Monday, December 13, 2010

These are the Special Times

When I was an undergraduate at Baylor I had the opportunity to take part in the filming of Christmas at Baylor, a 2004 PBS concert special that aired across the country during the holiday season.  It was really quite a spectacle, involving several choirs, the symphony orchestra, the fabulous McLane organ and a cast and crew of THOUSANDS* filmed in locations throughout Baylor’s campus.  I bring it out every Christmas and watch it at least twice. (Photos are all screenshots from the DVD)

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Can you see me?

 

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What abooooouuuuut NOW?

 

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Brass ensemble performing in the Truett seminary building

 

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The a capella choir under the direction of Dr. Baily performing in the Armstrong Browning Library, which is also home to the largest collections of Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning (and, as a more random side note, secular stained glass) in the world.  Including Borneo.

 

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The finally finale

 

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A little “behind the scenes” action

 

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*insert Sunset Boulevard joke here*

 

Whenever my grandmother Joyce used to attend my choir concerts she would come up to me afterwards and say something along the lines of: “I could hear you out of everyone! You sounded so good!!”  To which I would always respond: “Well, then that means I wasn’t exactly doing my job.”  I always knew she was kidding but I loved the sentiment, nonetheless.

 

My favorite piece from the special is “Christmas Day,” which is basically a Christmas medley on crack. I CAN’T STOP LISTENING TO IT!!!

 

 

*all numbers are approximate and completely fabricated

Artist: Christina Aguilera/ Album: My Kind of Christmas

3 comments:

  1. This was the year I was NOT at Baylor so I missed the JOY that was this experience. And I kept saying how sorry I was I missed it, but apparently it scarred quite a few people--every time it was mentioned I heard moans and groans and horror stories about standing in the same place for 5 solid hours and nearly fainting/dying of starvation/gnawing on a tenor to keep up their strength.

    And they are right-- I think I would have hated every bleeding moment--considering how I felt--still feel--about choir. But it is still cool. I would like to see the program one day...

    Also...lookitchooyersopriddy!

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  2. umm...i hate to be a fame whore, BUT....i think i should be tagged in this post.

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  3. I know it took me a long time to comment, but I wanted to listen to you singing before I commented. I finally got to listen, aaannnd....you were the best one!!! ;-) And BTW, do you have higlights in that pic of you? Or is it just that fancy stage lighting?

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