Masters of Harmony

Christmas Season Opens at the Carpenter

Seasonal music, rich harmonies thrill Long Beach audiences

Dan Durfey, Dec 10, 2004

From throughout Southern California they came, streaming into the Richard & Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center at California State University, Long Beach. The “sold out” sign was posted several days before the November 27th Masters of Harmony annual Christmas show. Again this year the MOH invited the Harborlites Sweet Adelines Chorus to perform in what has become a musical highlight of the Christmas season.

Billed as “Christmas Stays The Same,” the show included a welcome blending of seasonal music, rich harmonies carefully crafted to give new life to traditional carols and novelty tunes alike.

Opening the show with a crisp rendition of “It’s Christmas Time,” the Masters next presented the premier performance of “Masters In This Hall,” an Aaron Dale arrangement of a traditional French carol. The five-time international champion chorus, proving once again that the group is equal to virtually any musical challenge, handled this complex arrangement deftly.

By now the 1,100 patrons at each of the two shows realized that a thoroughly enjoyable evening of music was at hand. The Masters ended the first portion of the program with the Joe Johnson arrangement of the show’s signature song, “Christmas Stays The Same,” but not before offering “The Twelve Days Of Christmas,” complete with whimsical narration by Bernard Priceman.

VoCA, a 16-member ensemble of talented men and women well known in barbershop music circles, then made a premier concert appearance to the delight of the audience. Stepping out of the traditional four-part music realm, the group gave forth artistic and intricate stylings of such varied favorites as “Oh Come, Oh Come, Emmanuel,” “Baby It’s Cold Outside,” “The Christmas Song” and “All Rise.” Their fresh, rich sound is bound to soon make an impact on the Southern California choral music scene.

After the intermission the Harborlites took the stage. These ladies, in their first concert appearance since winning the coveted Sweet Adelines International chorus championship, gave ample evidence of why they are regarded as the very best at what they do. Adding verve and excitement to such standards as “We Need A Little Christmas” and “Marshmallow World,” the Lites were every bit as dazzling visually as vocally. Their performance was all the more remarkable considering their crowning achievement in Indianapolis took place only a few weeks before this show.

Tradition plays a part in each Masters of Harmony Christmas program. Certainly it has become traditional to offer “Ring De Christmas Bells” and “Shepherds, Come Quick” with solos by the inimitable Les Weiser. Also, no seasonal program would be complete without a solo performance by the gracious and talented Pam Pieson. Her presentation of “Some Children See Him,” assisted by signer LeAndra McMullen, provided a warm ending to the second portion of the three-part program.

In a fitting tribute to the season, the Masters of Harmony, Harborlites, and VoCA combined voices in the show finale. Their spirited renditions of “Go Tell It On The Mountain” and “My Christmas Wish For You” were still ringing through the hall when an organ prelude to the Hallelujah Chorus brought the audience to their feet.

While leaving the auditorium, one woman patron was heard to exclaim, “I came to hear the Harborlites, and fell in love with the Masters of Harmony.” Certainly all groups involved with this program gained new adherents and, at the same time, filled each audience member with a full measure of the Christmas spirit.