Sheet music for Irving Berlin's "White Christmas," from
the 1942 film "Holiday Inn," starring Bing Crosby & Fred Astaire

A List
11/11/10

Three Events At St. Lawrence Usher In Holiday Season With Music

CANTON - Chris Kenney, a 1996 graduate of St. Lawrence, will host three events at the University that all involve the music of the Christmas holiday season. All of the events, part of the Arts Across the Curriculum series, are open to the public, free of charge.

Kenney, director of education at the William McKinley Presidential Library and Museum in Canton, Ohio, was a member of the Laurentian Singers as a student, and played the carillon in Gunnison Memorial Chapel.

On Sunday, November 14, the classic 1942 film "Holiday Inn," starring Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire, with songs by Irving Berlin, will be screened at 7 p.m. in Room 10 of Carnegie Hall. Kenney will lead a discussion to follow, on how the movie was used as a vehicle to promote Berlin's music; how the film serves as a commentary on life during World War II; and how this influenced our society. The song "White Christmas," sung by Crosby, was introduced in the film.

Kenney will conduct a carillon workshop on Monday, November 15, at 8 p.m. in the chapel. It will include a lecture about the history of the carillon, a demonstration and opportunities for participants to play.

A presentation titled "Unwrapping the Christmas Carol: The History and Cultural Impact of Popular Holiday Songs" will be given by Kenney on Wednesday, November 17, at 8 p.m. in Peterson-Kermani Performance Hall. Through lecture and piano performance of popular Christmas carols, Kenney will inform the audience with background on the compositions; biographical sketches of the composers; events in American and World history contemporary to the songs; and the emotional undercurrents that buoyed the songs to prominence. Social implications of the songs will also be discussed, using research from Karal Ann Marling's book Merry Christmas.

A graduate of Thousand Islands High School in Clayton, Kenney earned his St. Lawrence degree with a double-major in history and music. He holds a master's degree in history museum studies.

For more information, contact 315-229-5998.

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