East Stroudsburg University\u2019s Concert Band and University Choir will present a joint Winter Concert filled with seasonal favorites Sunday, December 8 at 3:30 p.m. in Cecilia S. Cohen Recital Hall of the university\u2019s Fine & Performing Arts Center, Normal and Marguerite streets, East Stroudsburg.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is truly a \u2018winter\u2019 concert since it highlights the season as well as two of the holidays associated with it,\u201d said Brian Hodge, director of Warrior Bands, who will be directing both musical groups for the concert.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe concert opens with Bells<\/em>, a piece for full wind ensemble by contemporary composer Ian McDougall,\u201d Hodge said. \u201cThe composition plays on the theme of joyous cacophony created by the ringing of bells in celebration.\u201d<\/p>\n The University Choir will be featured in Christmas Processional<\/em> a collection of traditional holiday carols. Beginning with the Huron Carol<\/em> in flute, the choir joins in with wordless arrangements of Carol of the Bells, The Coventry Carol, Pat-a-pan<\/em>, and O Come Emmanuel<\/em>.<\/p>\n Mary Sat a-Rockin<\/em>, a modern piece by noted composer Greg Gilpin, director of educational choral publications for Shawnee Press, also features the University Choir. \u201cThis original composition presents an a cappella spiritual,\u201d Hodge explained.<\/p>\n \u201cBeginning with men singing the ostinato bass, the work develops as something of a rondo, presenting contrasting sections between the repeating choruses,\u201d Hodge said. Highly energetic, the work concludes with bass soloist Jevon Mitchell, a sophomore from Philadelphia, Pa. majoring in Spanish, singing a rising descant over the continuing choir.<\/p>\n The Concert Band will be featured on The Eighth Candle – Prayer and Dance for Hanukkah<\/em> by Lehigh Valley composer Steve Reisteter. \u201cBeing Roman Catholic I didn\u2019t grow up singing Hanukkah songs or celebrating the holiday, but I\u2019m familiar with Jewish music from playing clarinet and tarogato with Klezmer groups,\u201d Reisteter said. \u201cI tried to make my material in The Eighth Candle<\/em> sound as if it could be Hebraic, but they\u2019re all composed by me.\u201d<\/p>\n The two ensembles will combine on several selections including Christmas on Broadway<\/em>, a sampling of Christmas-themed songs from several musical theatre classics. The concert also includes seasonal favorites like Irving Berlin\u2019s White Christmas<\/em> and Sleigh Ride<\/em> by Leroy Anderson.<\/p>\n