Christmas together in a time of isolation on WHYY TV-12 DECEMBER 23 and 24, 2020

Watch the complete video by clicking here

December 2020

WHYY-TV premiered a video produced by the Bucks County Choral Society and Philadelphia Heritage Chorale on December 23rd at 8pm (and re-broadcast on Christmas Eve at 10pm).  The offering - Christmas Together in a Time of  Isolation was the brainchild of two longtime friends and colleagues, conductors Dr. Thomas Lloyd and Dr. J. Donald Dumpson.

"We wanted to share the sight and sound of a larger group of singers in person together, offering the simplicity of familiar Christmas carols that we could sing well without in-person rehearsals and capture the special importance of Christmas programs for both our singers and audiences” said Dr. Lloyd.  

The program begins with a candlelight procession featuring both choirs singing ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’ in their respective locations – Doylestown and Philadelphia – with intermixed and overlapping video footage through the editing artistry of Tolsma Productions. As Dr. Dumpson noted “simple arrangements of familiar carols were safely sung outdoors together, and we believe that the sight and sound of choirs singing together in this way offers a sense of hope and connection in our current state of isolation."  Keeping in tradition, the program closes with the achingly beautiful ‘Silent Night’ sung by candlelight at the Mercer Museum in Doylestown and behind the Comcast Center in Philadelphia.

Out of safety considerations that favor minimizing the amount of time groups spend together even when outdoors, the rest of the program alternates between carols sung by octets from each choir, soloists from each choir, and the Philadelphia Bronze Handbell Choir, directed by Hyosang Park, recorded indoors with masks and distancing.   The variety allowed each choir to sing Christmas carols in their distinctive styles, with Dr. Dumpson’s Heritage Chorale bringing an electronic keyboard outside for several selections sung with a gospel inflection.

The Choral Society features two of its annual high school Voices of the Future competition winners as soloists, and one octet combining members of one of their family of Singing for Seniors choirs with Choral Society members filmed at Pine Run Retirement Community. There will is also one "mixed" octet, made up of four singers from each choir, who did sing together in front of the same camera – singing ‘Go Tell It on the Mountain in Doylestown, and ‘What Child is This’ in Philadelphia.

The video also includes interviews and footage from the Zoom meeting planning sessions which gave the participants a chance to discover more about how their communities are coping in this time of isolation and awakening. Both choirs look forward to performing together in person again soon with the rescheduling of their previously announced combined concert in June 2021.

The Choral Society regularly fills Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Doylestown for its annual programs with handbells, brass, and guest artists, while the Heritage Chorale's annual "Soulful Christmas" concerts at Verizon Hall are a highlight of Philadelphia's concert season. As one of the singers noted after the filming: "...the first few notes singing but not over Zoom, hearing those notes without delay and with crispness. It was just an amazing experience, and I'm just grateful...."

The Bucks County Choral Society is pleased to recognize The Presser Foundation as the presenting sponsor with additional support from the Argus Fund, BLBB Charitable and Marvin and Dee Ann Woodall Charitable Foundation.

___________________________________________________________________

Blog updates during the project:

October 23 update:
Filming sessions go off without a hitch
in Doylestown and Philadelphia!

After weeks of preparation over Zoom and months of planning together, production week finally came. Following a week of cold, wet weather, both days were warm and dry, perfect for singing safely outdoors with holiday colors on. We attracted attention from a number of passersby in both locations, including a cameraman from NBC-TV10 in Philadelphia, who caught us for the 11:00 news last night!          

The warm weather meant there was a little more traffic than usual (especially in Philly), but our calm and steady producer Rich Tolsma kept us on schedule and captured all the music at least once without fire-engine sirens or helicopters overhead, and plenty of video footage. We can't wait to see how Tom, Donald, and our producer Rich Tolsma pull this all together in the editing room over the next few weeks!

____________________

October 29 update
Our two choirs 'debrief' on Zoom after filming sessions

This has been a particularly anxious week in a year more challenging
than most of us as individuals and communities can remember.
With that very much in mind, we wanted to share with you some of what the singers from both the Bucks County Choral Society and the Philadelphia Heritage Chorale shared with each other in a Zoom 'debriefing' session at the beginning of PHC's regular weekly gathering this past Monday.

Some quotes from singers earlier in this meeting:

"It was really the highlight of the last few months
to be able to get together with everyone and perform."

"Even though we couldn't hug each other, just to be out and about,
it was really uplifting and I really appreciate the opportunity
and how much emphasis we had on staying safe, because I have both
my mom and my sister at home, so I have to be really, really careful."

"...the first few notes singing but not over Zoom,
hearing those notes without delay and with crispness.
It was just an amazing experience, and I'm just grateful...."

"...that moment of rehearsing just before - I missed it so much -
that was so invaluable to me - and I'm so glad I had this opportunity
to take this chance singing together..."