Holiday gifts come in many packages

[KB7DQH]

http://wehonews.com/z/wehonews/archive/page.php?articleID=6765

Essay by Carleton Cronin, West Hollywood, California

Disney Hall's giant Rosales pipe organ resounded throughout the elegant venue's wood interior, reverberating and trilling as the Holiday Organ Spectacular paid tribute to the more religious aspect of the season.


Only a few empty seats were evident and a crowd of holiday concertgoers eagerly awaited the initial chords.

This concert was an unabashed reminder of the original purpose of the Christmas celebration.

There was no hint of commercialism and seat prices for this evening were half of what we normally pay for our infrequent visits there.

Christmas came to Disney Hall.

The space was tastefully dressed with a long single row of red poinsettias across the top tier of the orchestra area; the stage empty but for the organ console, singly lit, while later lighting expressed the varieties of the program, colorful and thoughtful.

Overhead several large spiked symbolic stars sparkled.

At the finale, a moving light display of snowflakes was shown on the highest reaches of the ceiling.

So, it was pleasant setting in which to celebrate with Christmas music, from past centuries to the present; and celebrate we did when 2,200 voices joined in chorus to sing such carols as Joy to the world, Deck the halls, and in grand finale, Hark the herald angels sing.

Organ-master David Higgs' vigorous control of the mighty instrument, his selections and his hearty exhortations to sing along made the event a most happy occasion.

Soprano Shan Blake Hill's a-capella I wonder as I wander brought us a moment of reflection and underlined the reason for the celebration.

The reception was extraordinary; the holiday crowd effused its appreciation for the performance, something not lost, apparently, on the performers.


When we exited the hall, the surging crowd was jubilant and chatty and certainly in what our commercial master call, "the holiday mood."

It was a great evening, a true gift to all involved.

Gift-giving, once a personal form of showing affection or regard, now mostly seems an orgy of consumerism and a sine qua non expression of our culture.

Would that we return to those halcyon days when the gift we gave was from our heart, as were the mutual gifts of music, song and appreciation passed around Disney Hall.

Too many times we substitute a "gift" of monetary value for the gift of companionship, understanding and love.

This time of year our family also writes greetings; we also exchange gifts.

Our focus, however, is on the gift of consideration, for others and for what we intend for the New Year.

I wish you all the hope that you find time to consider your lot on Planet Earth, not just this month, but every waking day.

Peace. Shalom.

Merry Christmas...

Eric
KB7DQH