ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, December 8, 1995 TAG: 9512080037
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: Out & About
SOURCE: DONNA ALVIS BANKS
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given...."
Parts of Handel's "Messiah" were sung in colonial America in 1770, two years before the famous oratorio was performed in the composer's native Germany.
The music has stood the test of time. It just wouldn't be Christmas without hearing Handel's inspirational interpretation of the season.
The choirs at Floyd County High School, along with the Floyd Community Chorus and guest soloists, will present the Christmas portion of the "Messiah" in a concert Saturday. It starts at 8 p.m. in the auditorium at Floyd County High School.
Bill Snyder, former director of the Roanoke Valley Choral Society, is the guest conductor. Snyder now serves as the choral director at Salem High School and choir director at Salem's First United Methodist Church.
Elizabeth Curtis, a voice instructor at Radford University, is the soprano soloist. Alto soloist is Rhonda Short, minister of music at Blacksburg Baptist Church.
Wayne Kompelien, a faculty member at Liberty University, is the bass soloist, and Robert Richards of Radford University sings the tenor solos.
Accompanists are Vickie Shelor and Sandra Smith. Smith is also the choir director at the high school. Her students in both the beginning and advanced choirs will perform together in this special production.
Admission is free but donations will be accepted at the door.
MORE VOICES: The New River Valley Community Chorus, featuring singers from all around the valley, will perform two holiday concerts this week.
On Monday, you can hear the sounds of Christmas at Pulaski's First Presbyterian Church. On Tuesday, the music moves to Central United Methodist Church in Radford. Both concerts start at 8 p.m.
The chorus will open the program with "Joy to the World." Music by a brass sextet fires this rendition of the spirited carol.
Heinrich Schutz's "Cante Domino (Sing Praises to the Lord)," Gustav Holst's "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence" and "A Touch of Christmas" by Carl Nygard Jr. complete the first half of the program.
The group will finish with varied vocal arrangements of old favorites, including "Silver Bells," "The Sleigh" and "Go Tell It on the Mountain."
Lynn Loftus directs the chorus and Judith Lanum is the accompanist.
Both concerts are free to the public, but donations will be accepted.
HOW ABOUT A BLUE CHRISTMAS? Bluegrass, that is!
The great Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys will play for this Saturday's holiday jamboree at New River Community College. Sponsored by the college's Fiddle, Banjo and Dance Club, the jamboree features lively bluegrass music and lots of foot-stompin'!
The doors to Edwards Hall on the Dublin campus open at 5 p.m. for jam sessions and recorded music. Live music starts at 7 p.m. and goes until 10. The Original Orchard Grass will play, along with Stanley and the Boys.
Start practicing your fancy footwork. A cash prize will be awarded to winners of the dance contest.
Admission Saturday is free, but they'll pass the hat to help pay the musicians' traveling expenses.
THE GIRL WITH ENAMEL EYES: Dr. Coppelius is so enchanted by the girl with enamel eyes that he attempts to bring the little doll to life.
So goes the story in the classical ballet, "Coppelia," the holiday offering from Radford University's dance department.
The ballet, first performed in 1870 at the Paris Opera House for Emperor Napoleon III, is always a favorite with its colorful and festive folk dances.
Husband-and-wife team Frano Jelincic and Dagmar Kessler, Radford University's artists-in residence, are directing this production which runs tonight and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. in Preston Auditorium.
The performance features students Wendy Wahala and Coleen Potts of the university's dance department with guest artist Tim Almaas, a Swedish dancer who has appeared with the Royal Swedish Ballet, the Berlin Ballet and the English National Ballet.
Tickets, available through the box office in Heth Student Center, are $8 for adults, $4 for children and free with Radford University identification. Call 831-5420.
THOSE HORRIBLE HERDMANS: Or, as the Rev. Hopkins so tactfully puts it, "Jesus said, 'Suffer the little children to come unto me,' but I'm not sure he meant the Herdmans...."
Playmakers & Company's latest production is "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever," a touching comedy about a woman who finds herself faced with the task of directing the annual Christmas pageant. The problems start when the Herdmans - "the meanest kids in the history of the world" - decide they want to be in the pageant.
The community theater production is directed by Nora Hansen and has a cast of 26 children and 10 adults. Hansen says this play - one that deals with the true meaning of Christmas - will entertain the whole family.
The show continues with curtain tonight and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. in Playmakers' Playhouse at Blacksburg's University Mall. Come early for tonight's performance. The Montgomery County Boys' Choir will sing before the show.
The next performances are Dec. 15-17. For reservations, call Anna Dalton at 381-1913.
Tickets also may be purchased with a check at the Weight Club in University Mall. They're $6 for adults and $4 for students and senior citizens.
ORGAN AND BONES: We're talking trombones here!
Virginia Tech's music department and Christ Episcopal Church will present a recital featuring music for organ and trombones Sunday. It starts at 3 p.m. in the church at Church and Jackson streets in Blacksburg.
Jay Crone, trombone, and Michael Saffle, organ, are in the spotlight. The Virginia Tech professors will play music spanning nearly four centuries.
One of the selections, Daniel Speer's Sonata a 4, will feature a trombone quartet. Crone and his colleague, Tech professor James Sochinski, will play with student Jeff Hess and Dayl Burnett, a trombonist with Radford University's music faculty. Craig Fields, baritone, will sing.
Tickets, available at the door Sunday, are $3 for everyone.
STRESS RELIEVER: The Blacksburg Old-Time Music and Dance Group is offering the perfect stress reliever Saturday. It's the monthly mountain square dance at Northside Presbyterian Church on Progress Street.
Starting at 8 p.m., you can kick up your heels to the music of fiddler Brian Grim and the Konnarock Critters. Grim and his band have received top honors at the Galax Old Fiddlers Convention and other regional competitions.
Bev Smith of the Heartbeats Rhythm Quartet is the caller at Saturday's dance. She will teach all the steps.
Admission is $5. Wear your comfortable shoes so you don't stomp too hard and damage the wooden floor.
LENGTH: Long : 119 linesby CNB