Reviewer: Beth Detloff
Venue: The Castle Museum
I can think of some great pairings throughout history. Chocolate and peanut butter, reading and raindrops, and one I experienced last night, Celtic music by candlelight. It was the trifecta pairing last night at the Castle Museum. The Castle Museum aglow in candlelight with Celtic music surrounding the patrons.
The Saginaw Choral Society is on year three of their boutique style series of events, and plans to continue for seasons to come. It is truly a one of a kind experience you cannot replicate in this area. Perhaps you have received social media ads for candlelight concerts in Detroit? Why travel that far when The Castle museum is only a ten minute drive. A bonus is the event time is early evening, ensuring you can still make it home at a reasonable hour on a work night.
The ticket includes more than just the ambience and music. Patrons are invited to enjoy a light appetizer spread in the half hour before the concert starts. With an extremely reasonable cash bar you can entertain a libation for only five dollars. This benefits the Choral Society and helps them put on events year after year. Last night guests were able to enjoy themed treats like soda bread with Irish butter and a pint of Guiness.
The Choral Society performers created a half circle at the head of the museum, ensuring that the attendees were encapsulated in the sound. Artistic Director, Jeremiah Kraniak, explained that we would be hearing music from both Ireland and Scotland. Relaying the fact that Appalachian music originated from Scotland, he recalled the performance from last season, Dear Appalachia.
Having climbed a portion of the Appalachian Mountains and visited the Emerald Isle a few years ago, I found the music very evoking. The Choral Society’s chosen pieces like “Mo Ghile Mear” and “Dúlamán” transported us out of the Castle Museum. Perhaps we were in a warm Scottish Pub with a dram, or feeling the cold salty ocean spray overlooking the Cliffs of Moher.
I am sure that everyone walked away from the performance commenting what their favorite piece was. My fiancé of course picked “The Drunken Sailor”, a song that has become familiar and famous and not just on St. Patrick’s Day. I had a hard time choosing. “The Drunken Sailor” invited an air of levity and playfulness into the evening. However, “May the Road” and “The Parting Glass” were two perfectly selected parting pieces. I found myself scrambling to remember the lyrics because they were such lovely words to leave on.
Pop culture fans may have recognized “Skye Boat Song” as the intro to the popular TV show Outlander. The Outlander books and subsequent TV series have brought Scottish culture into American homes. Just as the Saginaw Choral Society brought Gaelic and Celtic culture to Saginaw last night.
If this review has left you curious, or the performance left you craving more, the Choral Society has more events coming up. In December you can catch A Celtic Family Christmas. Their boutique series continues through the end of April. Take your sweetheart to The Musical Misfits show on Valentine’s day. You cannot go wrong in which event you choose to attend that the Choral Society puts on.