Multi-Cultural Program

Sunday with Sounding Joy!

Flutes, Caribbean steel drums, Latin-American percussion, organ, piano, and singers from 6 to 62 will join forces at 4 p.m. Sunday afternoon, Jan. 7, when Sounding Joy! and its Youth Chorus present a colorful 12th-Night Celebration at Bethany Church in Randolph.

The 12th day of Christmas marks the day when the three magi, or wise men, arrive in Bethlehem. Children in Latin America give and receive gifts on this day, which they call "El Dia de los Reyes Magos."

"We'll celebrate on Sunday afternoon, Jan. 7 instead of on Saturday night," explains artistic director Marjorie Drysdale. "Come in out of the cold, tap your feet to the beat of catchy Caribbean rhythms and Mexican melodies! Afterwards, join us in our 12th Night Fiesta. Maybe you'll be the one to find the crown!

Sounding Joy!, accompanied by organist Lynette Coombs of Marshfield, will open the program with the sumptuous "Gloria" by French composer Francis Poulenc. Next, the scene will move to Argentina , Venezuela, and Mexico, where festive folk forms will predominate.

Accompanied by Scott Paulsen and Barbara Smith on percussion, Marta Borgstrom on keyboard and Marvin and Carol Rogers on flute, Sounding Joy! will sing "Navidad Nuestra" by Argentine composer Ariel Ramirez. The youth chorus will follow with four folk songs in Spanish. 

Drysdale will put down her baton to sing the beloved Mexican serenade, "Estrellita" by Manuel Ponce after which, the youth and adults will join forces to present their grand finale, the "Guadalupe Magnificat."

"The Magnificat is a mesmerizing extravaganza composed in honor of the Virgin of Guadalupe, the patron saint of Mexico, and indeed, of all Latin America and the Phillipenes," says Drysdale.

"In 1542 she is said to have made red roses grow in the snow. For this reason, children process through the streets on her feast day, dressed in white and carrying red roses."

Andrea Easton, costume coordinator, has kept this tradition in mind as she outfitted the children, who have been rehearsing since September.

Steel Drums!

The lively Latin-inflected accompaniment—including steel drums—will be by Scott Paulson and Barbara Smith, founders of The Vermont Independent School of the Arts (VTISA) in Sharon.

Barbara grew up in Bethel. She received a B.A. in Music Performance from Bard College and has performed as a flute soloist with the American Symphony Orchestra, as a saxophonist with the American Russian Young Artists Orchestra, and with various big bands and ensembles. She started playing steel drums five years ago.

Scott Paulson received his B.A. in Music from Johnson State College and taught instruments in public schools starting in 1996 before founding VTISA. He currently directs seven Caribbean steel drum bands, as well as bagpipes, bass, and drums. He has played in dozens of professional bands.

The "Gloria" by Poulenc which opens the program features exquisite melodies set against the unusal harmonies that have made Poulenc one of the most beloved composers of the 20th century. The piece features beautiful solos by three of Sounding Joy's fine sopranos—Jan Fowler, Jennifer Moore, and Julia Pattison.

Admission to Sunday's concert is by free-will donation. A delicious reception will follow. For further information about Sounding Joy!, log onto SoundingJoy.org.

Sponsors for Sunday's event helped make it possible. They are Bethel Mills, Century 21 Mill Stone Agency, Bethel Mills, Compucount, Curves, Day's Funeral Home, ERA Home Town Realty, The Herald, Michael and Elizabeth Seymour, the Randolph National Bank, Three Stallion Inn and Ultramotive Corp.