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It's a Holiday for Singing, so Raise Up Those Voices

December 21, 2009 - PORTLAND -- If ever there was a season to sing, this is it.

Celebrants have been singing Christmas carols for thousands of years, filling churches, city squares and street corners with the joyous sounds of the season.

This weekend, the last before Christmas, is one of the busiest for neighborhood carolers, who move swiftly from house to house with songbooks in hand. Like the wandering minstrels who sang in the ancient cities of Europe, modern-day carolers sing for the joy of expression and to lift the spirits of others.

Logan Cummings, a junior at Windham High School, learned that lesson Thursday when he and his peers sang for the residents of Ledgewood Manor, a home for elderly residents in Windham.

"It was cool just to see their reaction," said Cummings, who arranged the caroling visit as part of his service in the Interact Club, a community service club sponsored by the Sebago Lake Rotary.

"The residents there do not often get to interact with kids. It seems like they are there by themselves. Even if we don't have the greatest voices, we took the time to make them happy and do something for them. It made an impact on them that I didn't expect."

Richard Nickerson, who directs the Magic of Christmas Choir, encourages everyone he knows to belt out songs whenever they can, especially during the holidays. Pay no mind to the technical merits of your voice, he said. Just sing – and sing loudly.

"I can't think of a holiday more centered around singing than Christmas," said Nickerson. "My advice is simple: stay warm. But most important, sing out and remember the joy of the holiday. Sometimes we get so focused on hitting the right notes, we forget why we are doing it.

"While caroling itself can provide a great joy for those caroling, it also provides great joy for those who are listening. I am of the mind-set, the more the merrier."

Each December Peter Plumb, a Portland lawyer, and his wife, Pam, host a gregarious, fun-filled singalong at their home on Park Street. The Plumbs have a unique situation because they have a pipe organ built into their home. It's natural for them to invite folks over for carols, because they have the perfect instrument to accompany them.

They have hosted an annual caroling fest since 1970, when they moved into the home. Peter Plumb plays the organ while as many as 100 people gather throughout the home and raise their voices as one.

"Just sing," he tells them. "Just get a songbook and sing. Nobody cares how you sound. This is a wonderful opportunity to bring a whole lot of people in who may or may not get a chance to sing along with their favorite carols and be unashamed to belt their hearts out."

Charles Williams, who drives the trolley in Bath, hands out songbooks to passengers on Friday nights, when he shows off the city's magnificent holiday light displays. The trolley rides are free from 6 to 8 p.m. every Friday in December.

When the snow is falling and the trolley is brimming with enthusiasm, there's no better way to spread good will and good cheer. As far as Williams is concerned, no one sounds better than the folks on his trolley.

"They all sound great to me," he said.

By BOB KEYES, Staff Writer, Portland Press Herald, December 19, 2009


Lakes:
Regions: Sebago


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