During Christmas in Germany, town squares glow with candlelight and color as bustling holiday markets fill the air with communal spirit.<\/p>\n
Indeed, even in snow-free Southern California, \u2018tis the season for music of all sorts \u2014 especially festive sounds mingling with centuries-old traditions.<\/p>\n
On Saturday, Dec. 20, Musica Angelica will bring this kind of music to First Congregational Church of Long Beach with \u201cA Baroque Christmas in Germany,\u201d a program featuring the luminous sound world of 17th- and 18th-Century Germany.<\/p>\n
Framed by candlelit architecture and period-informed performance, the evening will celebrate the season through masterworks by Bach, Handel, Telemann, and their contemporaries.<\/p>\n
Under the direction of Maestro Martin Haselb\u00f6ck at the organ, the program pairs virtuosic instrumental writing with soaring vocal works.<\/p>\n
For instance, trumpeter Josh Cohen and soprano Robin Johannsen join the artists of Musica Angelica, bringing brilliance and intimacy to music originally written for both festive courts and sacred spaces.<\/p>\n
Highlights should include Telemann\u2019s Trumpet Concerto \u2014 a showcase of Baroque clarity and rhythmic vitality \u2014 and selections from Handel\u2019s \u201cGloria in excelsis Deo,\u201d in which choral splendor and solo lines intertwine.<\/p>\n
Bach (the master of this sort of music) and his radiant \u201cJauchzet Gott in allen Landen,\u201d serves as a thrilling embodiment of the season\u2019s joy.<\/p>\n
The second half of the concert expands the holiday lens with Gregor Joseph Werner\u2019s Il \u201cDec\u00e8mbre, im Christmonat,\u201d a musical calendar that paints December through a series of characterful movements, from winter imagery to reflections on the year\u2019s end.<\/p>\n
Handel\u2019s beloved aria \u201cLet the bright Seraphim\u201d adds a ceremonial sparkle to the end of the evening.<\/p>\n
Patrons are invited to begin the evening with a hosted pre-reception from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., featuring hors d\u2019oeuvres and beverages, before the concert begins in the sanctuary.<\/p>\n
With its blend of historical artistry, virtuosic performance, and seasonal warmth, \u201cA Baroque Christmas in Germany\u201d offers Long Beach audiences a refined way to celebrate the holidays.<\/p>\n
For more information, head to musicaangelica.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n Kwanzaa<\/p>\n The African American Cultural Center of Long Beach invites the community to an art-forward celebration of Kwanzaa with a two-day program that centers creative expression alongside tradition.<\/p>\n Taking place Saturday, Dec. 27 and Sunday, Dec. 28 at the Expo Arts Center, the event will blend ceremony, performance, and hands-on workshops to honor the holiday\u2019s principles.<\/p>\n Saturday\u2019s events will feature the official Kwanzaa community celebration, including a candle lighting ceremony, a tribute to ancestors, and a Karamu feast.<\/p>\n Music and visual art will also be included on Day 1, of course, as these are all part of Kwanzaa\u2019s themes of unity, and collective purpose.<\/p>\n Then on Sunday, the celebration will shift into participatory mode with a slate of workshops designed to deepen cultural understanding through practice.<\/p>\n Offerings include West African drum and dance workshops, an adult paint and sip session, and a kid\u2019s corner focused on creative play.<\/p>\n