In my mind, winter holidays in the Northern Hemisphere are all about helping us keep our spirits bright in the darkest of times. We bring light and greenery and festive foods into our homes, where we’re sheltering from the cold. The holiness of these days is the turning inward, the transformation of outward energy into spiritual reserves for hard times ahead. In my life, music has always been fun and spiritual and central to this season. Next weekend, I will be singing a piece called Nordic Light by Eriks Eisenvalds – a multi-media production including choir, orchestra, and video. It’s a haunting portrayal of the aurora borealis and the lore it lends to Arctic Circle cultures. The choir will be in the dark while the video is playing. The second half of the concert is carols of Christmas, much more warm and full of light.
This past weekend, in the same venue where I will be performing, I was a front-row guest at a concert by a 4-time Grammy winning Hawaiian singer. There was a cultural fair in the lobby before the show with dancers and vendor booths. It was a very colorful and joyful atmosphere, with lots of dancing, shouting, and clapping, and messages of love, acceptance, and support.
scillagrace 