Singing Christmas Tree

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A living Christmas tree

A Singing Christmas Tree, sometimes called a Living Christmas Tree, is an artificial Christmas tree filled with singers used as part of nativity plays.

Constructed of steel, the tree is actually a

conical circular sector where between one-third and one-half of an actual Christmas tree
is shown. Depending upon tree size, they can accompany between 30 and 450 singers. These trees can be put up by churches or communities.

First appearing in 1933 at

Denver, Colorado, and then in 1957 in Sacramento, California. Since then, the singing Christmas tree concept has spread to Canada, the Philippines, South Korea, Switzerland and Sri Lanka. The most attended tree takes place in Knoxville, Tennessee
, with 60,000 attendees in 2007.

History

The first Christmas trees came to the United States in the 1740s from Moravian (now part of the Czech Republic) settlers.[1] In 1851, the first commercial tree lot in the United States was set up in New York City.[1] President of the United States Franklin Pierce set up the first Christmas tree in the White House in 1856.[1] Artificial trees were first developed in Germany in the 19th century over concerns of deforestation in their native homeland along with fire safety issues.[1] By the 1960s, artificial trees become very popular in the United States.[1]

scripture reading to form a worship service called "Lessons and Carols".[2] Caroling's growth has continued into the 20th century both in Europe and the United States and is now part of Christmas music.[2]

One of the caroling traditions in homes was to sing around the Christmas tree. In 1933,

Van Nuys, California.[4] The first steel-framed tree with choir risers was constructed by Millard Heath Specialties[5] of Denton, Texas, for the First Baptist Church in their city in 1972 (That tree was still in use in Callahan, Florida, as of April 2005.).[4][5] Millard Heath alone has constructed over 200 "trees" for churches in 30 American states and outside the United States.[5]

Among the locations for Singing Christmas Trees outside the United States are in

Zurich, Switzerland.[10]

Tree structure and composition

Steps for choir members leading to their spots in the Living Christmas Tree[11]
Broadcast control for the 2009 Living Christmas Tree at First Baptist Church Conyers (Georgia). Their tree ran 2001-09 and 2011–17.[11]

Singing Christmas Trees are constructed to hold between 30 and 450 choral singers at one time.

electrical power during its performance run on an annual basis, weighs 6,000 pounds (2,700 kg), uses 377 pieces of structural steel that is bolted with over 800 pieces, uses 7500 pieces of artificial greenery, and has over 13,000 lights.[14]

Choral composition within the tree

Scene during which choir members (shown on left) enter the 2009 Living Christmas Tree[11]

Choral composition within the tree ideally would have an equal number of men and women in the tree with the sopranos and/or lighter members at the top of the tree, followed by the altos and tenors in the middle of the tree, and the bass and heavier singers at the bottom of the tree.[citation needed] Male choir members are arranged in the middle of the tree.[15][16]

Singers who require sitting in a chair or a stool during the performance are located in the bottom two rows of the tree.[15][unreliable source?] Choir members who are acrophobic (fear of heights) are located near the bottom of the tree while claustrophobic (fear of restriction or suffocation) choir members are located at the outside of the tree.[15] Most choir members stand for the entire time period of the performance.[15]

Tree as part of the Christmas program

2009 Living Christmas tree at First Baptist Church Conyers prior to the 13 December 2009 evening service, including scenes for the program. The orchestra is located at the bottom right.[11]

Many trees are part of nativity plays or nativity scenes that celebrate Christmas as the birth of Jesus.[17][18]

Noted singing or living Christmas trees

"Holy Ground" singing on the importance of the life of Jesus in the 2009 Living Christmas Tree at the First Baptist Church (Conyers, Georgia).[11] The church's Living Christmas Tree ran from 2001 to 2017.
  • The Belhaven College Tree is the oldest tree, having originated in 1933.[3]
  • The Sacramento, California-based Capital Christian Center (formerly Bethel Temple) celebrated its 60th Singing Christmas Tree in 2016.[19]
  • The Singing Christmas Tree in Portland, Oregon, first started in 1962. The 2009 performances had noted guest singers such as Timothy Greenridge, Michael Allen Harrison, Georgine Rice, Aaron Meyer, and The Jefferson Dancers.[20]
  • Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Virginia, features singing Christmas trees decorated with a custom midi light set that changes colors and design that is precisely synced to music.
  • Carolina Voices in Charlotte, North Carolina, also uses four ensembles outside their tree to promote the Christmas message.[21]
  • Sevier Heights Baptist Church of Knoxville, Tennessee, began theirs in 1989 at their church, drawing 2800 people. The tree was held at the church annually until 1994. The following year, the tree moved to the Tennessee Theatre in downtown Knoxville where they started with six performances and 10,000 attendees in 1995 to twelve performances and 19,000 attendees in 2000. By 2001, the tree moved again to Thompson–Boling Arena, located on the campus of the University of Tennessee where 37,000 people total saw the tree in four separate performances. 55,000 attended the 2006 tree while 60,000 people attended the five services of the 2007 tree that also involved 600 salvations. The 2008 tree included Spanish translation along with 350 salvations.[22]
  • Bellevue Baptist Church in Tennessee celebrated their 41st year in December, 2016.[23]
  • In 2009, several trees posted on the Internet also had their 25th presentation. Among them were Ozark Christian College (Joplin, Missouri),[24] United Baptist Church of Ashland, Kentucky;[25] and First Baptist Church of Huntsville, Alabama.[26] The First Baptist Church of Montgomery, Alabama, celebrated their 30th year of the tree in 2009.[4]
  • Mona Shores High School's America's Tallest Singing Christmas Tree, founded in 1987, features about 300 singers and a live symphony orchestra.[27]
  • Den Sjungande Julgranen
    Gothenburg, Sweden. It is well-loved by Gothenburgians and attracts many tourists from Gothenburg's European and Nordic neighbors. The production runs for three weeks in December with 2-3 shows every day, features several kinds of choirs singing in different musical styles, and includes choreography and percussion.[29] The artistic director is Amy Elizabeth Wheeler,[30]
     and the producer is Göteborg & Co.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Tree, Christmas". (2000). In The World Encyclopedia of Christmas. Gerry Bowler, Editor. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart Limited. pp. 226–28.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Carol". (2000). In The World Encyclopedia of Christmas. Gerry Bowler, Editor. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart Limited. pp. 37–38.
  3. ^ a b Belhaven College Singing Christmas Tree. – accessed 15 December 2009.
  4. ^ a b c First Baptist Church of Montgomery, Alabama, Living Christmas Tree history. Archived 6 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine – accessed 15 December 2009.
  5. ^ a b c Millard Heath Specialties – About the company. Archived 10 March 2010 at the Wayback Machine – accessed 15 December 2009.
  6. ^ "SM unveils 'singing' Christmas tree." Sun Star (Pampanga, Philippines). It is also the featured annual Christmas concert at Greenhills Christian Fellowship in Ortigas Center, Pasig, Philippines. 7 December 2009. Accessed 15 December 2009.
  7. ^ Millardheath.com photo gallery of Living Christmas Trees worldwide, including the tree in Suwon, South Korea. Archived 27 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine – accessed 15 December 2009.
  8. ^ LivingChristmasTree.ca in Winnipeg, MB, Canada. – accessed 15 December 2009.
  9. ^ Yarmouth (Nova Scotia) Wesleyan Church Living Christmas Tree. Archived 1 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine – accessed 15 December 2009.
  10. ^ Yahoo! Travel tourist attractions in Zurich, Switzerland, including the Singing Christmas Tree. – accessed 15 December 2009.
  11. ^ a b c d e "Program" (2009) In The Spirit of Christmas Love. First Baptist Church of Conyers (Georgia) presents the 2009 Living Christmas Tree. Program. Conyers, Georgia: First Baptist Church of Conyers (Georgia).
  12. ^ a b c d e f MillardHeath.com Living Christmas Tree information. Archived 27 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine – accessed 15 December 2009.
  13. ^ Midilite Controls of Forest, VA lighting controls for Living/Singing Christmas Trees. – accessed 15 December 2009.
  14. ^ First Baptist Church of Huntsville, Alabama Living Christmas Tree facts. – accessed 16 December 2009.
  15. ^ Knoxville Living Christmas Tree Gallery of the Crucifixion Scene. – Click on tree image to show a standard choral arrangement. Accessed 16 December 2009.
  16. ISBN 0-310-24880-9
    .
  17. ^ CarolinaVoices.org gallery of the Singing Christmas Tree. Archived 12 December 2009 at the Wayback Machine – accessed 16 December 2009.
  18. ^ [1] - accessed 13 June 2016.
  19. ^ Guest performers at the Portland, Oregon Singing Christmas Tree. – accessed 16 December 2009.
  20. ^ Information about CarolinaVoices.org in Charlotte, North Carolina. Archived 29 December 2009 at the Wayback Machine – accessed 16 December 2009.
  21. ^ History of the Living Christmas Tree at Sevier Heights in Knoxville, Tennessee. – accessed 16 December 2009.
  22. ^ "Singing Christmas Tree". Bellevue. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  23. ^ Ozark Christian College 2009 Living Christmas Tree information. – accessed 16 December 2009.
  24. ^ Preston. Tim. "'The Living Christmas Tree Archived 30 July 2012 at archive.today'". Daily Independent (Ashland, KY). 11 December 2009. Accessed 16 December 2009.
  25. ^ First Baptist Church of Huntsville, Alabama, Living Christmas Tree information. – accessed 16 December 2009.
  26. ^ "The Singing Christmas Tree". www.monashoressingingchristmastree.com. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  27. ^ Den Sjungande Julgranen
  28. ^ Video Den sjungande julgranen: Jingle Bells with the Gothenburg Youth Choir
  29. ^ Amy Elizabeth Wheeler
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