The Choral Small Ensembles had several events in February to kick off the spring semester.
The first performance of this semester for Off Kilter was during the annual Robert Burns Dinner, organized by Maryville College's Student Programing Board. Robert Burns Dinner is a celebration of the life of famous Scottish poet, Robert Burns. As Burns wrote poetry and song lyrics, it is custom to read his poetry and sing his songs during this celebration of his life. On February 2nd, Off Kilter, Lassies, and Lads sang as a part of the celebrations. It was a beautiful night with gorgeous decorations and fantastic poetry. All of the ensembles sang throughout the evening in between poetry readings and other speeches. At the closing of the dinner, the Lads and the bagpipes led all the guests through singing "Auld Lan Syne," the most famous of Burns' songs.
The Small Ensembles had their first concert of the season on February 14th, 2023. It was a well attended affair, with many couples joining the audience as a part of their Valentine's Day date. Though Valentine's Day focuses on romance, each ensemble sang about many kinds of love. The Lassies opened the night and sang "Seal Lullaby," a song of parental love for a child, and "Truth," a song that speaks to self-love in spite of the hardships faced by young women. The Lads sang "Testament of Freedom," a song about the need for freedom and a love for it, "Seven Bridges Road," a song about childhood and love from long ago, and "When I go Home," a song about godly love. Off Kilter's rendition of "Loch Lomond," a traditional Scottish Song of two lovers, and "Dirait-on," a French song about devotion, were pieces of romance. They also sang of familial love, with "Set me as a Seal," a song about how those we love become a brand on our hearts. They had their own piece about godly love, with "Precious Lord," a setting about the joy of going to the Lord after a long and arduous life. It was a magical night and was one of the best performances by the ensembles, in my humble opinion.
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