Harmonium can’t wait for First Night in Morristown

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The Harmonium Choral Society performs twice at St. Peter's Episcopal Church this weekend. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
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What better way to ring in a new year than with joyous sounds?  The Harmonium Choral Society knows exactly how to do this–which has made the ensemble a fan favorite at First Night Morris County for virtually the entire 19 years of the festival in Morristown.

Harmonium gave memorable holiday performances of its Cantata for the Animals at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church earlier this month. On New Year’s Eve, the choir crosses South Street to the Church of the Redeemer.

We asked Harmonium Artistic Director Anne Matlack to share some First Night memories. For the free-wheeling flavor of the choir, check out the video promo below that we did a couple of years back.

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The Harmonium Choral Society performing its 'New Earth' program at St. Peter's Episcopal Church. It will usher in the new year at Morristown's Church of the Redeemer, at First Night Morris County. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

MorristownGreen.com: Hi Anne. How many years has Harmonium played First Night?

Anne Matlack: I’m not sure if it was from the beginning or the second year, so about 18 years!

MG: Why do you enjoy this gig?  Any favorite First Night memories?

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DYNAMIC DUO: Jabez Van Cleef and Anne Matlack, after Harmonium concert at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Morristown. Harmonium will perform at First Night Morris County on New Year's Eve. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

Anne Matlack: We always get a lot of folks hearing us for the first time at this event, so we try to put on a good variety of music. It’s of course not the full hundred singers, but a solid 30 or so. 

Bonnie Monte [artistic director of the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey] finally heard us at First Night two years ago and the first piece we did gave her the idea of working with us on a soundscape for Hamlet the next year.

Other less intellectual stories include spontaneously doing the Macarena to Goodnight Sweetheart one year–that MUST have been the 90s!

MG: What material will you be performing this year?

Anne Matlack: The program includes the surround-sound pieces we began and ended out December concerts with, Earth Song by Ticheli and Hope for Resolution which combines a Christmas chant and a South African freedom song.

It also includes some Hebrew pieces, several folksong settings featuring different soloists, and the Morristown premiere of Chatham composer David Thomson’s setting of A.A. Milne’s King John’s Christmas.

David has written a lot of settings of A.A.Milne and I gave the world premiere with a mixed choir of Grace Church families and kids, David’s family and some Harmonium folks last July in something at Grace Madison we called the “Teddy Bear” concert.  It was a freewill donation benefit that raised $1000 for the Madison Library. The piece is tuneful and charming to go with the “story-poem”!

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Sharlys Dugan Leszczuk, 15, will perform with Harmonium and Dugan's Hooligans at First Night Morris County. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

MG: Will Sharlys Dugan sing with you or Dugan’s Hooligans?

Anne Matlack: Sharlys is performing with both! We are before the 9 pm fireworks and they are after.

We’ve had other Harmonium folks do double duty before–namely John Lamb with the Early Music Players, but this year they are scheduled opposite us.

Sharlys is a wonderful musician. We used Dugan’s Hooligans last year for a performance of the Celtic Mass…then she decided to join as a singer. In Harmonium we do lots of styles, as you know. Last year, Sharlys played Irish whistle with a Chamber Singers Celtic piece.


MG: A newspaper story suggested hard economic times could bring down the curtain on First Night. What would that mean for the community?

Anne Matlack: That would be really sad. People should come out and support this excellent way to see in the year and support local restaurants and local performers.  There is surely something for everyone and the price can’t be beat.

I disagree that economics are the reason. It costs the same as a movie or two. It would be more likely apathy. There is nothing like live performance, so everyone should personally invite your friends!

MG: Thanks, Anne. Good luck Friday, and Happy New Year!

FIRST NIGHT SCHEDULE

FIRST NIGHT PROGRAM

MORE ABOUT FIRST NIGHT…

There’s still time to get discounted badges for First Night Morris County, the New Year’s Eve entertainment extravaganza in Morristown. They are on sale through Thursday, Dec. 30, at the Community Theatre, and at FirstNightMorris.com, for $20, or $70 for four badges. On dec. 31, all badges are $25. A badge gets you in to as many performances as you like…there are 80 to choose from!

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