The "Cold and Fugue Season" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Sitting in the third row of Farmdale Elementary School's Auditorium/Gymnasium on a hard metal folding chair waiting for the evening's program to begin.

The Farmdale Elementary School Concert Band.
Click on any photo to enlarge it.

 My grandson Caden is a member of the 4th grade combined strings where he plays the Viola.  The program tonight features the 4th, 5th and 6th grade Band, the 5th and 6th grade chorus and the 4th, 5th and 6th grade Strings.  The Band played first with six songs which featured Good King Wenceslas, Jingle Bells and Auld Lang Syne.  Each of the songs featured the playing of many of the same notes throughout the song which made it much easier for the band members to play.  

The String Orchestra in their holiday outfits.

All the performers tonight were dressed very nicely with some sporting Santa hats for the little extra holiday touch.   Then it was time for the 5th grade chorus to sing four different holiday songs with the audience of a couple of hundred parents, grandparents and friends asked to join in with Deck the Hall.  The choir director wasn't satisfied with the effort the audience gave, so she required we do it one more time which really got the audience ready for the remainder of the concert.  

The 4th, 5th and 6th grade String Orchestra.
My grandson, Caden is in the lower row with a black shirt.

Next group to play was the combined 4th, 5th and 6th grade Strings.  As they entered the stage I saw my grandson Caden carrying his Viola.  He was close to the front, standing on a step next to a pretty little young girl dressed in a velvet green dress.  The 4th grade Strings performed a few songs first and did a rather commendable job considering they have only been playing their instruments since the end of the summer.  

4th grade Viola player, Caden Woods. Check out the flattop.

I expected some squeaking and out-of-pitch notes, but was pleasantly surprised with their perfor- mance.  Caden was to my far right with the pretty girl standing so close to him that at times his bow would cross the strings of her instrument creating smiles from both of them.  The applause was loud and lengthy as they finished their last song, Holiday Hoedown.  

The 6th grade chorus performs.

After the 5th and 6th grade Strings performed a few numbers it was time for the 6th grade Chorus to entertainment with four numbers that really got the audience into the winter spirit.  My two favorites were "Cold and Fugue Season" by J.S. Bach and arranged by Foncannon.  

Singing the "Cold and Fugue Season" song.  Words are
shown on the screen for all to see.

In this song they sang about the perils of catching a cold or the flu and the results that follow.  Really funny song which was shown on the screen above the chorus so others could join in or could tell what was being sung.  The final song of the evening was "Snow Day" by Jay Althouse where the chorus members told about their wishes for a snow day in the next week or two.  

The concert ended with the song "Snow Day."

Over the years I have been to many holiday concerts with all three of my children partici- pating in the band, orchestra and chorus, but I must admit this concert was one of the best elementary school level concerts I ever had the honor of attending.  The evening went fast even though I had to endure the hard seat for an hour and a half.  Afterward we got to greet Caden and congratulate him on his performance.  His smile and enthusiasm was all that was needed to tell us that he had a grand time performing. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.