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Mount Pulaski Presents Community
Christmas Cantata
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[December
19, 2011]
MOUNT PULASKI -- It
was easy to get into the
Christmas spirit on Sunday in
Mount Pulaski with another
excellent community cantata
performance -- choir and
orchestra -- with 38 members of
community churches. The group is
made up of participants from
First Christian, St. John's
Lutheran, St. Thomas Aquinas,
United Methodist and Zion
Lutheran and richly complemented
by several non-Pulaski
musicians. |
 It
was the cantata's third occasion
this year, with performances at
the town's 175th anniversary --
the quartoseptcentennial -- in
July and at the "twin tower
9/11" observance during the
annual fall festival in
September. This time, its encore
concert was at the Mount Pulaski
First Christian Church, in front
of another large crowd, and was
superbly directed by Beth Myrick
Anderson, filling in for Claus
Tanner, who is currently
undergoing successful medical
treatments.
Anderson remarked that "it
was a fun one" -- due to "so
many excellent vocalists and
instrumentals." Rigoberto Ernst
belted out music from "Prepare
the Way of the Lord," and
Heather Fricke did likewise with
"Breath of Heaven (Mary's
Song)." Other selections were "O
Come, O Come, Emmanuel," "Mary,
Did You Know," "No Eye Had
Seen," "One Small Child," "O
Little Town of Bethlehem" and "O
Holy Child of Bethlehem."
"Silent Night! Holy Night!" and
"Emmanuel, God with Us" brought
to a close the wonderful hour of
Christmas music performed by
local adults -- young,
middle-aged and of senior
citizen vintage.
During this holiday season,
which traditionally features so
many wonderful musical
performances by grade and high
school children, it was
delightful to see and hear what
Mount Pulaski's adult friends
have been practicing and
performing off and on for so
many years.
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In addition to Anderson,
there was the participation of
at least three other
accomplished Logan County vocal
and instrumental directors:
Jaime Ernst, Harry Hild and Dave
Helm -- all Mount Pulaskians at
one time or another.
The narrators were Mary Ann
Radtke and Don Maxheimer, who
read the customary
interpretations and readings of
selected Scripture references
which provided much of the
background for the Christmas
music performed.
A free-will collection was
taken to help offset the
expenses of the event.
Appreciation should be given
to Pastors Rachel Stockle of
Mount Pulaski United Methodist
and Mark Weber of Mount Pulaski
First Christian, who spearheaded
the occasion.
[By
PHIL BERTONI]
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