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 December 2005 Back to Table of Contents Back to Archives Main Page Section: Feature Christmas Pie and Other Musical Delights By Colleen Maroney Fahey Maybe there was some grand design that a month known for its conflicting emotions — happiness, sadness, generosity, loneliness and most definitely stress — is filled with the most musical of sounds. Sleigh bells and carols, pop stars and choirs all lend their voices to the cacophony which is Christmas.Harmony can be restored and souls can be soothed through the many delightful and inspiring offerings which abound this joyous season.  One of our favorites is served up each year by the Freudig Singers. “Christmas Pie” was the brain-child of Deborah Fenn, a long time Freudig soprano and member of the board of directors. The Freudig Singers were in dire straits in the winter of 1999 after losing their founder and Artistic Director, Kathleen Keenan Takagi. Happily, after a long and grueling search to find a new visionary for the chorus, their prayers were answered in the form of Roland Martin — the perfect choirmaster for the new millennium.Looking for an innovative way to encourage back its lost audience and knowing that The Freudig Singers have always enjoyed good food after a concert Mrs. Fenn provided the perfect concept: sing a holiday concert of glorious music and then serve Christmas pie instead of the usual holiday reception fare. “That first year, each singer baked a pie and a modest turn-out enjoyed the new concept. Rave reviews of the post-concert dining told us we were onto something hot,” remembers Elizabeth Sands, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors. “Over the years, we’ve developed ‘Christmas Pie’ into a celebration of the finest music of the season with a Freudig ‘twist.’ We sing some rarely-heard gems as well as the original versions of some old favorites, all with Roland Martin’s magnificent attention to detail.” Attendance has gotten too large for twenty singers to do all of the pie-baking, so local pie-makers such as Eileen’s Centerview Bakery, Saville’s and P&R Bakery have stepped up and donated this year's delectable confections. And of course, The Freudig Singers themselves, garbed in their usual formal concert attire, will be on hand to slice and serve their adoring fans. Many of the singers have a favorite “signature pie” included in The Freudig Singers’ Christmas Pie Cookbook. The limited edition cookbooks are offered as a thank-you gift for a donation to their recording project — a CD highlighting Buffalo composers. One last important detail — post-concert pie is included in the price of admission. Dec. 3 | 7:30 p.m. Salem Lutheran Church, 10 McClellan Circle (at McKinley Parkway). Dec. 4 | 4 p.m. Kenmore Presbyterian Church, 2771 Delaware Ave. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door, and $8 for students and seniors. 667.7088 | www.freudigsingers.org. Sounds of the Season Sampler Take time out of your busy holiday schedule to sample some of the wonderful sounds of the season that are happening throughout December. Celebrate the holiday season with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra: Dec. 9 | Handel’s Messiah. Dec. 10 | A Classical Celebration of the Season: Holiday classics. 885-5000 | http://www.bpo.org Performing Arts Center at Buffalo State College Dec. 10 | A Scottish Christmas. Leave your traditional carols behind and celebrate Christmas the Gaelic way. Featuring Highland pipes and drums, Celtic harp, dancers and fiddle champion Bonnie Rideout. From gentle songs and hymns to foot-stomping jigs and reels, the holiday spirit is sure to be merry. Dec. 20 | A Rockapella Christmas. The “undisputed kings of contemporary a cappella music” will entertain with songs of Christmas. 878-3005 | http://www.buffalostate.edu/pac Lancaster Opera House Dec. 14 | Celtic Christmas. Irish dance and holiday songs of the season featuring Kindred and the Rince Na Tiarna dancers. 683-1776 | www.lancopera.org The Christmas Concert Dec. 8-11 | Niagara University Theatre presents a joyful holiday concert, featuring traditional and contemporary holiday song and dance by the NU Theatre Chorale. Singers from Lewiston Porter high school will join the group for a special second act of song and writings. At the Church in Lewiston. 286-8200 | www.niagara.edu/theatre Holiday Music at Montante Cultural Center Dec. 3 | Concert Band Dec. 4 | Chamber Orchestra Dec. 7 | azz Ensemble Dec. 10 | Canisius Chorale 888-2536 | www.canisius.edu.finearts/music/arts canisius.asp Sounds of at Season at Slee Hall Dec. 2 | The cathedral choristers of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church join Organist-Choirmaster Andrew Cantrill in a concert of Christmas music at Slee Hall, UB. Dec. 6 | Sinfonietta, Music for the Holidays 645-2921 | www.slee.buffalo.edu Amherst Symphony Dec. 4 | Italian Holiday Concert, with Jill Masters, soprano. ASO brass players highlight the music of Italy. 633-4606 Albright-Knox Art Gallery Dec. 4 | The Men & Boys of the St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral Choir will sing their annual concert in Clifton Hall to celebrate the lighting of the Christmas tree. www.albright-knox.org Friends of Music at St. Paul’s Cathedral Dec. 16 | A Ceremony of Carols. The Girl Choristers perform Benjamin Britten’s setting of anonymous 15th and 16th century carol texts. Dec. 18 | A Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols. The Men & Girls of the Cathedral Choirs sing this traditional service, featuring the music of Poston, Ledger, Rutti, Pearsall, Bruckner, Howells, Carter, Berlioz, Rutter, Dove and Mathias. Dec. 21 | The Magic of Christmas. This festive celebration will include favorite Christmas songs and readings, and delicious holiday treats. Fundraiser for the Men & Girls 2006 Tour of the UK and Sweden. (info@musicatstpauls.org) Dec. 24 | Midnight Mass. This much-loved Christmas Eve service, sung by the cathedral choirs, features Haydn’s festive “Missa Sancti Nicolai” and favorite carols. 855-0910 | www.musicatstpauls.org back to top back to table of contents Current Issue | About Forever Young | Where to Find | Advertise | Our Advertisers | Community Calendar | Contest | Clubs | Contact Us | Archives | Home |