A Throwback Christmas with Soft Tones of The Strains and Joyous Alongside PARAMABIRA Choir

Precisely on December 25, Christian people around the world always celebrate Christmas. Christmas is synonymous with the Christmas tree, Santa Claus figures, reindeer and other ornaments in red and green. Most countries in Europe began to decorate a Christmas-decorated with ornaments since in the middle of november ago. In addition, to the Christmas ornaments that adorn public places such as shopping centers, recreation areas, Christmas songs have echoed to give the impression of a more warm Christmas atmosphere. Christmas songs usually provide their own tranquility and excitement for its lovers. According to me, Christmas is the best season overseas wherein some countries begin to emerge some christmas events like Christmas Markets that usually open at night, Christmas discounts on shopping venues, Christmas concert and others. Some events of Christmas concert are familiar in overseas to welcome the Christmas season. But not only in abroad, Jakarta also has a Christmas concert which was recently presented by a group of students from Binus University.

On December 4th, 2016 and, PARAMABIRA or Choir of Students of Bina Nusantara held a Christmas concert entitled “Love Came Down at Christmas”. This concert is the second concert they offered in 2016. The concert was held in the building of Usmar Ismail, Kuningan, South Jakarta. This Christmas concert is the second Christmas concert after one that took place one years ago. The songs were sung by them are the Christmas songs that have been familiar but with different arrangement. What is unique about this concert was when they sang some songs without accompaniment, as known as accapella, like the song Santa Claus is Coming To Town and Sleigh Ride. Both songs were performed in accapella and were arranged by Chizuru Matsunaga.

The concert was divided into two parts. The first part, PARAMABIRA sang eight songs in succession, namely Little Drummer Boy, In Dulci Jubilo, Gaudete, Adoramus, Love Came Down at Christmas, Candlelight Carol, All Bells in Paradise and Love Divine. In the first part, this choir sang three songs arranged by John Rutter. One of the songs that are in the list of songs in the first part titled Adoramus, is a song that was created by one of member of the choir named Hegra Soetrisno. According to the lyrics, this song illustrates the God Almighty and His Majesty and peace that He brought to the world, “da pacem Domine, pacem in terra, dona nobis pacem” which means “Give peace, O Lord, in the land of peace, grant us peace “. It’s a beautiful song when sung at the Christmas season. The first part of the concert brought all audiences to listen to the songs of Christmas classical songs. It can be seen from the instruments that accompany some songs consisted of organ and piano. While in the second part, choir PARAMABIRA presents the audiences 8 songs, that were It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas, Home on Christmas Day, Sleigh Ride, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Jing a Ling, Let It Snow, All I Want for Christmas is You, Jingle Bells and It’s a Wonderful Christmas. One of the songs that have been sung at previous concert and used as the opening song on the second part of this concert, titled It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas, which was arranged by Mark Hayes. In the second part of this concert, the songs are arranged with more modern music styles such as jazz and pop. The instruments that used to the songs on the second part of this concert were piano, clavinova, drums, cajon, and xylophone. Christmas atmosphere of happiness and joy shared by chanting the notes that made all audiences enjoying Christmas just like in abroad.

This concert could not be separated from the hard work of each individual of PARAMABIRA choir who has prepared this concert for 4 months. Members PARAMABIRA regulary exercise on campus BINUS Syahdan 2 times a week. Even before the concert, the frequency of exercise became more dense than usual, it would increase like for 3 times or 4 times in a week. The preparation is not only technical and artistic preparation in singing in presenting 18 songs to the audiences, but also the preparation of the venue, equipments, and so on. The christmas concert also could not separated from the hard work of the coach PARAMABIRA named Rainier Revireno. On the occasion of this concert, Rainier appoint Hazim Suhadi as a concert pianist at this time. Hazim was a musician who had been educated at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The concert was prepared as possible to be able to give the best performance to the audiences.