OCS: The Many Moods of Christmas

Orcas Choral Society: The Many Moods of Christmas Saturday, December 5th at 7pm Sunday, December 6th at 2pm Adult Pricing: $70, $35, $25 Youth (Ages 12-18): $5 Under 12: Free! The Many Moods of Christmas Robert Shaw and Robert Russell Bennett (1963) First recorded in 1963 by the Robert Shaw Chorale and RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra, The Many Moods of Christmas has become one of the most beloved collections of traditional Christmas music in the American choral repertoire. Following the success of Robert Russell Bennett’s earlier collaboration with the great contralto Marian Anderson, RCA commissioned Bennett to arrange eighteen familiar Christmas carols, which Robert Shaw organized into four suites exploring the remarkable variety of emotions associated with the season—from quiet reverence and tender reflection to exuberant celebration. Bennett, the legendary orchestrator whose artistry enriched such Broadway classics as Oklahoma!, South Pacific, and The Sound of Music, brought his extraordinary imagination to these timeless melodies. His arrangements transform familiar carols into a continuous musical tapestry, preserving their simplicity and charm while revealing unexpected colors, contrasts, and grandeur. So enduring was the work’s popularity that Shaw returned to it twenty years later, recording it anew in 1983 with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. The result is a work that captures not merely the sounds of Christmas, but its many moods: wonder, nostalgia, tenderness, mystery, and joy.