A Candlelight Evening
Today’s (well, once again it is technically yesterday’s) Oneonta for the Holidays outing took us a bit north of Oneonta to Copperstown and the Farmer’s Museum for their annual Candlelight Evening. The historic village is lit by candles in every window and along every path, while carolers sing and traditional wassail is served from steaming cauldrons heating over open fires. Since the Chamber Singers were again singing for this event, I decided to tag along this year and take some photos. Last year in was rainy and muddy, or so Leah recalls, but this year the weekend’s Nor’Easter left a continuously falling stream of fresh snow to blanket the village and provide the perfect backdrop for classic holiday photos. I attended the Singers’ first set, and then wandered around taking photos as the daylight waned and the luminarias glowed against the white snow.
We were there less than three hours, but those hours were among the most magical I have spent in recent days. The snow kept the throngs at bay and left many of the venues without performers, but for those who were able to attend, it was a winter wonderland. For me the most ethereal part of the evening was walking next to the chapel in which the Chamber Singers were rehearsing and hearing Leah’s soaring voice emanate from the building, soon joined by the rest of the group, and they once again sang Glory, Glory to the Newborn King. (See my previous entry for more details and to hear them sing it.) As the snow fell around me, and the lights softly began to glow, the air filled with glorious voices. It is these moments that make the holidays, and any day, so worthwhile.
February 21st, 2008 at 10:46 pm
I love these photos! Makes winter look appealing