Holiday Brass Concert Held at Sachem Library

A large turnout assembled at the  and was captivated by the essence of the season with traditional holiday classics performed by the South Shore Brass Guild led by Ken Mahoney last weekend. 

The rich and evocative sounds that emanated from these elegant instruments served as a fitting tribute to the joyful time of year. The South Shore Brass Ensemble will be celebrating the start of its 25th season of performing in the coming year.  The gusto-filled guild has been entertaining and enlightening audiences everywhere from Long Island to Lincoln Center. 

The Mineola based, 12-piece ensemble boasts an eclectic repertoire that includes chorales, dances, ragtime and orchestral transcriptions; in addition to classical works, marches, swing, Broadway, popular and holiday music.  The members hail from all walks of life including executives, teachers, programmers, medical professionals, retirees and many others.

In 1986, six friends coalesced at the urging of arranger and founder of the ensemble, Thomas Lazicky to perform Christmas carols, thus unexpectedly launching the formation of the South Shore Brass.  The group has developed through over two decades into the seasoned professionals brought to the library's Community Room on this occasion.

The guild's music director and French horn player, Denise Meshejian commented they were excited to be back to perform for the Sachem community.

"We love this audience," she said. "We look forward to this; it's a beautiful venue.  The audience is really appreciative."

The concert began with the musicians on either side of the audience while wielding trumpets, trombones, French horns, bass trombones, tubas, euphonium and percussion.

A chorale piece from the 16th Century by Giovanni Gabrieli was the first song featured.  Trumpet player Christopher McKeogh accompanied each selection with program notes that were peppered with plenty of witty banter to keep the audience laughing and engaged, while also interjecting the interesting and often unexpected historical origins behind ubiquitous Christmas carols, along with introducing lesser known songs of the season. 

McKeogh explained that the first selection was composed according to the acoustics and setting of St. Mark's Basilica in Venice, which is shaped like a cross, "so everything is in balance and harmony."

The lively ensemble then took the stage for the remainder of the two-hour performance beginning with "Carol of the Bells."  The third piece "Do You Hear What I Hear" was prefaced with the fact that it was written in 1962 in response to the Cuban Missile Crisis as a plea for peace.  It was composed by a couple who were married at the time; their only other claim to fame is writing the children's song "Rain, Rain Go Away."

The inclusive performance featured a compilation called "The Festive Sounds of Hanukkah" and the Christmas classic "Silent Night."  The latter was rendered with masterful restraint and subtly accented by the ting, ting of the triangle.  Several attendees were inspired to sing along to this familiar song.

McKeogh introduced "Silver Bells" by telling the audience that the gleeful ditty which was first performed in 1951 in the Bob Hope movie, The Lemon Drop Kid was almost called something else.  The composer's wife, mercifully, talked him out of his unfortunate first choice of title:  "Tinkle Bells", after educating him on what tinkle is slang for in every elementary school.

The ensemble expertly delivered serious pieces such as "For Unto Us a Child Is Born", a small part from Handel's Messiah.  The heavier numbers were counterbalanced by swinging selections such as the jaunty march, "Parade of the Tin Soldiers."

Before playing "You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch" from the Dr. Seuss cartoon, McKeogh made an enigmatic announcement that one of the musicians was missing.  During the fun, jazzy romp the Grinch made a surprise entrance, stealing presents from the stage, and scowling at the crowd before sashaying away.  Shortly after which, French horn player, and good sport, Jennifer Lonborg made her "mysterious" reappearance.

The penultimate piece was a sing along called "Christmas Angels" which the audience was encouraged to participate in utilizing the lyrics in the program.

South Shore Brass' final selection was a compilation of Glenn Miller tunes that featured holiday hits such as "Let it Snow", "Frosty the Snowman" and "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree."  The show-stopping, big finish got hands clapping and toes tapping.

Jennifer O'Connell, a sassy senior from Lake Ronkonkoma came to the show with a group of friends who all enjoyed their afternoon out. 

"It's really nice to get together," said O'Connell. "We met here at the library; we became friends.  To me, it's a great place to come Sunday, gather and talk. It's very satisfying.  It's delightful.  I don't think there's one thing we've seen here we didn't like."