City Cantabile Choir: A Celtic Christmas
$20 (ages 12 & under free)
- Tom Creegan, Uilleann pipes
- Dale Russ, fiddle
- Jeri Howe, harp
- Claudia Walker, harp
Traditional — Veni, veni, Emmanuel ("O Come, O Come, Emmanuel")
Traditional — Ubi Caritas
Henry John Gauntlett — Once in Royal David's City
Jean Finlayson — Fear A' Bhàta
Traditional — All Hail to the Days (Drive the Cold Winter Away)
Abbie Betinis — Carol of the Stranger
The Winter Solstice is an ancient holiday that predates our festive Christmas celebrations.
Please join the City Cantabile Choir on December 19 for our annual Celtic Celebration of the longest night and the coming of Christmas. Our Solstice journey will begin with the Uilleann pipes, which are unique in all the world for their haunting lyrical beauty. Tom Creegan, master Uilleann piper, will be joined by virtuoso fiddle player, Dale Russ. Harpists Jeri Howe and Claudia Walker will perform a harp duet version of St. Basil's Hymn. We will present new arrangements of the beautiful 9th Century chant O Come, O Come Emmanuel, Ubi Caritas, and Once in Royal David’s City, featuring pipes, drums, and choir. Also featured will be the Gaelic Fear A' Bhàta, the traditional Wassail song Drive the Cold Winter Away, and the contemporary Irish song Carol of the Strangers.
In these turbulent times, we hope these mid-winter rituals of song, fiddle, pipes, and harp bring you comfort and joy.
COVID-19 Protocol: Masks and proof of vaccination required. We will space out audience seating for social distancing.
About Tom Creegan, Uilleann pipes
Piper Tom Creegan grew up in Dublin learning in one of the best environments possible, the Pipers' Club headquarters on Thomas Street. He played extensively in Europe and Canada before moving to Seattle where he started the band Crumac, then known as "The Suffering Gaels." He has long been widely regarded as one of the foremost pipers in North America. Concert appearances have included numerous dates with such luminaries as Kevin Burke, James Kelly, and Johnny Cunningham. He teaches tin whistle and pipes and has served on the teaching faculty of the Lark in the Morning summer school in California, The Friday Harbor Irish Music Camp, and CeltFest on Vancouver Island. Tom is in big demand for recording, and has appeared on many, including a CD of music from Hawaii!
About Dale Russ, fiddle
Fiddler Dale Russ has been a member of a number of traditional Irish musical groups, and in 1990 he was invited to perform at the first Boston College Irish Music Festival "Love is in America," featuring 16 of the finest Irish fiddle players living in the States. The concert was recorded and released by Green Linnet Records and won an award from the Smithsonian Institute as "Traditional Recording of the Year" His playing is known for its balance of power and elegance.
https://pegheadnation.com/string-school/instructors/dale-russ