HAVE A CALIFORNIA-STYLE CHRISTMAS; COMPOSER CELEBRATES SOUTHWEST.Byline: Carol Bidwell Staff Writer There'll be no warbling of ``White Christmas'' or ``Rock Around the Christmas Tree'' and no gift-filled visit by jolly St. Nick next weekend as a local composer/violinist stages her annual Christmas pageant Christmas pageant may refer to:
Instead, there'll be a candlelight procession of dancers, plus music reminiscent of early California cultures, as well as a drama that has its roots in the religious life of the 1500s. This is Elizabeth Waldo's ``The Spirit of Christmas at the Rancho, the Spirit of Noche Buena,'' held each December in Northridge. ``I want people to feel the Christmas spirit, but not in a European context - in California,'' said Waldo, who for years has studied the early people and music of the Southwest. ``I want people not to lean so much on that western European tradition. That will always be a part of our lives, but we should live in the here and now, experiencing something that grew out of this soil.'' The grounds of Waldo's 150-seat New Mission Theater in Northridge will be lit by luminarias welcoming people to the event on Saturday. ``I'm going to lead this procession of colorful indigenous dancers playing one of my fiddles,'' Waldo said. ``The whole place will be lit like a fairyland. It'll be wonderful.'' Inside the theater, Waldo will present an updated version of plays that originated in Europe in the Middle Ages, and which Franciscan priests brought to the New World with them at the time of the Spanish conquest of Mexico and California. Paul Dentzel, the foundation's historian, says the dramas were a way for the mission fathers to teach the newly converted Indians about Christianity and introduce them to the story of Christmas. Over the years, communities added political humor humor, according to ancient theory, any of four bodily fluids that determined man's health and temperament. Hippocrates postulated that an imbalance among the humors (blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile) resulted in pain and disease, and that good health was and local jokes, and the religious play broadened to become a community festival leading up to the Christmas season. The festivals began to lose momentum in 1847, after Americans flooded California during the Gold Rush, and the last major event was held just before Christmas in 1861 on the grounds of what is now the Pico House The Pico House is a historic building in Los Angeles, California, dating from its days as a small town in Southern California. Located on 430 North Main Street, it sits across the old Los Angeles Plaza from Olvera Street and El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Monument. adjacent to Olvera Street Olvera Street is in the oldest part of Downtown Los Angeles, California, and is otherwise known as the birthplace of the City of Angels or El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Monument and is a department within the city. in Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. , then just a vacant lot owned by Pio and Andres Pico. Waldo, who played with the Xavier Cougat orchestra in the 1950s and taught the music of the early people of California, New Mexico New Mexico, state in the SW United States. At its northwestern corner are the so-called Four Corners, where Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah meet at right angles; New Mexico is also bordered by Oklahoma (NE), Texas (E, S), and Mexico (S). , Arizona and Texas to Los Angeles schoolchildren schoolchildren school npl → écoliers mpl; (at secondary school) → collégiens mpl; lycéens mpl schoolchildren school for many years, welcomes the chance to give Valley residents a glimpse of California's historic culture. And she likes presenting music, dance and drama that's different from what they see on the traditional television Christmas special. ``I'm a traditionalist, but I also enjoy the translations of tradition into contemporary context,'' Waldo said. ``I hate to see all the emotions, the feelings that the season brings up, left in the past. I like to bring that into the present, but I don't want to hear `Jingle Bells' on the computer.'' The New Mission Theater, on an eight-acre site that houses Waldo's non-profit Multicultural Music and Art Foundation of Northridge, is the backdrop for the weekend's events, which include a matinee mat·i·nee or mat·i·née n. An entertainment, such as a dramatic performance or movie, presented in the daytime, usually in the afternoon. concert and a dinner theater performance tied to the Christmas theme. In addition to the dancers from Santa Barbara Santa Barbara (săn'tə bär`brə, –bərə), city (1990 pop. 85,571), seat of Santa Barbara co., S Calif., on the Pacific Ocean; inc. 1850. , the USC An abbreviation for U.S. Code. Choral cho·ral adj. 1. Of or relating to a chorus or choir. 2. Performed or written for performance by a chorus. [Medieval Latin chor Group, the Camerata Singers from Long Beach and the Southwind Ensemble, Waldo will perform exerpts from ``Los Pastores, The Shepherd's Opera,'' which she composed. Both shows will close with Waldo accompanying the singers in a candlelit can·dle·lit adj. Illuminated by candles: a candlelit ceremony. setting, singing more familiar carols. The facts What: ``The Spirit of Christmas at the Rancho, the Spirit of Noche Buena,'' a pageant including music, dance and early California-style drama of the Christmas season. When: 2:30 p.m. Saturday, family matinee concert; 6 p.m. candlelight procession and 7 p.m. dinner show. Where: The New Mission Theater, 9015 Wilbur Ave., Northridge. Admission: For daytime concert, $20 for adults and $10 for students and children. For evening dinner theater, $100 per person. Seating is limited; reservations required. Information and reservations: Phone (818) 349-3431, fax (818) 349-0716. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: Composer Elizabeth Waldo will play this Huichol indigenous string instrument, which is similar to a violin, during Saturday's ``Spirit of Christmas at the Rancho'' in Northridge. Charlotte Schmid-Maybach/Staff Photographer |
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