The Greater Falmouth Community Chorus, directed by John Dulina, IV, will present its holiday concert, “Classically Winter,” on Friday, December 4, at 7:30 PM and Sunday, December 6, at 3 PM at the First Congregational Church, 68 Main Street, in Falmouth.
“This is the first concert of the Greater Falmouth Community Chorus—formerly the Greater Falmouth Mostly All-Male Chorus—in its new SATB format,” said Dulina. “We still have a strong male voice sound, which distinguished the chorus for 25 years, but it has been gratifying to add the high soprano voices, to expand the breadth of the chorus, bring more people into it, and broaden our repertoire.”
The chorus, now 50 members strong, will sing a festive selection of songs of winter and the holidays, accompanied by Debbe Carlisle on piano. A local string quartet comprised of Fritz and Laura Sonnichsen on violin, Robin Kruse on viola, and Brian Kruse on cello, will accompany selected pieces.
Featured is “Colors of Winter” by contemporary composer Amy F. Bernon. “This gorgeous song celebrates winter with beautiful melodies and wonderful, vivid imagery,” said Marcy Franklin Lerner, president of the chorus. “The soprano voices really add to its ethereal quality.”
The chorus will also sing Vivaldi’s beloved hymn, “Gloria,” which is well-suited for the new, broader format of the chorus, as well as “Ose Shalom (The One Who Makes Peace),” a Hebrew prayer for peace that Franklin Lerner describes as “beautiful, timeless, powerful, and particularly relevant for this season.” The string quartet will accompany both pieces and several others.
“A Musicological Journey through the Twelve Days of Christmas” sets a different tone. “This is a fun, but challenging song to sing—and so creatively different that the audience might not immediately recognize it,” said Frankin Lerner.
Also on the program are favorites like “Do You Hear What I Hear?,” a “We Need a Little Christmas” medley, a holiday sing-along, and more.
Franklin Lerner encourages all to come out and hear the first performance of the Greater Falmouth Community Chorus. “It’s wonderful hearing the high women’s voices singing in true female style,” said Franklin Lerner, who formerly sang first tenor in the GFMAMMC and now sings alto in the GFCC. “Of course, as our member Joe Ferreira, a bass, recently said, “The basses sound spectacular!”
True to its roots, the chorus will continue to include traditional men’s glee club harmonies in their performances.
Admission is $10, $5 for children under 12. Tickets are available at the door, or in advance from chorus members, Eight Cousins Bookstore in Falmouth, and Uncle Bill’s Country Store in North Falmouth.
For more information, visit falmouthcommunitychorus.org, find the chorus on Facebook, or call Lerner Franklin at 508-564-0054.
Notes on The Arts 