Tag: Holiday music

Christmas in Norway with the St. Olaf Choir celebrates the season in song

Watch Christmas in Norway with the St. Olaf Choir on Monday, Dec. 23 at 9 p.m. on WV PBS

Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, Norway, is the magnificent setting for an all-new Christmas special with the renowned St. Olaf Choir.

This new one-hour concert pairs the internationally acclaimed mixed-voice choir from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, with the Nidaros Cathedral Girl Choir, Jentekor. The production showcases the cathedral’s spare gothic beauty — it is one of the oldest gothic cathedrals in the world — and its stunning acoustics that complement the distinctive style of a capella singing for which the St. Olaf Choir is well known.

Selections include not only traditional carols, but also innovative arrangements of Christmas music (“The Word Was God” and “Lo, How a Rose e’re Blooming/The Rose”), gospel spirituals (“This Little Light of Mine”), and beloved Norwegian hymns and folk songs. The St. Olaf Choir is conducted by Anton Armstrong. Anita Brevik conducts the Nidaros Jentekor.

Joy to the World – 'Angels We Have Heard on High'

  Enjoy this version of Angels We Have Heard On High, performed by Bob Thompson and the Bob Thompson Unit. It was recorded live during our annual Joy to the World holiday concert.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-LMVTUvw1k

Be sure to join us on Christmas Day for a Joy to the World Marathon on West Virginia Public Radio. The music begins at 5 a.m. You can also listen online.

Experience an operatic retelling of the World War I Christmas Eve truce

Watch Silent Night on Friday, Dec. 20 at 9 p.m. on WV PBS and Saturday, Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. on WV PBS.2

This opera recounts the true story of the World War I Christmas Eve truce. For one magical evening on December 24, 1914, French, German and Scottish soldiers laid down their arms and joined in a spontaneous celebration reflecting the peace, fellowship and humanity of the season. Based on the Academy Award-nominated film Joyeux Noel, this two-act production was commissioned by the Minnesota Opera and premiered in November 2012 to national acclaim, including a Pulitzer Prize for Music for composer Kevin Puts. With a libretto by Mark Campbell, Silent Night is sung in French, English, German, Italian and Latin with English subtitles.

Christmas choirs abound

In the final week before Christmas, choirs from all over the world share their music.Download a printable file of the full month's schedule of…

In the final week before Christmas, choirs from all over the world share their music.

Download a printable file of the full month’s schedule of programs.

http://video.wvpubcast.org/video/2317909502/

Sunday, Dec. 22 on WV PBS.2 (where available)

8:00 p.m. — Christmas at Luther: Tidings of Comfort and Joy — This program celebrates the joy and traditions of Christmas with the renowned choirs and symphony orchestra of Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. Holiday music, 500 choristers, a symphony orchestra, thousands in the audience and glowing candlelight capture the wonder and joy of the season as Luther College’s internationally acclaimed musicians mark 31 years of sharing the seasonal gift of music with their annual Christmas concert.

Credit Lasse Berre
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The St. Olaf Choir — which owes its origins and legacy to Norway — presents a concert in Trondheim’s Nidaros Cathedral.

http://video.wvpubcast.org/video/2365141110/

Monday, Dec. 23 on WV PBS

9:00 p.m. — Christmas in Norway with the St. Olaf Choir — From Trondheim’s historic Nidaros Cathedral, a spectacular holiday concert featuring the 75-voice St. Olaf Choir from St. Olaf College and the Norwegian girl choir, Nidaros Jentekor. The production pairs the cathedral’s spare gothic beauty and stunning acoustics with the distinctive a cappella singing style for which the St. Olaf Choir — which owes its origins and legacy to Norway — is internationally known. Musical selections include innovative arrangements of Christmas music (“The Word Was God” and “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming/The Rose”), gospel spirituals (“This Little Light of Mine”) and beloved Norwegian hymns and folk songs.

Credit Devon Cass
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Denyce Graves hosts the 2013 Christmas at Belmont production.

Tuesday, Dec. 24

On WV PBS at 8:00 p.m. — Christmas at Belmont — Internationally renowned mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves, host of the program, joins nearly 700 student musicians, the Belmont School of Music faculty and the Nashville Children’s Choir to present this annual production of traditional carols, classical masterworks, world music and light-hearted seasonal favorites.

http://video.wvpubcast.org/video/2365136364/

On WV PBS.2 at 8:00 p.m. — A Christmas Carol: The Concert

9:30 p.m. — Feast of the Seven Fishes — Follows a large Italian family as they prepare for the traditional Feast of the Seven Fishes, reminisce about the past, and seek love in the future.
 

Tonic Sol-fa Tenor Branches Out in New Holiday Special

Watch Shaun Johnson's Big Band Experience – The Spirit of the Season Friday, Dec. 20 at 9 p.m. on WV PBS.2Crooner Shaun Johnson — a founding member of the…

Watch Shaun Johnson’s Big Band Experience – The Spirit of the Season Friday, Dec. 20 at 9 p.m. on WV PBS.2

Crooner Shaun Johnson — a founding member of the popular a cappella quartet Tonic Sol-Fa — goes solo in a spirited new holiday special on West Virginia PBS.2

The Emmy®-winning tenor channels Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett in an era-spanning, up-tempo production that includes beloved seasonal staples, pop hits, fan favorites, an original composition, and even a few unexpected numbers.

Shaun Johnson’s Big Band Experience – The Spirit of the Season features the elegantly dressed singer and a seven-member band covering holiday classics “Rocking on Top of the World,” “Winter Wonderland,” “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer,” “Silver Bells” and “Let It Snow,” as well as Sinatra standards “My Kind of Town,” “That’s Life” and “Can I Steal a Little Love?” Shaun also puts his own stamp on Elvis’ “Blue Christmas,” Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” and Michael Buble’s “Haven’t Met You Yet.”

Shaun’s band features accomplished musicians who have played with Jimmy Dorsey, the Temptations, Aretha Franklin and Johnny Mathis, among other luminaries. They include: Jim Bierma (bass), Jeff Carver (trumpet, flugelhorn, vocals), Aaron Moe (alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, clarinet), Steve Pikal (trombone, bass), Sam Reeves (piano, vocals), Dave Stanoch (percussion) and Mark Yannie (tenor saxophone, flute, clarinet).

Taped at the Burnsville Performing Arts Center, Burnsville, Minn., Shaun Johnson’s Big Band Experience – The Spirit of the Season features Broadway-style staging and lighting, a visit from Santa himself, and plenty of audience interaction.

Between performances, Shaun reflects on his Midwest upbringing, his humble beginnings in the music industry and his current “day job” with Tonic Sol-fa.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pLyHURjaiw#t=12

Joy to the World Featuring Kim Nalley on West Virginia Public Radio

Listen to Joy to the World 2011 on Dec. 12 at 9 p.m. on West Virginia Public RadioRecorded in 2010, this evening's Joy to the World radio program features…

Listen to Joy to the World 2011 on Dec. 12 at 9 p.m. on West Virginia Public Radio

Recorded in 2010, this evening’s Joy to the World radio program features special guest vocalist Kim Nalley; Named one of the “Ten Most Influential African Americans in the Bay Area,” Nalley has an international reputation as one of the world’s best jazz & blues vocalists.

Now in its 21st year, Joy to the World is West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s annual live performance holiday jazz program hosted by pianist Bob Thompson. Each year’s concert is edited into next year’s broadcast.

Credit Scott Chernis
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Kim Nalley

About Kim Nalley — Kim Nalley is an award-winning vocalist, bandleader and producer from San Francisco. With a formal background in classical music and theater, Nalley’s star ascended upon switching to Jazz. Her resume includes several CDs, numerous rave reviews, yearly concerts at some of the most prestigious jazz festivals and jazz-clubs throughout Europe, Canada, Japan and the United States. She is the producer of several successful musical-historio-graphical shows in various venues including “Ladies Sing the Blues,” “She Put a Spell on Me: Tribute to Nina Simone” and the multimedia presentation of jazz “Black History Month Concert Series.” She also is the resuscitator and owner of the famous jazz club “Jazz at Pearl’s.”

About Bob Thompson — World-renowned jazz pianist Bob Thompson always plays as though it’s his last moment on the keyboard.  That advice came from Chicago saxophonist Bunky Green in the 1960s, and Thompson has observed it ever since. Bob is also a part of West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s Mountain Stage® band. Thompson has recorded numerous albums over the years including two compilations of past Joy to the World shows.

Listeners who enjoy Joy to the World will also be treated to 16 hours of jazz holiday music from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Christmas day from West Virginia Public Radio.

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