CHRISTMAS POPS CONCERT PROGRAM NOTES

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In our time tested tradition of providing something for everyone, our Christmas Pops concert filled with classics, arrangements you may not have heard, and a few surprises as well!

As with all our Christmas Pops concerts, we will end with the fan favorite, A Christmas Festival by Leroy Anderson.  It is the quintessential work that includes so many time honored Christmas tunes in a setting that can’t be beat.  Anderson, who is known for such hits as Bugler’s Holiday, Blue Tango, The Typewriter, The Syncopated Clock, and of course, Sleigh Ride, was hailed by John Williams as “one of the great American masters of light orchestral music.”  More than just a composer, this Harvard graduate also spoke 9 languages.

Also on our concerts are two arrangements from the catalog of Robert Wendel, A Christmas Celebration and a Caribbean Sleigh Ride.  New to Foothills Philharmonic, these are a great addition to our yule-tide season for very good reason.  Wendel is an arranger and conductor who has supplied pops music throughout the world and for such stars as Carol Channing and Rita Moreno.  But above and beyond that, he studied composition and arranging with Leroy Anderson!  I would say he has the credentials for our concert!

Whether you enjoy the classic I’ll be Home for Christmas, the beautiful O Holy Night, or maybe some western themed carols, you know you have come to right place.  And if none of that catches your fancy, be ready to “Name that Tune” with a wild arrangement of songs.  It’s tricky so be prepared!