For Rebecca Blair's holiday concert, the lights at Place des Arts will be dimmed and the LED lights on her harp will glow for the opening song, the Huron Carol.
The tune, composed in 1642 by Jesuit missionary Jean de Brebeuf, is the oldest Christmas hymn in Canada and will set the stage for Blair's 90-minute festive show, an annual event that tends to sell out.
Blair said her Saturday recital, titled Once Upon A Winter's Night, will evoke strong imagery, colours and texture to represent the chilly evenings now upon us - and it will unfold with seasonal music from around the world.
A Place des Arts harp instructor for 15 years, Blair will be joined on stage by fellow harpist Judy Henry, who also plays the flute; New Brunswick soprano and percussionist Megan Goudreau, a music therapist; and Deborah Jackson on the flute and recorder.
There will be solos, duets, trios and foursomes as well as a few sing-alongs like Jingle Bells and Deck the Halls, Blair said.
They will play the Danish carol Lovely is the Dark Blue Sky, the Celtic reel Christmas Eve and three French songs: Noël Nouvelet, Bring a Torch Jeanette Isabella and the Besançon Carol, the latter of which Goudreau has a special French-Acadian version.
As well, they will present the haunting Greek carol, St. Basil's Hymn, plus standards such as God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen and Joy to the World, the popular favourite Silver Bells and a Loreena McKennitt classic, To Drive the Cold Winter Away, from 1987.
"I like variety in my music," Blair said. "I am classically trained but I have a Celtic fix and I want that diversity in my shows."
For more information about Place des Arts' faculty performance series, go to placedesarts.ca.
@jwarrenTC
