Caroling with the West Village Chorale

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Caroling with the West Village Chorale"
ALL OF IT with Alison Stewart, WNYC
Release Date: December 24, 2024

ALL OF IT on WNYC presents a heartwarming Christmas Eve episode featuring a special collaboration with the West Village Chorale. Hosted by Alison Stewart, this episode seamlessly blends festive music with intimate conversations, offering listeners an enriching glimpse into the cultural tapestry of New York City through the lens of a dedicated choir.

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Introduction

The episode opens with Alison Stewart setting the festive tone:
"We've come to our final segment this Christmas Eve, and we can think of no better way of closing than with some music, and I mean Christmas carols." ([00:08])

She introduces the West Village Chorale, highlighting their live performance recorded earlier in the month ahead of their holiday concert and caroling walk. Stewart invites listeners to relax and enjoy the musical showcase, emphasizing the communal and joyful spirit of the evening.

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Meet the Chorale Members

Alison Stewart takes a moment to introduce the members of the West Village Chorale, allowing each singer to share their personal connection to the group:

• Lauren Silber ([02:54]) from the West Village shares,
  "I love to sing, especially in a group. It's just a magical experience that can't be duplicated."

• Diane Patterson ([03:12] & [04:05]) from Brooklyn expresses her passion,
  "When I'm having a rough day, I sing. And music is just wonderful."
  She later adds,
  "I love making music with others, and I love being in community with them every week."

• Katherine Schoonover ([03:13]), an alto from the West Village, highlights the choir as a family:
  "There’s a real community. And our choir is a family."

• Justin Beck ([03:50]) from Washington Heights, a professional singer, notes,
  "I love to sing because it revives the soul."

• John Herzfeld ([04:19]) from Chelsea shares his lifelong love for music,
  "Singing allows me to actually be part of making music and not just listening to it."

• Joe Haydam ([04:56]), a tenor since 2018, values the cooperative spirit:
  "I love this group in particular for the community and for the sort of cooperative spirit."

• Liam McNamara ([05:10]), a tenor from New Jersey, finds solace in creating beauty,
  "It allows me to escape from whatever else is going on."

• Sandra Ward ([05:29]), a soprano and former dancer from Greenwich Village, points out the holistic benefits of singing:
  "It's good for mind, body, and spirit."

• Katie Fitzgerald ([05:53] & [06:20]) from Westchester admires the group dynamics,
  "There is so much you can do as a group that you can't do by yourself. It’s a wonderful community."

• Suzanne Hartman ([06:20]) of 47 years in Greenwich Village emphasizes lifelong engagement with music,
  "Learning new music helps my brain to grow, and I really love it like that."

• Yamin Zhao ([06:41]) from Chelsea, in his first season, finds joy in singing,
  "Singing brings me joy as well."

• Henkel Esbach ([07:01]), the guest conductor, reflects on his role,
  "I love to bring people together and make music together as a community."

These introductions underscore the choir's diverse yet unified community, each member bringing their unique passion and story to the ensemble.

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Live Performances

The West Village Chorale delights listeners with live renditions of classic Christmas carols, showcasing their harmonious blend and festive spirit.

1. "Deck the Halls" ([00:53])
   Justin Beck leads a joyful rendition, inviting listeners to join in the celebration:
   "Deck the halls with boughs of holly... Tis the season to be surely."

2. "Night of Silence" & "Silent Nights" ([07:27])
   The choir combines original compositions by Daniel Kantor with traditional melodies, creating a serene atmosphere.

3. "What Was Jesus Born In?" ([11:31])
   A spiritual piece highlighting the historical and cultural significance of Christmas, originally recorded in 1950 by Vera Hall Ward as part of the Ethnic Folkways Library Project.

4. "Silver Bells" ([15:16])
   Justin Beck enchants listeners with a vibrant performance:
   "It's Christmas time in the city... Hear the snow crush."

5. "Joy to the World" ([20:20])
   A powerful arrangement celebrating the festive spirit:
   "Joy to the world, the Lord is come... It was the last month in the year."

6. "Get Your Butt Back in the Seat" ([21:45])
   An upbeat closing number that energizes the audience for the holiday season.

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Choral Insights

Throughout the episode, Alison Stewart engages with the chorale members, delving into their experiences and the choir's impact:

• Rehearsal Schedule ([17:48])
  Diane Patterson outlines their weekly practice routine:
  "We practice once a week on Tuesday night at Judson at 7pm from 7pm to 9:45. When we're doing a concert, we go to 10."

• Auditions and Inclusivity ([17:52] & [18:30])
  The choir emphasizes openness to new members:
  "We will be hosting auditions on January 7th... we leave that to Dr. Britt, he's wonderful at getting voices that marry in with the ones that he already has." ([18:38])

• Upcoming Concerts ([19:03] & [19:03])
  Katie Fitzgerald outlines their three annual concerts:

  • December: Holiday Concert
  • March: Requiem featuring Gabrielle Foray’s Requiem and Joelle Thompson’s Seven Last Words of the Unarmed
  • May: Transatlantic, celebrating songs from both sides of the Atlantic in preparation for a trip to Spain and Portugal in July.

Diane Patterson encourages prospective members to audition, reassuring them of their abilities:
"I don't have the skill level to audition, make it, make a pitch. Say, yeah, you do." ([18:30])

These discussions highlight the choir's dedication to musical excellence, community engagement, and cultural exploration.

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Choir Insights on Venue and Community

Diane Patterson and Katie Fitzgerald provide insights into the choir’s performance venue and its significance:

• Judson Memorial Church ([14:22])
  Diane praises the venue:
  "The acoustics are wonderful. We sound great."
  She describes it as a historic and integral part of the arts community.

• Historical Significance ([14:48])
  Katie adds,
  "The building is actually a historic landmark designed by Stanford White. The space itself is gorgeous and the acoustic is from 1892."
  She emphasizes its longstanding role in fostering the arts.

Henkel Esbach touches on the leadership within the choir:
"Hank, always music director." ([15:09])

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Community Reception and Engagement

The episode features a heartfelt listener interaction, where a caller praises the segment:
"This is the best segment, the most New York City segment I've heard today. I just wanted to call in and say thank you." ([14:06])

This moment underscores the choir's impact on the community and its role in embodying the cultural vibrancy of New York City.

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Conclusion

As the episode draws to a close, Alison Stewart encapsulates the essence of the evening: a harmonious blend of music and community spirit. She acknowledges the West Village Chorale's contribution to the cultural landscape, celebrating their performances and the stories behind the singers. The episode concludes with a final performance, leaving listeners with the warm, festive melodies emblematic of the holiday season.

ALL OF IT successfully captures the intersection of culture, community, and music, offering a rich and engaging experience that resonates with both choir enthusiasts and casual listeners alike.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• "I love to sing, especially in a group. It's just a magical experience that can't be duplicated." — Lauren Silber ([02:54])

• "When I'm having a rough day, I sing. And music is just wonderful." — Diane Patterson ([03:12])

• "Singing allows me to actually be part of making music and not just listening to it." — John Herzfeld ([04:19])

• "It's good for mind, body, and spirit." — Sandra Ward ([05:29])

• "We leave that to Dr. Britt, he's wonderful at getting voices that marry in with the ones that he already has." — Diane Patterson ([18:38])

• "This is the best segment, the most New York City segment I've heard today. I just wanted to call in and say thank you." — Listener ([14:06])

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This episode exemplifies ALL OF IT’s mission to engage creators and consumers of culture, celebrating the myriad ways music fosters community and enriches lives in the heart of New York City.

Transcript

[Diane Patterson]

Listener support, WNYC Studios.

[Alison Stewart]

This is all of it on wnyc. I'm Alison Stewart. We've come to our final segment this Christmas Eve, and we can think of no better way of closing than with some music, and I mean Christmas carols. Earlier this month, members of the West Village Chorale joined us in studio for a special live performance ahead of their holiday concert and caroling walk. So take the time now to make a nice hot beverage, curl up by the fire, real or from YouTube, and sit back and enjoy the music. I started by saying hello to the choir. Hello, everyone. What are we gonna hear first? All right, we're gonna sing Deck the Halls. Deck the halls. Let's do it.

[Justin Beck]

Deck the halls with boughs of holly FA la la la la la la la la Tis the season to be surely FA la la la la la la la Don we now are gay of harrow FA la la la la la la la la Troll the ancient you type carol FA la la la la la la la la See the raising you before us La la la la la la la la Strike the harp and join the chorus Follow me in merry measure passed away the old year passes Hail the new year, lads and sing Rejoice all together La la la la la la la la la Heedless of the wind and weather La la la la la la la la.

[Alison Stewart]

So exciting. Now, before we go get any further, I want everybody to go up to the microphone, tell me your name, where you live in the city. Which mic are we going to use? Hey, Luke, point me to the right mic for folks to talk to. That one. That one. All right, go sit. Ma'am. Hi, my name is Lauren Silber. I live in the West Village and I've been in the choir for 22 years. Initially, I joined the choir because it was four blocks from my house, and I knew I would get myself there with no excuses. But I love to sing, especially in a group. It's just a magical experience that can't be duplicated. All right, next.

[Diane Patterson]

Hi, my name is Diane Patterson. I've been with the group for 11 years. I live in Brooklyn, New York. Yay. And I just love to sing. That's my woosa. That's my. When I'm having a rough day, I sing. And music is just wonderful.

[Alison Stewart]

All right, next.

[Diane Patterson]

Hi, I'm Katherine Schoonover. I like the two previous speakers. Am an alto. You're hearing the alto section. I live in the West Village near Lauren, and I love to sing. I discovered it fairly recently, although I've been in the choir now 11 years, so I guess not that recently. It does something to you. It gives you a wonderful feeling, puts you in a great state mentally, and there's a real community. And our choir is a family.

[Alison Stewart]

Thank you very much. Who's next? Hey, Alison.

[Justin Beck]

I'm Justin Beck. I've sung bass in the West Village.

[Henkel Esbach]

Chorale for 11 years.

[Justin Beck]

I live up in Washington Heights. I'm a professional singer. But aside from that, I love to sing because it revives the soul.

[Alison Stewart]

Love it. Thank you so much.

[Diane Patterson]

Hi, I'm Jack. I live in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, and I love to sing with the choir because I just love making music with others, and I love being in community with them every week.

[Alison Stewart]

Terrific. Okay, who's next?

[Diane Patterson]

Hi.

[Henkel Esbach]

Hi. My name's John Herzfeld, and I live in the Chelsea section of Manhattan. And I've always loved music. First rock and roll, and then classical. And what singing does for me is to allow me to actually be part of making music and not just listening to it. And also, you get to meet a lot of interesting people.

[Alison Stewart]

Good job. Who's next? Hi, I'm John Onderdonk. I live in the West Village.

[Diane Patterson]

I've been with the choir for 23 years. And I sing because it just. It just makes me happy.

[Alison Stewart]

And Tuesday a night when we have.

[Diane Patterson]

Our rehearsals is usually my happiest night of the week.

[Alison Stewart]

I love it.

[Diane Patterson]

My name is Joe Haydam. I'm a tenor. I. I've been with the group since 2018. I love music of all sorts, and I love this group in particular for the community and for the sort of cooperative spirit.

[Alison Stewart]

Nice to meet you.

[Diane Patterson]

I'm Liam McNamara. I'm a tenor. I've been with the chorale for about eight years now. I actually hail from New Jersey. And what I love about music is just the ability to create something beautiful with other people and just escape from whatever else is going on.

[Alison Stewart]

Hello, I'm Sandra Ward, soprano. I live in Greenwich Village. I joined in 2018, and I was a dancer first. So singing is a different form of expression. And singing with a group is wonderful. It's good for mind, body, and spirit. And I recognize this lady.

[Katie Fitzgerald]

Hi, My name is Katie Fitzgerald. I am part of the small but mighty Westchester Contingen of the West Village Chorale. I've been with the group since 2012, and I've always loved singing. And what I love about singing with choirs is that there is so much you can do as a group of 12, 20, or 60 that you can't do by yourself. And it's a wonderful community, and I've met many dear friends through the group.

[Alison Stewart]

Hi, I'm Suzanne Hartman. I live right here in the Village where I've lived for the past 47 years. I started singing with choirs when I was three years old, but I've only been with the Chorale for the past two years. Singing gives me joy, and also learning new music helps my brain to grow, and I really love it like that.

[Katie Fitzgerald]

And finally, hi, my name is Yamin Zhao. I'm from Chelsea. It's my first ever season with the chorale. I'm a soprano, and I love singing because it brings me joy as well.

[Alison Stewart]

Okay. And sir, you have to give your name. Sir, my name is Henkel Esbach, and.

[Henkel Esbach]

It'S my honor to be guest conducting with them here. I've been sort of part of the chorale as their family for the past.

[Alison Stewart]

Three years, and for me, I'm not much of a singer out by myself.

[Henkel Esbach]

But I love to bring people together and make music together as a community. So that's the fun part for me.

[Alison Stewart]

And you are a snazzy dresser. Well, thank you, might I say. All right, let's hear more from the West Village Chorale. What's next?

[Diane Patterson]

Night of Silence.

[Alison Stewart]

Night of Silence.

[Diane Patterson]

And we're going to combine that with.

[Katie Fitzgerald]

Silent Nights and the author on the Night of Silence, Carol it's words and music by Daniel Kantor.

[Justin Beck]

Hold on the people in turn of life we tremble in shadows this cold endless night Frozen in the snow My roses sweeping flowers that will echo the sunrise Fire of home is our holy mo Gentle so Ra sa Christ the Savior is born.

[Henkel Esbach]

Our next number is a spiritual. It's a great example of how the Christmas spirit has been manifest throughout American history in a variety of cultural settings. We owe a debt to Vera Hall Ward, a houseworker in Tuscaloosa. Sorry, In Tuscaloosa, Alabama. My Alabama relatives would not approve of my mispronouncing Tuscaloosa, Alabama, for recording this song in 1950 as part of the Ethnic Folkways Library Project. Here is what month was Jesus born in?

[Justin Beck]

What month was Jesus born in? Born in the last last month in the year what month was Jesus born in the last month month in the January, January, February, February, March O my Lord, you got April, May and June, Lord, July, August, September, October and November. It was the 25th day of December, Lord, it was the last month in the year he was born in an arc storm man he was born in an arc storm manger Born in the last month month in the year Was it January. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no April, May or June Lords, July, August, September, October and November it was the 25th day of December Lord, it was the last month in the year. I'm talking about Mary's baby. The last month in the year, was it January, January, February, March? No, no, no, no, no, no, no April, May or June, Lord. July, August, September, October and November it was the 25th day of December Lord, it was the last month it's in the last month. It was the journey. It was in the last month. The last.

[Alison Stewart]

That's members of the West Village Chorale. We got this. Somebody called in and said, this is the best segment, the most New York City segment I've heard today. I just wanted to call in and say thank you. So thank you. Diane, tell us about the venue you perform in.

[Diane Patterson]

Oh, my goodness. Judson Memorial. What a wonderful space. The acoustics are wonderful. We sound great. Definitely have to come. The church has been there for a minute. I have attended some of the services there, and it's wonderful. The singing is wonderful. The church is wonderful, and we love to perform there. That's our home.

[Katie Fitzgerald]

Yeah. The building is actually a historic building, a historic landmark designed by Stanford White. So the space itself is gorgeous and the acoustic is 1892. Yes. It's been a very important part of the arts community for a long time.

[Diane Patterson]

Yeah. It's a hub in the West. Phillies there.

[Henkel Esbach]

And Hank, always music director.

[Diane Patterson]

Yes. Yes.

[Alison Stewart]

All right, we're gonna hear another tune. What are we gonna hear?

[Diane Patterson]

Silver bells.

[Alison Stewart]

Oh, so good.

[Justin Beck]

Children laughing, People passing Reading Smile after smile and on every street corner Go hear silver bells Silver bells Silver bells Silver bells It's Christmas time in the city Ring a ling a ling Ring a ring Ring a ling ring a ling Hear them ring Hear them ring soon it will be Christmas Day Strings of street lights even stoplights we feel bright red and green as the sharpers march home with their treasures Hear the snow crush See the keys watch this is Santa be seen and above all this castle you hear you hear Silver bells Silver bells Silver bells Silver bells It's Christmas time in the city Ring a ling a ling a ring a ling Ring a ling Hear them ring Hear them ring soon it will be Christmas day Soon it will be Christmas Day Christmas Day.

[Alison Stewart]

Diane, what is the practice, the rehearsal schedule like for you guys?

[Diane Patterson]

We practice once a week on Tuesday night at Judson at 7pm from 7pm to 9:45. When we're doing a. When we get closer to that concert, we go to 10. I just want to say we also have auditions. We will be hosting auditions on January 7th. Just go to our web, go to the website, and there's a space there for auditions. And you just click that on and you can email us and we'll see it. And I personally will schedule you to come sing.

[Alison Stewart]

When someone is thinking, I don't have the skill level to audition, make it, Make a pitch. Say, yeah, you do. Yeah, you have the skill level.

[Diane Patterson]

Yeah.

[Alison Stewart]

I'm just guessing.

[Diane Patterson]

We kind of leave that to Dr. Britt. Okay. And as he sees fit, he's wonderful at getting voices that marry in with the ones that he already has.

[Alison Stewart]

Right.

[Diane Patterson]

So it's wonderful. Yeah.

[Alison Stewart]

So it's not just the holiday concerts you have. Right. You have concerts scheduled for 2025. Pop on up.

[Katie Fitzgerald]

So we've got. We usually do three concerts a year. Typically, you know, December is a holiday concert. And then we do concerts in. And then usually like late May or early June. Our March concert this year, the title is Requiem. We are juxtaposing the Gabrielle Foray Requiem, which is a piece that choral singers and audiences love. We have an orchestra coming. We're juxtaposing that with a piece by a composer named Joelle Thompson, who's a living composer. The piece is called the Seven Last Words of the Unarmed, and it literally sets the last words of black men who were killed by law enforcement. So it's going to be a very. It's going to be a very powerful, powerful juxtaposition. And then our May concert, which is it May? Yeah, yeah. I'm forgetting the dates. Our May concert, the title is Transatlantic, and it's basically songs from, you know, kind of both sides of the Atlantic because we are preparing for a trip to Spain and Portugal in July. So there'll be some tie ins there.

[Alison Stewart]

Let's hear a couple more tracks from the West Village Chorale. Let's take a listen.

[Justin Beck]

Joy to the world the Lord is come Let earth receive her king Let every heart preparing move Their songs implore war Fields and floods Mock hills and heroes the world with truth and grace and makes the nations prove the glories of his righteousness.

[Alison Stewart]

Are you ready? I think we have time for one more song. I just got a note that says.

[Katie Fitzgerald]

Get your butt back in the seat.

[Justin Beck]

The first she. And so it continues both day and night.

[Alison Stewart]

That was the West Village Chorale performing Christmas carols for us earlier this month. Since WNYC's first broadcast in 1924, we've been dedicated to creating the kind of content we know the world needs. In addition to this award winning reporting, your sponsorship also supports inspiring storytelling and extraordinary music that is free and accessible to all. To get in touch and find out more, visit sponsorship wnyc. Org.