GRAFTON — The River Singers Community Choir will perform songs of joy, health, love, and peace to celebrate winter traditions, and the turning of the year, at its annual December concerts.
The 95-voice, multigenerational choir, led by Mary Cay Brass, will perform its mix of eclectic music from many cultural and musical traditions on Saturday, Dec. 3, at 7:30 p.m and Sunday, Dec. 4 at 3 p.m. at the White Church on Main Street.
The concerts typically open with songs to celebrate the winter holidays. This year's opener, Arise and Hail, comes from the English 18th century West Gallery tradition - the precursor to our New England shape note tradition.
The River Singers String Band - Donald Saaf, Roger Kahle, Mary Cay Brass, and Joe Blumenthal - will accompany the Appalachian song, Rise Up Shepherd and Follow.
A haunting Czech Renaissance carol will round out the Christmas selections in the concert.
Also, in the holiday spirit, the choir will perform a contemporary Klezmer song, Al Hanissim (Sing to God), featuring the soaring clarinet playing of choir member Walter Slowinski.
This past year, two singers from Rwanda have taught the choir a Rwandan gospel song with soloist Appolinaire William and the River Singers Afro-pop ensemble (Donald Saaf on guitar, Tom Goldschmid and Julian Gerstin on percussion, and Brass on keyboards).
Having worked in the Balkans in a number of capacities over the years, Brass has a particular love of the folk music of that region and always includes a generous selection of itsharmonies.
Three love songs from various regions of Macedonia are on the program for this concert, all accompanied by the River Singers Balkan Band (Walter Slowinski on clarinet, Roger Kahle on guitar, Mary Cay Brass on accordion, and Julian Gerstin on percussion).
The River Singers often invite guest teachers to add new musical dimensions to the repertoire.
This season's teacher, John Harrison, offered three new songs ranging from the early Jubilee Gospel sound of Better Day a-Coming to one of his own compositions, Gospel Train, to a contemporary gospel song led by the choir's own Will Danforth.
Every River Singer concert is a benefit for some local or global organization. These concerts will raise money for flood relief in the Grafton area.
Suggested concert donation is $14, $10 students and seniors, and free for children 10 and under. For information, call (802-869-2438) or email.