Tonight's CPO concert features Natalie MacMaster, who is noticeably pregnant but still dancing and fiddling up a storm. The program features several arrangements of Cape Breton fiddling tunes, with a helping of fruitcake on the side in the form of Rudolph, a Christmas medley, and the Londonderry Air, 'Danny Boy'.

I wasn't aware of just how big a scene fiddling is in Canada -- there are Irish bars here in Calgary where you can go hear traditional fiddlers jam every week, and several CPO violinists are experienced fiddlers as well. The bass parts to these tunes can be spectacularly boring, with the same three-chord progression repeated dozens of times, but the better arrangements will usually have some clever variations and a nifty modulation or two. This morning's rehearsal was largely spent getting the balance and levels right, since fiddling over a live orchestra takes a certain degree of amplification.

schedule for Dec. 8 - 14

This week, the CPO delivers crossover holiday cheer with celtic fiddler Natalie MacMaster, singer Steve Bell, and the Traditional Christmas program; while the Bach Society presents an Advent Concert of Bach (Wilhelm Friedemann, also Johann Sebastian), Telemann, and Schütz. See below for details, and follow the links for ticket info.

Christmas with Natalie MacMaster
Pierre Simard, conductor
Natalie MacMaster, fiddle

Tuesday, December 9th at 8 pm
Jack Singer Concert Hall


Steve Bell's Christmas
Rei Hotoda, conductor
Steve Bell, vocalist

Wednesday, December 10th at 8 pm
Jack Singer Concert Hall

A Traditional Christmas
Pierre Simard, conductor
Allan Monk, baritone
Calgary Girls Choir

Friday, December 12th at 7 pm
Saturday, December 13th at 2 pm and 7 pm
Grace Presbyterian Church


Advent Concert
Calgary Bach Festival Society Chorus and Orchestra
Terry Riley, conductor

Mystery Sonata No. 1 "Annunciation" - Heinrich von Biber
Sei gegrüsset, Maria (Ave Maria) - Heinrich Schütz
Magnificat in G - Georg Phillip Telemann
Adagio and Fugue in D Minor, Fk 65 - Wilhelm Friedemann Bach
Cantata BWV 36 "Schwingt freudig euch empor" - Johann Sebastian Bach

Sunday, December 14th at 3 pm
Scarboro United Church


Monday, Dec. 8
7:30-10 pm rehearsal: Bach Society

Tuesday, Dec. 9
10-12:30 rehearsal: Natalie MacMaster
8 pm concert: Christmas with Natalie MacMaster

Wednesday, Dec. 10
10:30-1 rehearsal: Steve Bell
8 pm concert: Steve Bell's Christmas

Thursday, Dec. 11
7-9:30 pm rehearsal: Traditional Christmas

Friday, Dec. 12
10-12:30 rehearsal: Traditional Christmas
7 pm concert: Traditional Christmas

Saturday, Dec. 13
9-12 rehearsal: Bach Society Advent Concert
2 pm concert: Traditional Christmas
7 pm concert: Traditional Christmas

Sunday, Dec. 14
3 pm concert: Bach Society Advent Concert