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6Carols - On - The - Green9 Is Becoming A TraditionBy ALLEN WHIPPLE•'CorabOnTbe-Cretn Is be* eomiflj a tradition in Fort I’irrcc and the Indian lUvtr axtx It started ai a loosing in the heart Of a transplanted New Encoder three years ago. ll was forced Into being at first by the dedicated members of the Singers1 Seminar. But if -,CarotvOn*The-Green bad not been embrared by a growing band of peace-lov* lag and nostalgic cclcbrants. the tradition would have died abom* fry* and Tuesday evening. Dcc-20th, would be just another shopping night before the Christmas to ■ follow*A* It is. groups small and targe will begin to gather on Ihe Indian River fide of ihe Community Center and at 9 o'clock the singing will begin, led by the Singers* Seminar with its ao-odd members and aided joyously by so many of their children, and who can forget little David liar* vcy as the Partridge in a Tear Tree0? This year they will be joined by the College Chorale, which Is the musical organisation of the sparkling new Indian River Junior College, In all, overco voices will Join in leading the devout celebration from the porch tI the Community Center, with many ethers listening on the lawn.It all began, fur us in Fort Pierce, when the late beloved Len McNulty came to photograph a family group: boys, a girl, cats and a dog with their rarents, on a chilly Sunday afternoon early in December and Len stayed on to recreate his early rceollec* tlons of carol singing on Beacon Hill In Boston, where he had just started his newspaper carccr. Laura Hewitt Whipple and her family were the rapt audience, and uhen Len had finished his tale, the thought clicked to both of them that it could be done here on the banks of the Indian River. That first year, the Chamber of Commerce bore a band, a bakery company helped out, and Beanie Backus' bandshell appeared in Pinewood Park in time for the first celebration of Carols-On-The-Grecn* Last year, the group dedicated its efforts to the memory of Len McNulty, who had thought of it all.As if hearing and singing ourfavorite Christmas songs were not enough, the gathering will hear, interspersed through the group offerings, solos by man/ local favorites such as Claire1 Mitchell, who will return with Pietro Yen's unforgettable Jcsu Bambino, Jean Haney will again offer Barh-Gounod's Ave Maria in its original latin text, backed by the chorus, and Harry Mao's fine baritone will be heard in the solo verse of the beloved, carol 0 Holy Night* the Cantique Noel by Adolphe AJam. Sam Lawdcr will again read the Christmas Story from the Scriptures.The high point of the evening will surely arrive when the eager, shining faces and voices of the youngsters are heard when they join their Seminar parents in A Partridge In A Pear Tree after caroling “Jesus Our Brother by themselves; this last a lovely simple song about the various animals and birds cf the Manger who have helped the Infant Jesus before the arrival of the Kings and Wise Men.All of this joy and rcvcrcncc has come to the Indian River, then, as a result of a dreamful musing which took place at the right time and the right place, for it is doubtful that the reality could have been accomplished had not the Singers* Seminar been an active force in Fort Pierce musical circles. Thanks to the Adult Education program, first under the aegis cf the Dan McCarty High School and now-under the direction of the Indian Mrer Junior College, such a group exists and thrives.STOCK UP AT YOURCANDIESDRUG STOREbyWHITMAN. NORRIS SCHRAFFT'S
Newspaper Details
Fort Pierce News Tribune
Fort Pierce, Florida, US
Sun, Dec 18, 1960
Page 29
Full Page
Clipped by
Beau B.
USA 08 Mar 2020
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