Christmas music from Mason Williams and friends
COURTIS* PHOTO
Mason Williams and friends and the Eugene Symphony Orchestra will perform songs
from his newest album A Gift of Song at a concert In the Hull Center on Dec. 4.
'he festive |oys of Christmas and yule
tide melodies have returned to Eugene
I bringing with them the second annu
al Mason Williams and F needs Hometown
Holiday Concert with the Eugene Sympho
ny Orchestra
It is the time of year Williams, the talent
ed artist of such pop culture phenomena as
"Classical Gas” and the "Pat Paulsen for
President” campaign, as well as two Gram
my-winnmg songs, lilies best.
"One ot the things I like best about this
time ol year," Williams said, "is that I don't
have to sell the public on the concept ot
Christmas it’s a short period of time where
everyone suspends their total interest m pop
for the historical, traditional aspects ot the
season. Christmas is something that I can
plug into and the songs will evolve on their
own."
A Gilt ol Song is Williams' newest album,
which he released last year at this time The
album has been turned into a concert with
the Eugene Symphony Orchestra, Arthur
Maddox and several ot Williams' other
Inends The concert and album is what
Williams considers to be his Christmas pre
sent to his "favorite Eugene audience ”
Betore every album is produced. Williams
does a certain amount ol research to be sure
to "capture" the cause and deliver the mes
sage through his songs
"It's the historical element ot the season
that interests me," Williams said. "And gui
tar music tits in well with Christmas sounds "
For the Christmas album Williams
searched tor the meaning of the season
throughout the work) and how carols came
about
One of the things he discovered about hol
iday melodies was the lad that they are sup
posed to be reproduced and changed as
time progresses onward In A Gift ot Song,
he features several carols with original com
positional elements, which will be heard at
the concert
"Each year, around the holidays. I brush
up on my Christmas favorites and usually
end up with a new arrangement of a tradi
tional Christmas tune," Williams said.
"There's not a lot ot instrumental Christmas
music, so I developed an original body ot
work "
Included in the original songs on the altxim
are such tunes as classical- guitar style "Gui
tar Carol." Middle Eastern style "The Virgin
Mary," and classical gas-like style "What
Tune is This." All ot the songs feature
Williams' signature guitar sounds and drums
and percussion performed by a tew ot his
friends
Williams said he enjoys this time ot year
most because people are more willing to
drop anything in order to celebrate In tact,
he began working on the concert as an event
specifically tor him and his friends to get the
chance to play together Among the friends
performing will be guitar player Rick Cunha
from Los Angeles, author Ken Kesey and
the Roosevelt Middle School Choir.
turn to WII I IAMS Page I5H
Local crafts, music and food
available at Holiday Market
Saturday Market organizers
want everyone to find that
perfect holiday gift while
enjoying local music and sampling
international foods.
So, to accommodate those who
shy away from the outside market
during the colder winter months,
the market will move indoors to the
Lane County Fairgrounds Friday
for its annual Holiday Market.
About 300 local artists and
crafters will bargain away clothing,
jewelry, ceramics and just about
anything else that can be hand
crafted, said Kim Schramm, assis
tant manager of this year’s market.
"Everything in the market is
handcrafted by the person selling
it to you," Schramm said.
This year's Holiday Market adds
four last-minute shopping days to
its schedule on Dec. 20-23. The
market is normally open every Sat
urday and Sunday from Thanks
giving until Christmas.
Also new this year is a move
from the Wheeler Building to the
larger Exhibit Hall at the fair
grounds. The move allows all ven
dors to sell inside, while previous
years some had to set up their
business outside, Schramm said.
Shoppers will have wider aisles to
browse in with the larger building.
"It will be really exciting to be
in this big space,” she said.
Besides the traditional arts and
craft booths, Schramm said shop
pers can visit an indoor Farmers'
Market at the fairgrounds. Lane
County Farmers’ Market features
locally grown produce and plants
and normally operates adjacent to
the Saturday Market
Another popular feature of the
Holiday Market is the Internation
al Food Court. A larger building
means an expanded food area,
and market visitors can sample a
wide variety of cuisine Burritos.
Chinese egg rolls, cheesecake and
Cajun noodles are just a few of the
food dishes offered at the market
Schramm said six entertainment
acts will perform at the market
each day Local musicians will per
form New Orleans boogie, Dix
ieland jazz. Celtic harp, classical
guitar, and folk and blues music.
Local church choirs will perform
holiday and gospel favorites.
An Elf Plaza children’s stage will
offer two children entertainers each
day. Vendors will offer craft work
shops for kids throughout the day
at the children's stage
“In the past we didn't realty have
a strong place for kids to go,"
Schramm said. “It should be a lot
better for kids and families this
year.”
Drew Marchbanks, a metalsmith
and jeweler, is excited about this
year's market and said she enjoys
the community atmosphere pro
vided by the market.
“It's just wonderful we can move
indoors and create a small com
munity," she said."It's a place
where we can sell our work, but at
the same time It's a social event.”
The fair is open 10 am. to 6 p.m.
on Saturdays and Sundays and
from 11 a m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 20-23.
— Rebecca Merrill
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THE BEANERY
Eugene's Original Coffeehouses
152 W. 5th Street & 2465 Hilyard Street
OPEN DAILY AT 6 P.M. OPEN THANKSGIVING DAY
*5.9$ Off All Poster Art.
Right now The Great Frame Up has a large selection of art posters from
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