INDY'S WEEKLY ALTERNATIVE NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTING ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

Traditions of the holidays

Indianapolis Arts Chorale"s Dec. 21 concert at St. John"s Catholic Church opened a portal to the Circle City"s population, architecture and arts commitment. Maestro Chris Ludwa, leading a well-honed chorus, whisked us through a musical journey, sharing what binds diverse nations and beliefs. The unfolding of voices in a range of styles and periods took on differing aural colors within the vaulted, 165-year-old St. John"s Church, which has been at home in the heart of downtown Indianapolis long before the Indiana Convention Center and the RCA Dome dominated the southwest edge. During the 1860s, architect Dietrich A. Bohlen paired the city"s Irish and German immigrant Catholic community with a French-Gothic/American Romanesque structure, to which soaring twin spires were added 100 years ago. From its beginning, "Old St. John"s" is reported to have supported the arts while ministering to an urban congregation. It resided initially at the convergence of the canal and the National Road, and ultimately with Union Station and interstates. At its completion in 1871, the structure was Indiana"s largest church. By its centennial, the peak membership had dwindled and, prior to being placed on the national Register of Historic Places, was almost torn down to make way for parking. It was this rare commodity - parking space - that left more than a few audience members breathless as they circled and hunted and honed in on the kill: What to do with the hulk of metal on wheels in the midst of Circle City"s holiday mania? The hassle, however, was mitigated with the joy-filled tones of Chris Barton"s hammer dulcimer during the pre-concert"s "Words on Music" program. Then, with Arvo P”rt"s multivoiced chant, followed by Francis Poulenc"s four cascading "Songs for Christmastime," the hassle melted away and Malcolm Dalglish"s "Suite of Three Appalachian Christmas Carols" could be thoroughly enjoyed. Providing exciting opportunities for contrasts between voices, Robert Shaw and Alice Parker arrangements brought back an earlier style of chorale work. Closing with Marc Hayes" rousing "Let There Be Peace on Earth," the whole idea of "let it begin with me" sank in, and we left lighter hearted yet more determined to focus on what matters: building caring, responsible relationships with and through people, places and passions. Children"s Choir taped The Indianapolis Children"s Choir on Dec. 22, at the imposing St. Luke"s United Methodist Church, was taped for broadcast on WTHR-TV the evening of Dec. 23. This reviewer watched the broadcast, affording an opportunity to comment upon the reformatting of a concert for a wider audience. Founding artistic director Henry Leck fashioned a program to showcase the various choirs, with songs that also spanned the continents and ages to "Celebrate the Season." The young voices filled the spacious sanctuary of architect Edward Dart"s 1960s structure. The 2:30 p.m. concert time took ample advantage of the warm skylighting that makes this church both unique and interesting, whether one is on-site or watching on a television set. Yet, the camera can close in on faces, enabling the viewer to be part of a singer"s total absorption. True, one can bring opera glasses, but there"s something about the camera lens leading one to share that moment that is even more immediate than being present but eye-bound. Hearing is somehow enhanced with seeing; and seeing via television can have as many good qualities as does sitting in a seat. Congratulations to executive producer Randy White for a fine job.