Carols mark arrival of holidays
By Mary Corcoran Special to the Kansan
The lights dim and silence fills the room. Suddenly, the sound of singing comes from behind. It spreads slowly and softly throughout the Lied Center as the annual Holiday Vespers begin.
If tradition holds this year, as expected, that will be the how the KU choirs and symphony orchestra will begin the 72nd Holiday Vespers at 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 8 at the Lied Center.
The Vespers combine the University Singers, Women's Chorale and Concert Choir with the symphony orchestra.
"The combination gives the concert an atmosphere full of holiday spirit," said horn player Jeremy Dewey, Seward sophomore.
The audience can also participate by singing well-known carols such as We Wish You a Merry Christmas and God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen.
Last year, choir members joined the audience in the balcony for the first song of the concert.
"When you add the audience it gives the program an extra special touch," Dewey said. "It makes the concert more personal to them."
Both concerts usually sell out every year, Dewey said. Last year, Lawrence's public radio station KANU recorded the Vespers and broadcast them nationally through
other public radio stations.
The Vespers began at the University of Kansas in 1924. James Raiston, former professor of music and dance, became the program's director in 1966 and remained so until 1994, when he retired.
The Vespers were first held in Hoch Auditorium, but moved to Allen Field House after the auditorium burned in 1992.
The Vespers have been held in the Lied Center since the Center was completed.
During Ralston's first few years as a director, the choirs filed into Hoch's balcony singing and carrying 12-inch taper candles, Ralston said.
In the late '70s, the University banned the use of open flames in Hoch Auditorium because of the fire hazard, and the choirs began to use electric candles.
"There's a magic in candlelight," he said. "It created a wonderful aura visually that you can never find again."
The choirs also wore royal blue robes with white trim, Ralston said.
The robes and the candles were lost when Hoch burned in 1991.
Ralston said that he had taken his robe home with him after the last concert before the fire. He donated it to University Archives.
The robe can now be found in the archives in Spencer Research Library.
"There's a magic in candlelight. It created a wonderful aura visually that you can never find again."
James Raiston Vespers program director
Ralston said that he tried to replace the choir robes after the fire, but that the University had decided against it.
Nowadays, directors combine Hanukkah and other multicultural songs with Christian music.
Last year, the choirs sang an a cappella arrangement of U2's MLK, which depicts the life of Martin Luther King Jr.
Tickets for the Holiday Vespers are on sale at the Lied Center box office.
The reserved seats cost $4 for children, students and seniors,and $6 for adults.
The Lied Center Presents:
December 14 & 15
Sleeping Beauty on Ice featuring the St. Petersburg State Ice Ballet
January 28
Merce Cunningham Dance Co. Post performance discussion: From the Stage
February 7,8 & 9
Carousel
Five performances Astor Universal
DINNER
8
Monday-Friday (open at 5pm)
Holiday On The Hill
Sunday (open at 4pm)
LUNCH
With Nightly Specials
Monday-Friday (11am-2pm)
$5 Menu
The Hill December 5,1996