CHRISTMAS REVELS 2000
The 30th Annual
Christmas Revels
Christmas Revels 2000 was set in the mountains
of Appalachia, where we celebrated the courage of the African
Americans who traveled the gospel train, and rejoiced in the simplicity
and warmth of an Appalachian Christmas.
The audience, joining
us on our big front porch, enjoyed the moving harmonies of The
Silver Leaf Gospel Singers, a six-voice a capella gospel choir
who have performed together for more than fifty years (and who've
vowed to keep singing together "until the angels get happy")
and listened to the quiet beauty of a Tennessee lullaby sung by
seventh-generation Appalachian singer and storyteller, Sheila
Kay Adams, another of our many featured performers. Also appearing
was a wonderful string band, the 40-member Revels Chorus, The
Rocky River Children, The Smoky Mountain Dancers, The Cambridge
Symphonic Brass Ensemble, and frequent Revels performers Janice
Allen and David Coffin. We danced through the grand lobby of Memorial
Hall as David led the audience in Revels' signature piece, "Lord
of the Dance," a true ritual of our own.
Staged
by Revels artistic director Patrick Swanson with music direction
by George Emlen, the 30th Anniversary production of The Christmas
Revels was filled with rousing gospel music and soulful spirituals,
Appalachian fiddling and clogging, shape-note hymns and Shaker
tunes, a breathtaking sword dance and a mountain mummers play.
Photos
by Roger Ide
