The Members of Musica Plenti
Winter Solstice
“In the northern latitudes, midwinter’s day has been an important time for celebration throughout the ages. On this shortest day of the year, the sun is at its lowest and weakest, a pivot point from which the light will grow stronger and brighter. This is the turning point of the year. The Romans called it Dies Natalis Invicti Solis, the Birthday of the Unconquered Sun.” [Excerpted from www.shambhala.org/arts/fest.].
Musica Plenti and Audubon Greenwich have joined together to present a solstice festival celebration of the resurrection of the sun that mirrors the unquenchable spirit of hope that sustains us in our own winter of discontent. This festival, which will be held on the grounds of Audubon Greenwich – (see directions below) – will extend over two weekends in December and will feature outdoor activities designed by the Audubon Center. It will showcase an original children’s musical designed specifically for this event by The Greenwich Performing Arts Studio as well choral concerts performed by such well–known groups as The Bows, The Good News Gospel Choir and Musica Plenti.
(See below for information on the schedule of events for the weekends of December 5th and 6th and December 12th and 13th.)
Origins
“The winter solstice has been celebrated for centuries as a day of deep cultural importance. It is the way humans have marked the sacred times in the yearly cycle of earth’s journey.
For instance, the Roman midwinter holiday, Saturnalia, was both a gigantic fair and a festival of the home. Riotous merry–making took place, and the halls of houses were decked with boughs of laurel and evergreen trees. Lamps were kept burning to ward off the spirits of darkness.
In pagan Scandinavia the winter festival was the yule (or juul). Great yule logs were burned, and people drank mead around the bonfires listening to minstrel–poets singing ancient legends. It was believed that the yule log had the magical effect of helping the sun to shine more brightly.
Mistletoe, which was sacred because it mysteriously grew on the most sacred tree, the oak, was ceremoniously cut and a spray given to each family to be hung in the doorways as good luck. The Celtic Druids also regarded mistletoe as sacred. Druid priests cut it from the tree on which it grew with a golden sickle and handed it to the people calling it All–Heal. To hang it over a doorway or in a room was to offer goodwill to visitors. Kissing under the mistletoe was a pledge of friendship. [Ibid].
Ancient cultures went to extraordinary lengths to align their structures with both solstices, Stonehenge being the most famous example. Not as familiar, but equally important, is the enormous megalithic site in Ireland known as Newgrange which some scientists estimate to be over 5,000 years old. It was built to receive a shaft of sunlight deep into its central chamber at dawn on winter solstice.
The purposes for which these structures were built are unknown, but clearly the marking of the solstice was an event of great spiritual importance to these ancient peoples. ‘Perhaps, our impulse to hold onto certain traditions today – candles, evergreens, feasting and generosity – are echoes of a past that extends many thousands of years further than we ever before imagined.’ ” [Excerpted from www.candlegrove.com/solstice.html].
Winter Solstice Festival 2009
All performances will be held at Kiernan Hall, Audubon Greenwich, 613 Riversville Road, Greenwich, CT
For information call 203-637-3058
Suggested Donation: $25 per performance
Event Schedule
First Weekend
Saturday December 5th
- Morning:
- Reserved for Audubon Center family activities celebrating the Solstice.
- Afternoon:
- The Greenwich Performing Arts Studio [2:00 PM]
Sunday December 6th
- Afternoon:
- The Bows and The Good News Gospel Choir in Joint Concert [2:00 PM]
Second Weekend
Saturday December 12th
- Morning:
- Reserved for Audubon Center family activities celebrating the Solstice.
- Afternoon:
- The Greenwich Performing Arts Studio [2:00 PM]
(Repeat Performance)
Sunday December 13th
- Afternoon:
- Musica Plenti Choral Concert [3:00 PM]
About The Performers
Musica Plenti Performing December 13th at 3PM
The Bows and The Good News Gospel Choir Performing December 6th at 2PM
The Greenwich Performing Arts Studio Performing December 5th & December 12th at 2PM
Click the names of the performers to find out more about them.
Directions
FROM THE MERRITT PARKWAY
Take Exit 28 for Round Hill Road. Go North on Round Hill about 1.5 miles to the fourth left turn which will be John Street. Turn left onto John. Audubon Center will be a sharp right turn about 1 mile down John St.
FROM I-95
Get off at Exit 2. At Stop sign at end of exit ramp, go straight for one block and turn right onto Byram Rd. Proceed north to Route 1 (Putnam Ave) which is a divided road at this point; go straight across and turn left on the westbound arm of Route 1 and immediately get into right-hand lane which becomes Hillside Rd. Stay on Hillside Rd up the hill and as it curves around a park on the left, until you come to the light on King Street. Turn right onto King Street; proceed north several miles, past Merritt Parkway, past signs for Airport, past golf clubs on right.
Bedford Rd is next right after golf clubs. Take Bedford Road about 1 mile to John Street, and turn right. Go less than a mile, crossing intersection with Riversville Rd, and take first left into the Audubon Center, a few hundred feet beyond.
Welcome to Musica Plenti
Musica Plenti is an award-winning vocal chamber ensemble formed in Connecticut in 1987. Its members are professional singers who combine solo virtuosity with sensitive ensemble singing. Their repertoire covers a wide range of classical music from madrigals and motets to opera and modern American music. In recent years they have earned critical acclaim for commissioning works for chorus, soloists and instrumentalists.
Musica Plenti was honored to receive a 1998 Award of Merit with an Excellent Rating from the National Federation of Music Clubs for its presentations of American music. Musica Plenti also received a matching grant in 1999 from the Connecticut Commission on the Arts (now the Connecticut Commission of Culture and Tourism) for the commissioning of Artaban the Stargazer: The Story of the Fourth Wise Man, an oratorio with narration by Martha Kate Miller and music by composers Robert Puleo, John Velonis and Constance Walton. Musica Plenti performed this work numerous times. CD and score are available for purchase.
The purpose of Musica Plenti is to enrich the community by:
- Presenting a rich repertoire of music for vocal chamber ensemble, from traditional to contemporary, in an informal, intimate manner that creates a close connection with audiences.
- Encouraging the writing and performance of new compositions for vocal chamber ensemble, in order to preserve and expand the heritage of American music.
- Creating a series of musical experiences for small groups with an emphasis on young people, in which we invite and inspire the audience to explore more deeply with us the meaning, technique and power of music-making.
- Enhancing community celebrations, including charitable benefits with programs especially designed for these occasions.
