A small girl snuggled deeper into her grandpa’s warm arms; her mom and dad stood out as their bright red Santa hats shouted out loudly from amongst the teeming mass of woolen hats, sweaters and jackets. Just a row away, the tiny, cuddly ruddy face of a baby peeked out restlessly from its gigantic red Goose-feather jacket as its mother tried her best to rein in her tiny bundle of joyful restlessness.
On the legroom near the stage stood Divine Connection’s bassist Mhathung Odyuo with his tool of trade, a Fender – a current reason he is one of India’s most-well known rock musicians today perhaps; singer Alo Wanth looked exceptionally wide-eyed with happiness in his glasses as he led the band into strumming their way through the snow in a 4-member open play. Businessman and “full-time father” Luther and UDX guitarist Moa couldn’t be happier doing a jingle or two on ‘Hark the Herald Angels.’
As so it was at the Christmas concert - 'The Christmas Notes' - organized by Dimapur Christian Fellowship and staged on December 18 at Imliyanger Memorial Hall in Dimapur. The concert was more a warm, familial, shyly cheerful and almost home-like get-together than a concert where some of the most proficient singers from Dimapur church’s community performed to the class.
‘The Christmas Notes,’ an evening of The Herald was performed to families and members of the fellowship and of course, bubbling babies who made it a point to make sure their goo-goo opinions were heard when the choir was in performance. The concert began with carols led by a number of familiar names in the local rock circuit – Divine Connection’s Mhathung Odyuo; guitarist of metal band UDX, Moa; Alo Wanth (of ‘Beautiful’ fame) and Luther, a drummer and proprietor of a musical goods outlet in Dimapur. Shy but happy, the warm little gathering sang along. A baby or two also could be heard demonstrating their own brand of speech only baby-language experts can decipher.
Pastor of the fellowship Razo Vasa then held the choir into a singular continuous choral performance. From carols to Noel traditions, hymns to contemporary Christmas music, the choir drove on class right from ‘Shine on Us,’ a song arranged to ensemble and made popular by Christian music stars Phillips, Craig & Dean and Michael W Smith. The concert was basically a continuous performance with narratives of The Herald and The Nativity acting as intermissions between a song and the next. Bambi K Longchari was the narrator of The Herald. Classic Christmas traditions such as ‘Hark the Herald Angels Sing’, ‘Silent Night’ (a medley set to contemporary arrangements) and ‘A King is Born’ were a few of the highlights. Solos to ensemble and intermission to solos, not to forget singing to more modern arrangements characterized the set. For instance, ‘Gloria’ was set in folk traditions of African rhythms while the arrangement for ‘Hallelujah Anyhow’ which the choir performed was inspired by old school Rock and Roll. Wapang Aier, Tsuktiyanger, Akum Longkumer, Sentinaro, Akihito and Sevi Tepa and Meripeni Zares Ezung were some of the soloists.
Coffee, cookies and the customary ‘Christmas cake’ came next for the audience. Lesser said the better, the concert was definitely most beautiful. The proficient choir which performed to the class and yes, the almost family-like ambiance colored the event with that indescribable, special touch of warmth and hopes only Christmas can bring – memories of Christmases gone and the hope and joy from those to come even more yet.
In other words, the concert was definitely another great reason to get restless for the birth of the baby Jesus. And like they say Hallelujah anyhow, Happy Birthday Jesus!
On the legroom near the stage stood Divine Connection’s bassist Mhathung Odyuo with his tool of trade, a Fender – a current reason he is one of India’s most-well known rock musicians today perhaps; singer Alo Wanth looked exceptionally wide-eyed with happiness in his glasses as he led the band into strumming their way through the snow in a 4-member open play. Businessman and “full-time father” Luther and UDX guitarist Moa couldn’t be happier doing a jingle or two on ‘Hark the Herald Angels.’
As so it was at the Christmas concert - 'The Christmas Notes' - organized by Dimapur Christian Fellowship and staged on December 18 at Imliyanger Memorial Hall in Dimapur. The concert was more a warm, familial, shyly cheerful and almost home-like get-together than a concert where some of the most proficient singers from Dimapur church’s community performed to the class.
‘The Christmas Notes,’ an evening of The Herald was performed to families and members of the fellowship and of course, bubbling babies who made it a point to make sure their goo-goo opinions were heard when the choir was in performance. The concert began with carols led by a number of familiar names in the local rock circuit – Divine Connection’s Mhathung Odyuo; guitarist of metal band UDX, Moa; Alo Wanth (of ‘Beautiful’ fame) and Luther, a drummer and proprietor of a musical goods outlet in Dimapur. Shy but happy, the warm little gathering sang along. A baby or two also could be heard demonstrating their own brand of speech only baby-language experts can decipher.
Pastor of the fellowship Razo Vasa then held the choir into a singular continuous choral performance. From carols to Noel traditions, hymns to contemporary Christmas music, the choir drove on class right from ‘Shine on Us,’ a song arranged to ensemble and made popular by Christian music stars Phillips, Craig & Dean and Michael W Smith. The concert was basically a continuous performance with narratives of The Herald and The Nativity acting as intermissions between a song and the next. Bambi K Longchari was the narrator of The Herald. Classic Christmas traditions such as ‘Hark the Herald Angels Sing’, ‘Silent Night’ (a medley set to contemporary arrangements) and ‘A King is Born’ were a few of the highlights. Solos to ensemble and intermission to solos, not to forget singing to more modern arrangements characterized the set. For instance, ‘Gloria’ was set in folk traditions of African rhythms while the arrangement for ‘Hallelujah Anyhow’ which the choir performed was inspired by old school Rock and Roll. Wapang Aier, Tsuktiyanger, Akum Longkumer, Sentinaro, Akihito and Sevi Tepa and Meripeni Zares Ezung were some of the soloists.
Coffee, cookies and the customary ‘Christmas cake’ came next for the audience. Lesser said the better, the concert was definitely most beautiful. The proficient choir which performed to the class and yes, the almost family-like ambiance colored the event with that indescribable, special touch of warmth and hopes only Christmas can bring – memories of Christmases gone and the hope and joy from those to come even more yet.
In other words, the concert was definitely another great reason to get restless for the birth of the baby Jesus. And like they say Hallelujah anyhow, Happy Birthday Jesus!
(Note: Al has just brought a big red Santa
hat and is demanding to wear it to office)
