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View Full Version : I'll be at Candlelight - in the CHOIR!



jiminycesq
11-27-2005, 01:23 PM
I have loved candlelight since first seeing it in the 1980’s; in recent years I have taken advantage of the dining package to enjoy it alone and with friends who never saw it before. This year, I am no longer a passholder, having had a great time at the 50th anniversary weekend as a time to take break from the Park. So, I wasn’t planning to view Candlelight, but then something happened that I never would have thought possible!

I am going to be performing in Candlelight!

Yes, in one week, I will be up on the bleachers with the basses, trying to remember my part perfectly, higher above Main Street than I have ever been before (well, with the exception of Walt’s apartment), looking out over the orchestra and beyond the audience and the tree to the castle, singing news of the birth of Christ. I never would have known how much rehearsal time went into the performance before and on the day, so for what it’s worth, I will share a little here.

I began practice back in early October, after the choirs had submitted test recordings to the Park entertainment team for judging. Not every choir gets in – the one I was hoping to join had in the past several times, but there are no guarantees, especially since the recordings are unmarked/anonymous so the judges truly pick the best submissions. When I learned the local choir was still accepting members, I jumped in, and once a week for about 3 hours we rehearsed our parts in the numbers. Some have as many as 6 different parts, and if you listen carefully, you can hear they are sometimes complex and arythmic, so not always easy to learn. I was surprised a few weeks into the process when I was told that the choir members are arranged according to height, not part – so you might be a tenor surrounded by sopranos, and you really need to have your part memorized.

I was of course very excited that Dick Van Dyke would be the narrator this year. Although this is technically the Park’s 51st Christmas, Mr. Van Dyke is perfect, especially since he had performed in 1965 – the year of Walt’s last great triumph in which he also starred. Sadly, no one knew that Christmas of 1965 would be Walt’s last, and therefore the final Candlelight that Walt Disney himself enjoyed. I can just imagine him greeting his special guests and perhaps sitting in the bleachers with Lily, watching Dick Van Dyke and a choir of hundreds – with real candles – gathered around the train station he had dedicated just 10 ½ years earlier, along with the rest of the happiest place on Earth.

Even though I had attended Candlelight probably about 8 times, I didn’t know the order of the songs or all the names. I was sad to learn that the “round” where the choir sang a complementary song while the audience sang “Silent Night” was out, having been deleted last year so a Spanish singing soloist could be featured on Silent Night. I know the audience last year kept wondering when they were going to join in! Here is the order of the numbers this year – although I am not sure where Silent Night is in the order now, so it is not shown –

Sing Praise to Him Our Lord
The First Noel
Candlelight Carol
He Is Born (French and English)
Angels We Have Heard on High
What Child is This? (Featured soloist)
We Three Kings
Sing Noel
Joy to the World
Oh come all ye Faithful
Silent Night (possibly)
Hallelujah Chorus

Please note, as this is something that seems to be a surprise and unknown to many people these days due to a lack of familiarity with “Classical” music – it has been tradition since the time of its first performances for the audience to stand during the singing of this number. Some at Disneyland do, but apparently look around to make sure they aren’t in error!

So we have been rehearsing for months now, individually as well as the weekly meeting, and we have a regional rehearsal this week for the first time with other choirs, and the conductor, Nancy Sulahian of the LA Master Chorale. From my brief encounter with her when I sat in the balcony of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion a few years ago for a tribute to the Roger Wagner chorale style of performance, and approached her to chat, I can say see seems to be a very kind and approachable person. Tuesday is our final rehearsal before the weekend, so hopefully I am ready!

Here’s another fact that surprised me – the choir has to be at the Park by 1:00 (at least that is what we have been told) or you don’t get in! And you have to bring whatever you are going to eat before you are “released” around I think 9 pm. So there are hours and hours of rehearsal – first without orchestra, then with – before the performance. This year you might be able to hear rehearsal – because we will be in the Fantasyland theatre. This is because all the backstage warehouse space is needed for parade floats. I am sure you cant get “in” the theatre but maybe you can hang out by the station to hear. Anyway, that long with only the food you can bring is a long time and a lot of work! We are assigned seating by height, based on lists submitted last week. Rehearsal comes to order and begins at 1:30, at 230 we are joined by Mr. Van Dyke, the orchestra, handbell choir and fanfare trumpets !!! then lunch break from 330 to 415; line up begins at 430, and at 510 we exit the Storybook Gate to proceed down Main Street for the 530 show. At 615 the first show concludes and we are escorted to the Lincoln Theatre; we line up at 720 “behind Main Street” for a 745 processional and the second show at 800 pm, concluding at 845.

Of course there is a dress code – dark slacks or shirt, black shoes (not tennis shoes, boots or sandals) and a choir robe. I am curious if there is a hair code! At the end of the second program, we are escorted out the Main Gate where we return our “candle” and collar, which I guess is used to provide visual uniformity – maybe it shocks us if we are offkey! Of course, we get our hand stamped and will have the rest of the day – 2.5 hours probably – in the Park, but we are still in our robes at this point. After we turn in our robes, the choir director will give us each 2 passes to the park – parkhoppers I believe – good through September 2006.

It’s a lot of work, and sure to be a once in a lifetime Thrill! I have seen wonderful choral performance around our country and the world, but nothing compares to Candlelight. Truly. I have been told that park members see this as the most exciting event of the year, and that celebrities attend – although I have been in the audience several times and not seen them! ( I do know Tony Baxter will be there one night this year, and yes its my night, so hi Tony its another crazy DL fan who is finally getting a chance to add to the wonder of Disneyland!) For me its is a dream come true, I still cant believe it, I hope I can remember forever the view from the stands and sounds of the commemoration of a holy event spreading throughout Town Square, just like Walt planned. If you know me, look for me high up because I am tall, and if you don’t , hopefully you now can appreciate how much work goes into this event by probably a 1000 volunteers. From all of us to all of you, a Very Merry Christmas!!!

Disneynerd
11-27-2005, 02:15 PM
This is so exciting! You must be honored to be a part of such a fantastic event! Congratulations! Make Walt proud! Merry Christmas to you!

ToursbabeC3po
11-27-2005, 02:22 PM
Congrats !!!! It is sooo Much Fun! I was in the Disney Cast Member Choir for 9 years! I miss it so much :-( I hope you have a great time!
Toursbabe

Enter The Mouse
11-27-2005, 03:00 PM
I will be there! I'm so excited!

sleepyjeff
11-27-2005, 03:44 PM
That's awesome. I imagine this will be something you will remember for the rest of your life so have fun and enjoy:cool:

Maus
11-27-2005, 05:29 PM
Yea, jiminy! That sounds fabulous and what a way to cap your 50th experience in 2005! You said you will only be there one night? Which one? I'll be in reserved seating on Saturday.

My church choir did this for many, many years and they always used this program for the Christmas Concert for our congregation so I get very nostalgic when I see that the order of music is (for the most part) the same they have used forever!