acoustically - and aesthetically - stunning Immaculate Conception Church on Summer Street in Portsmouth, at 8 p.m. For those who wish to hear the York Singers closer to home, a second concert will be performed at the United Methodist Church of York-Ogunquit on Route 1 on Thursday, Dec. 21, at 8 p.m.
"The concerts are open to all interested listeners and are entirely free of charge," Wieting noted in his announcement of the upcoming performances. "As usual, the concerts are centered on the winter solstice: the longest and darkest nights of the year, but also the beginning of the return of the light, literally and figuratively."
This year's Christmas program includes selections from as far back as the late 1500s, such as Coventry Carol, along with traditional English, Polish, Dutch and Italian selections, pieces by Bach and Brahms, an array of 20th-century selections and more.
The York Singers themselves have quite a history of accompanying the holiday season - and other seasons - with a cappella music, beginning back in 1973.
And, some 33 years later, the group has performed 300 concerts across New England, with three local concerts programs each year during the holiday season, in the spring and in the late summer.
The York Singers include an array of area residents - many of whom are known throughout the York and Ogunquit community for the work they do in addition to their passion for great music.
The current York Singers are Sudie Blanchard, Laura Dehler, Helen Hennessy, Nancy Ramsey, Meredith Starbranch, Carey Armstrong-Ellis, Elyse Barry, Nancy Cook, Amey Wieting, Peter Blanchard, Bill Eley, Michael Herlihy, Rick Miller, Larry Powers, Bill Purinton, Jacob Apuzzo, John Shultis, David Snow, Bill Wieting and Joe Wilson.
Dehler, for example, who is known for her work with the Center for Wildlife and as a York Public Library volunteer, has been a member of the York Singers for about three years, continuing on an extensive background of musical study and performance.
"I have always wanted to sing a cappella with a chorus and was impressed with the York group and its director Bill Wieting," Dehler said. "The group is small, so every voice is important. Learning and fine-tuning our interpretation of the music is challenging and fun, and realizing the fruits of our labor when performing concerts is a joy. And the members of the group are friendly and welcoming. I am honored to be in their company."
York Public Library Assistant Librarian Sudie Blanchard shared a similar perspective.
"Being a part of this concert helps bring 'Christmas' to my heart in a meaningful way. Singing in a small group like the York Singers, where you need to listen carefully to your neighbors and blend, reminds me of how we need to be aware of each other in life -everybody matters," she said. "The concert we sing at the Church of the Immaculate Conception is always a high point for me - the soaring arches, stained glass and amazing acoustics all feed my soul!"
The York Singers meet every Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. to study a cappella choral works spanning more than five centuries. New members are always welcome. If you are interested, contact Dr. Bill Wieting at 363-5258.
