On 88.1, WYPR, live from the performance studio of our sister station, WTMD in Towson, it’s the annual Midday Holiday Concert with Helicon and Friends.
On Saturday, Helicon and a host of other traditional artists will present their 37th annual Winter Solstice Concerts at Goucher College's Kraushaar Auditorium, with shows at 3:30 and 7:30pm.
[Click the link to hear Helicon and friends playing a seasonal medley of God Rest You Merry Gentlemen/Christmas Eve Reel at last year's Winter Solstice Concert.]
For many of the past 37 years, the musicians have been appearing here on WYPR the day before those performances with a special musical preview.
Helicon, an acoustic trio formed in 1987 by guitarist Robin Bullock, flutist Chris Norman and master hammer dulcimer player Ken Kolodner, will be joined tomorrow by members of the Ken and Brad Kolodner Quartet, which also includes Alex Lacquement and Rachel Eddy, with special returning musician, Scottish National Fiddle Champion Elke Baker.
And Charm City Junction bandleader Brad Kolodner will be joined by Alex Lacquement, Sean McComiskey and Elke Baker. The Winter Solstice Concerts will also feature six-time North American Step-Dance Champion Jonathon Srour and step-dancer Katie Ortel.
Many, if not quite all, of those folks join host Tom Hall this afternoon here at WYPR's sister station, WTMD.
In addition to today's live radio broadcast and our audio livestream at the WYPR home page, we also streamed live video of today’s Holiday Concert on the WYPR YouTube page, so you can check us out there, too.
Special thanks to Audio Engineer Charlie Hughes, WTMD Assistant Chief Engineer Megan Amoss, WTMD/WYPR Director of Events and Community Engagement Sam Sessa, and the staff of WTMD for hosting Midday at their performance studio in Towson.
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Here's a playlist of today's performances:
Segment #1
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (16th Century England) / Christmas Eve (Ireland)
Recorded on “A Winter Solstice with Helicon” (1998, 2013); and Helicon and Friends “Live at the Winter Solstice” (2022)
Ken (HD), Chris (wooden flute), Robin (piano), Brad (banjo), Sean (button accordion), Alex (bass), Elke (fiddle), Jonathon + Katie (dance)
Personent Hodie (Germany, circa 1530) / Marche du Mont St Louis (Quebec) / Clog de Pariseau (Quebec)
Recorded on Ken Kolodner’s “A Journey to the Heartland” (2005)
Helicon: Ken (HD), Chris (pipes/wooden flute), Robin (cittern/guitar)
Segment #2
Little Bird of Heaven (Martha Scanlan)
Ken & Brad Kolodner Quartet: Ken (HD), Brad (banjo), Alex (bass), Rachel (guitar)
Rumbling Quadrille (Denmark)
Recorded on Ken Kolodner and Elke Baker’s “On a Cold Winter’s Day” (2020)
Ken (HD), Elke (fiddle), Alex (bass), Chris (flute), Robin (cittern), Brad (banjo), Sean (accordion)
Shakin’ Down the Acorns (Traditional Appalachian)
Recorded on Ken & Brad Kolodner’s “Stony Run” (2020)
Ken & Brad Kolodner Quartet: Ken (hammered mbira), Brad (gourd banjo), Alex (bass), Rachel (fiddle)
Snowflake Hornpipe / Avalanche Hornpipe / Star of the East (Scotland/Ireland)
Recorded on The Chris Norman Ensemble’s “In the Fields in Frost & Snow” (2004)
Chris (flute), Robin (guitar), Alex (bass), Elke (fiddle), Ken (HD), Sean (button accordion), Brad (banjo)
Segment #3
Oh, Me, Oh My! (John Hartford)
Charm City Junction: Brad (banjo), Sean (accordion), Alex (bass) and Rachel (guitar), with Robin (mandolin).
Liza Jane (Old Time)/Sandy Boys (Old Time)/Hangman’s (Quebec/Old Time)
Recorded on Ken & Brad Kolodner’s “Otter Creek” (2011); and Helicon and Friends “Live at the Winter Solstice” (2022)
Brad (fiddle), Ken (fiddlesticks & fiddle), Alex (harmonica/bass), Chris (flute), Robin (mandolin), Rachel (guitar), Sean (button accordion), Elke (fiddle)
