Arts & Entertainment
Flute Choir Concert Held at United Methodist
LI Flute Club presented their seventh annual holiday concert at the church.
The Long Island Flute Club (LIFC) in cooperation with the of Lake Ronkonkoma presented "The Silvery Sounds of the Season" performed by the LIFC Holiday Flute Choir on Saturday.
The uplifting performance featured an eclectic array of seasonal classics that originated from various cultures and time periods. It was a show that was sure to fill the audience with the spirit of the season and warm their hearts on a chilly day.
The sixteen piece flute ensemble conducted by Lauren Osnato encompassed all members of the flute family: The most recognizable C flute; the bass flute which is the equivalent of the tuba in a traditional orchestra; the alto flute which corresponds to the sound of a viola or cello; and the piccolo, which is an octave higher than a regular C flute. Osnato informed that utilizing all the different flutes provides a much richer, fuller sound.
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This is the seventh year the LIFC presented a holiday concert at the charming church which Osnato called "our home away from home."
The concert, which was free of charge, in the spirit of the holiday season also took a collection to donate to United Cerebral Palsy.
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The Holiday Flute Choir is made up of members of LIFC, which consists of adults and teens from all over Long Island who play at an advanced level. They are professional players, many of whom are music teachers such as Osnato who teaches elementary school band in Long Beach.
The jubilant performance began on a high note with "Joy to the World" followed by "O Come All Ye Faithful." The concert also included some lesser known pieces such as the beautiful Christmas hymn "Still, Still, Still." The ensemble gave full expression to their delicate resonance in an original piece written for the choir called "Sugar Plums and Mistletoe." The song "March of the Toys" got everyone's toes tapping as their delightful harmony captured the essence of Christmas and captivated those in attendance, both young and old alike.
Remarkably, the ensemble practiced together for this pitch-perfect performance just twice.
The tranquil Welch melody "All Through the Night" showcased just the C flutes to underscore the contrast between that sound versus that of the entire spectrum of flutes.
That piece was followed by a rendition of "Let it Snow" which evoked the timeless charm, magic and wonder of the winter months, when the colder it is outside the warmer it feels inside.
Other selections included "Silent Night", "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer", a Catalonian Christmas Carol, the final selection which the LIFC traditionally plays at all their performances "Let There Be Peace on Earth" and of course, for the encore, "Jingle Bells."
The most unique number was "Santa Symphony" which was a medley of classical pieces from composers such as Beethoven, Mozart and Tchaikovsky interspersed with Christmas carols. This was an unexpected surprise, and created an ambitious sonic landscape that flowed together seamlessly.
The church's pastor, Constance Pak, remarked that the annual concert is "a wonderful treat that vibrates in our sanctuary."
LIFC is a member of the National Flute Association. It was founded in 1984 to enrich the musical lives of flutists in the New York area.
Holiday Flute Choir member, Sandra Vigliotti expressed feeling uplifted after giving the impeccable performance. She said, "It puts you in the holiday spirit."
