Holiday Concert

December 20, 2019

Sunday Afternoon – 2:00 pm – Manheim Central High School Auditorium

This is where we went after lunch with Josh, Emily and Tucker. Tucker went with us, and when she saw some of the band members in the hall, she said, “Where is Ian? Where is Ian?

I didn’t have much hope of finding him in the hallway crowd, but there he was right in front – on the floor – putting his band notes in order. 🙂

Thanks to Jere and Kristen who saved five seats, we found them toward the back of the auditorium – shortly after the concert began. We missed the welcome by Mr. Joshua Weitzel (High School Principal) and caught the end of Momentum playing Silent Night Prelude (no photo).

The String Orchestra played Jubilant Overture, Ukrainian Bell Carol, and Feliz Navidad.

I loved this guy’s Christmas suit. 🙂

The Symphony Orchestra played Christmas Rocks at the Pops.

The Concert Choir sang: Rote Abendwolken ziehn from “Zigeunerlieder”, and Pilgrim’s Hymn from “The Three Hermits.”

Many alumni joined the choir to sing Carol of the Bells – a tradition at this concert.

Then came my favorite part – The Concert Band – which includes our grandson Ian (bow tie).

They played: Fantasy on the Huron Carol, Silent Night in Gotham, and Midnight Sleighride.

John Brackbill, Director, is incredibly creative – meaning he always comes up with something fun and interesting.

This year he invited WGAL morning anchor/reporter, Jere Gish (a Manheim Central Alumni) to read ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas while the band did the fun sound effects. 🙂

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter’s nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

“Now, DASHER! now, DANCER! now, PRANCER and VIXEN!
On, COMET! on CUPID! on, DONNER and BLITZEN!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!”

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes — how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!