Bits & Bytes: Crescendo holiday concert; Star Wars marathon; Swing Dance Night

Crescendo to present ‘Trumpets and Angels’

Great Barrington — On January 2 at 3 p.m., Bard College at Simon’s Rock’s Kellogg Music Center will host a special holiday concert by national award-winning music organization Crescendo. Titled “Trumpets and Angels: A Baroque Christmas Story,” the concert will feature Heinrich Schütz’s Baroque masterpiece “Historia der Geburt Jesu (the Christmas Story)” and will also include motets by his older contemporary Michael Praetorius and his teacher Giovanni Gabrieli.

Christine Gevert, Crescendo’s founder and artistic director, will conduct the Crescendo Vocal Ensemble of 22 singers and the Crescendo Period Instrument Ensemble. Soloists for the Christmas Story will be John Cox in the role of the Evangelist, Jennifer Tyo portraying the Angel Gabriel, and David Tinervia as King Herod.

The 12 period instrument performers assembled by Ms. Gevert include many who are well known to early-music lovers both nationally and in western Massachusetts. Among them are first violinist and Aston Magna artistic director Daniel Stepner; natural trumpet and sackbut players from Boston; and renowned viola da gamba players Laura Jeppesen, Lucy Bardo, and Anne Legêne. Larry Wallach, Bard College at Simon’s Rock’s music program, will play continuo organ.

Tickets to the concert are $30 and $50 with $10 tickets available for youth. See the Berkshire Edge calendar for tickets and more information.

–E.E.

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Star Wars marathon at Ramsdell Public Library

Housatonic – In celebration of the new movie “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” the Ramsdell Public Library at 1087 Main St. will host a Star Wars movie marathon featuring the three original Star Wars films. “A New Hope” and “The Empire Strikes Back” will be shown on Wednesday, December 30 beginning at 1:30 p.m. and the marathon will conclude with “Return of the Jedi” at 11 a.m. on Thursday, December 31.

The marathon will also include pizza for those in attendance. For more information or to register for one or all three of the screenings, call the library at (413) 274-3738.

–E.E.

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Swing Dance Night at Race Brook Lodge

Sheffield — Race Brook Lodge will host Swing Dance Night on Saturday, January 2, at 8 p.m. with the One Straw Revolution band. A beginner swing dance lesson will precede the event at 7 p.m.

The One Straw Revolution band will To Race Brook Lodge to the barn for its second Swing Dance Night appearance and will feature Jonathan Suters on guitar, Roger Suters on bass, Bobby MacVeety on guitar and vocals, Conor Meehan on drums, and Peter McEachern on trombone .

Tickets for Swing Night start at $10 and the Stagecoach Tavern will serve a $35 Prix Fixe for ticket purchasers before the dancing begins. For tickets and more information, see the Berkshire Edge calendar or call Race Brook Lodge at (413) 229-2916.

–E.E.