The Salon Wrap- Up for December 18, 2016 - "Merry, Happy, Oy!"
Our final Salon of 2016 was--what else?--a holiday celebration! Our spirited co-hosts were Those Girls--Eve Eaton, Rachel Hanser, Karen Mack, and Wendy Russell, accompanied by the always wonderful Steven Ray Watkins.
The Girls opened with an Andrews Sisters-style treatment of Kim Wilde's Hey, Mister Snowman, and explained that they were happy to help us celebrate whatever we wanted to celebrate--even if we were holiday haters! (And they let us in on one of their own pet peeves, as they took a "fruitcake poll." Amazingly enough, I think the Fans outweighed the Haters on this one.)
For their three-song set, they opened in a mellow mood, singing 'Bout This Time Each Year, a song written by their music director, Steven Ray Watkins. The second song was a Hanukkah song, Maoz Tzur, sung in Hebrew, and featuring Rachel Hanser. They closed the set with a hilarious nod to carols sung in "original foreign language," by clucking (yes, really) their way through Carol of the Bells.
For their final number, they presented an inspired mash-up of Foreigner's hit Cold as Ice, with You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch, featuring Eve Eaton front and center.
Quick Wrap - Classical Corner
In tonight's Classical Corner, Mark talked about holiday music, traditional carols, and Christmas music composed by classical composers. He pointed out certain musical ideas and patterns that these songs have in common: for example, repetitive phrases, bell-like sounds (as in Carol of the Bells), droning patterns, (Little Drummer Boy), and phrases based on chant (O Come, O Come, Emmanuel).
Another approach is to base a new work on an ancient carol melody. Case in point tonight: Geistliches Wiegenlied (Holy Lullaby), by Johannes Brahms, performed with Mark at the piano, Arthur Cook on cello, and yours truly (Janice Hall) as vocalist. The song weaves together the traditional melody of the German carol Joseph Dearest, Joseph Mine, (cello) with a new melody for the singer, who, as the Virgin Mother, pleads with the angels to silence the wind in the trees so that her baby can sleep.
Another approach is to base a new work on an ancient carol melody. Case in point tonight: Geistliches Wiegenlied (Holy Lullaby), by Johannes Brahms, performed with Mark at the piano, Arthur Cook on cello, and yours truly (Janice Hall) as vocalist. The song weaves together the traditional melody of the German carol Joseph Dearest, Joseph Mine, (cello) with a new melody for the singer, who, as the Virgin Mother, pleads with the angels to silence the wind in the trees so that her baby can sleep.
Roster of performers for the evening (in order of appearance):
Click link to visit the performer’s website or other links, when available.
All piano accompaniment by Mark Janas unless otherwise noted.
Click link to visit the performer’s website or other links, when available.
All piano accompaniment by Mark Janas unless otherwise noted.
Ira Lee Collings
David Gillam (spoken word)
Kit
Sam Novick
Richard Eisenberg
Dawn Derow
David Ballard
Classical Corner (Mark Janas with Janice Hall, soprano, and Arthur Cook, cello)
Those Girls (with Steven Ray Watkins)
Tanya Moberly (with Steven Ray Watkins)
Angela Leone
Ben Rauch
Michael Colby and friends (with Steven Silverstein)
Special thanks to tonight’s musicians: Mark Janas, Steven Ray Watkins, Arthur Cook, and Steven Silverstein.
Thank you to Jared Gilmore on lights and sound, videographer James Eden, and our amazing waitstaff who always handle the demands of a full house with grace and style.
Ongoing Shows:
Monday nights (7pm): Opera Open Mic at Shangai Mong with Mark Janas and Matthew Martin Ward, 30 West 32nd Street, NYC. www.shanghaimongnyc.com
Upcoming Shows
Monday, January 16th, 7:00 pm: Bobbie Horowitz continues her series, "It's Just a Number," at the Metropolitan Room, 34 W. 22nd St., NYC
No Salon on December 25th or January 1st!
The Salon will return on January 8th, 2017, with the theme "Second Chances," featuring co-host Deborah Stone.
Monday nights (7pm): Opera Open Mic at Shangai Mong with Mark Janas and Matthew Martin Ward, 30 West 32nd Street, NYC. www.shanghaimongnyc.com
Upcoming Shows
Monday, January 16th, 7:00 pm: Bobbie Horowitz continues her series, "It's Just a Number," at the Metropolitan Room, 34 W. 22nd St., NYC
No Salon on December 25th or January 1st!
The Salon will return on January 8th, 2017, with the theme "Second Chances," featuring co-host Deborah Stone.
We look forward to seeing you in the New Year!
Happy Holidays!
Janice Hall
Guest Blogette for The Salon
Guest Blogette for The Salon
