A Century of Songs: Travelers Chorale 100th Anniversary Concert
Bushnell Center for Performing Arts
Hartford
Dec. 5, 2024
The last time I went to a performance of the Travelers Chorale during their spring concert earlier this year, I was blown away by the musical talent on display from a group of people who worked in insurance by day. I promised that I would be there for their next concert, so I was in my seat at 7:30 sharp for their winter 100th anniversary concert.
But now the shock and awe of that first experience is gone. I knew to expect musical excellence from the chorale composed of former and current Travelers employees, so would I enjoy the concert as much without the same sense of surprise and discovery?
In a word: yes.
The winter concert featured Christmas music across the ages, from the sacred to the super popular. Along for the show was the Farmington Valley Symphony Orchestra, which performed its own songs along with accompanying the chorus for some of their performance.
The show began with a classic, “All on A Silent Night,” arranged by Becki Slagle Mayo and featuring Sharon Viets on cello. The arrangement introduced an opening verse that I hadn’t heard before, and Viet’s cello added an almost mournful tone to the otherwise joyous song.
It’s an interesting contrast to consider — the celebration of the birth of the savior inspired the creation of so many happy, upbeat songs. Yet Jesus Christ’s destiny was to die a painful, slow death on the cross; so painful that even the Son of God cried out, asking why his Father had forsaken him. It felt like Viet brought the inherent sadness of salvation at the expense of a man’s life from the background of the story to the forefront.
A soloist performs at the 90th anniversary performance in 2014.
The concert also served as a history lesson, when the chorus reached Handel’s “Hallelujah.” Apparently the tradition is to stand during the performance of the song, in reference to when King George II allegedly stood for the song, which would have obliged everyone else to stand. So the entire audience rose to their feet in a neat little bit of audience interaction.
Not to be outdone, the Farmington Valley Symphony Orchestra played several hits, too, with the audience favorite being the Leroy Anderson rendition of “Sleigh Ride.” The trumpets sounded clean and bright and the strings of the orchestra built a sense of movement and momentum that made it really feel like we were on a ride.
The show ended with one of my favorite songs of all time, “Amazing Grace.” My love goes back to my days in high school band, when we played the Frank Ticheli rendition of the song. The chorale performed the Mack Wilberg arrangement, which was more powerful than what my high school band could muster.
The performance still managed to surprise the audience, as it featured live bagpipes at the beginning. The combined chorus and orchestra blasted the hall with the celebratory sounds of grace and forgiveness. Perhaps that’s why the sadness of the savior’s journey rarely peeks through, because the spirit he represented leaves no room for sorrow in the face of a love so great that he sacrificed his life.
Then again, this is all just speculation on my part. I enjoy Chrstian mythology, but I’m no Chrstian myself. I’m someone who loves Christmas music, and on that front, the Travellers Chorale delivered in spades.
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Jamil goes to the Wadsworth to see this year’s batch of community trees.