A concert of Christmas favorites

Among the best known holiday works are George Frideric Handel's "Messiah" and Mel Torme's "Christmas Song." But there are also quite a few pieces that have been written with Christmas in mind and that haven't found their way into the holiday repertoire. And next weekend Joel Rosenberg and his American West Symphony will play an excerpt from one that has yet to be performed in its entirety in Utah.

Carl Hugo Grimm was a well known and prolific composer during the first half of the 20th century whose music was performed by many of the major orchestras in the United States. Today, however, his compositions have been largely forgotten. Except by Rosenberg. "His grandson plays violin in our orchestra and he brought his grandfather's music to my attention," Rosenberg told the Deseret News. "And I've been waiting for a chance to do something."

The orchestra will be doing the third movement from Carl Hugo Grimm's "Christmas Concerto." "It's scored for a large orchestra and has a concerto grosso feel to it because of the interplay between a smaller ensemble and the full orchestra," Rosenberg said. "It's reminiscent of Samuel Barber's 'Die natali' because it interweaves a number of Christmas carols including some we don't hear so often."

Also on the program are works by Joseph Haydn and Handel. "I wanted to do some different things for our concerts and a lot of their works just aren't that well known," Rosenberg said.

Haydn's Symphony No. 31 in D major and Handels' Concerto Grosso in G major, op. 6, no. 1, give the members of the orchestra a chance to be featured. "I always try to find works like that because we have some great musicians."

A true Christmas concert, however, wouldn't be worthy of the name if it didn't include some well known pieces, and Rosenberg has also programmed excerpts from Handel's "Messiah," easily the most famous holiday work every written. Joining Rosenberg and the orchestra for these selections will be soprano Laurel James, contralto Doris Brunatti, tenor Andrew Maughan and bass Charles Hamilton.

Rounding out the evening will be Mel Torme's "Christmas Song" and a holiday medley.

There will also be music for brass by Giovanni Gabrieli, Michael Praetorius, Gustav Holst and J.S. Bach to start each half of the program.

If you go...

What: American West Symphony, Joel Rosenberg, conductor

Where: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 8600 South 700 East

When: Dec. 3, 8 p.m.

Also …

Where: The Waterford School, 1480 E. 9400 South

When: 8 p.m. Dec. 4

How much: $10 general admission, $8 students, $35 family pass (for family of five)

Web: americanwestsymphony.org

Also: All Saints Episcopal Church, 1700 South and Foothill Blvd., 8 p.m. Dec 10, suggested donation $10

e-mail: ereichel@desnews.com