The First Spark: Early Celtic & British Airs for the Winter Gateway

Crescendo presents “The First Spark: Early Celtic & British Airs for the Winter Gateway” on December 3, 2026 at 7:30pm. Designed to bring warmth and light into the deepening winter dark, this Crescendo concert features Zoe Vandermeer (voice/Welsh triple harp), Tricia van Oers (recorders), and Christine Gevert (virginal/organ). The performance interweaves evocative folk tunes with highly sophisticated Renaissance and Baroque music from English, Irish, and Scottish traditions. At the center of the program are masterworks by Renaissance icons like John Dowland and William Byrd, alongside the brilliant Baroque harp melodies of Turlough O’Carolan, and original arrangements of ancient Celtic airs and folk dances by the ensemble. Audiences will join the ensemble for a special sing-along during the timeless classic, Greensleeves. Saint James Place is Your Home for the Holidays.