Last Christmas

And at the rate we’re going it won’t be long until we’re saying that about this Christmas. Now that we’re in November, the weather is heating up (and taking things a little far. I guess we’re just skipping spring again this year), Halloween decorations are gone so the Christmas decorations no longer have to share. Needless to say it doesn’t feel so ridiculous to be rehearsing Christmas carols any more. In fact, there are only three weeks until we kick off the Christmas countdown on the 1st of December with the City of Armadale’s Carols by Candlelight and Christmas Parade. Then exactly two weeks later on the 15th of December we are back with the Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale’s Community Christmas. It’s definitely beginning to feel a lot like Christmas! 

What says Christmas to you? Every year there are a few traditional markers that say the big day is on its way. I’ve already hit one of the big ones this week, that being a distinct lack of money in my account. Christmas shopping – fun but expensive. Christmas decorations going up, invitations to Christmas drinks/parties/do’s/shindigs (delete as applicable), rubbish TV Christmas movies (for which I have an inexplicable love – the tackier the better), everything winding up for the year, making more of an effort to see family and friends, all of these are part of the lead up to Christmas. And they are what makes this time of year special.

Of course with all of these familiar traditions happening at the same time, there are some who say Christmas is a bit repetitious. In some ways though, that can be part of the appeal. That it has been a year (already!) since you’ve done this or done that. This acknowledgement always makes you pause and take stock. Something which we forget to do while we’re racing through the year, trying to fit everything in, trying to get everything done.

So take time to enjoy this time of year. Even if this Christmas feels exactly like last Christmas all over again.

Someone Singing Along

With less than five weeks until the beginning of the silly (and best) season, it doesn't feel so ridiculous to be practicing a collection of Christmas pieces each week. Instead it's kind of exciting and who doesn't like to feel a little bit festive once a week? And this year we get the double the festive cheer. We have our traditional Carols with the City of Armadale on the first Friday of the month but we will also be joining the Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale two weeks later for more festive fun!

A great part of these events is the involvement of the whole community. Not only do the local councils and ourselves get involved, local school students participate, as do musicians and choristers. It’s always a magical evening and we trust that our second gig will be the same. As members of the band, I always say we have the best seat in the house. Not only can we see everything that is happening on stage, we can also look out and see the audience. Until the sun completely sets and then all we can see is a sea of lights, gently moving through the night.

You will definitely want to make sure you come and join us as it is always a wonderful evening and our second performance is shaping up to be the same. We love all the performances we do throughout the year but there is always something very special about the Christmas ones. The fact that so many people come together to put on a wonderful program with something for everyone, filled with old favourites and new pieces that are destined to become favourites, does have something to do with it. Adding to that, of course, is the audience themselves. Without them we would be performing to an empty park. Which would seriously hamper the sharing of Christmas spirit. The wonderful part though is when everyone joins in. When we begin to play, the choirs begin to sing and the audience joins us. Now that's Christmas magic.

It's not just someone singing along. It's everyone.