(MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) BRAD CRESSWELL: HELLO, IM BRAD CRESSWELL FROM FM 91 WELCOME TO WGTE PRESENTS CHRISTMAS WITH THE TOWER BRASS QUINTET I'M STANDING IN THE SANCTUARY OF ST. MICHAEL'S IN THE HILLS HILLS EPISCOPAL CHURCH, OUR CO-PRODUCER AND SPONSOR FOR THIS EVENT.

AS YOU WELL KNOW, LIVE CONCERTS HAVE BEEN, FOR THE MOST PART, A CASUALTY OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

THAT INCLUDES ST. MICHAEL'S EVENTS SERIES, OFF THE BEATEN PATH.

THE OFF THE BEATEN PATH EVENTS SERIES ASPIRES TO OFFER HIGH-QUALITY PROGRAMMING TO THE REGION, REFLECTING ST. MICHAEL'S ENDURING VALUE OF EDUCATION, SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND THE FINE ARTS.

OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, ST. MICHAEL'S, LIKE WGTE, HAS BEEN ABLE TO CONTINUE THEIR MISSION OF BRINGING BEAUTIFUL PERFORMANCES TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND ONLINE OFFERINGS.

THIS PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN WGTE AND ST. MICHAEL'S FURTHERS THAT MISSION, ALLOWING US TO HELP KEEP THE MUSIC ALIVE AND TO THE SEASON THROUGH THIS TELEVISED BROADCAST.

UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, THE TOWER BRASS WOULD HAVE PERFORMED A CHRISTMAS CONCERT RIGHT HERE, FOR A LIVE AUDIENCE.

DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, HOWEVER, WE'RE BRINGING YOU THE CONCERT IN SOCIALLY DISTANCED FASHION FROM THE WGTE STUDIOS.

EVERY HOLIDAY SEASON FOR THE PAST DECADE, THE TOWER BRASS HAVE BEEN A FIXTURE OF THE FM 91 AIRWAVES.

THIS SEASON WGTE IS PROUD TO PRESENT THEM IN COLLABORATION WITH ST. MICHAEL'S IN THE HILLS EPISCOPAL CHURCH, AS A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS PRESENT TO OUR TELEVISION VIEWERS.

I'LL BE BACK AT THE BREAK TO SPEAK MORE ABOUT ST. MICHAEL'S OFF THE BEATEN PATH EVENTS SERIES, AND TO TALK WITH ONE OF THE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF THE TOWER BRASS, WHICH RECENTLY CELEBRATED THEIR 40TH ANNIVERSARY.

FOR NOW, PLEASE ENJOY THIS SPECIAL PROGRAM, WGTE PRESENTS: CHRISTMAS WITH THE TOWER BRASS QUINTET.

(MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) NARRATOR: ONCE UPON A TIME THERE WAS A FARMER'S DAUGHTER NAMED EMMA WHO WENT BAREFOOT IN THE SUMMER, TALKED TO THE PIGS AND LIKED TO SIT IN THE BRANCHES OF THE OLD CHERRY TREE ALL YEAR ROUND.

SHE DID WEAR BOOTS IN THE WINTER.

ON THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS, THE YOUNG LOCAL PRINCE SAW EMMA IN HER TREE.

THERE AND THEN HE KNEW THAT SHE AND ONLY SHE COULD BE HIS ONLY ONE TRUE LOVE.

(MUSIC) NARRATOR: THE PRINCE ASKED THE FARMER FOR EMMA'S HAND IN MARRIAGE.

THE FARME ASKED EMMA HOW SHE FELT ABOUT SUCH AN HONOR.

EMMA WASN'T ALL THAT THRILLED.

THE PRINCE HAD A FUNNY SMILE AND HE WAS TO BE SURE A PRINCE.

BUT SHE COULDN'T IMAGINE HERSELF LIVING HAPPILY IN A CASTLE.

NO SHE SAID BUT THANK YOU PRINCE.

(MUSIC) NARRATOR: HOWEVER THE PRINCE WOULD NOT TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER.

INSTEAD THAT VERY NEXT DAY HE SENT HER BY ROYAL MESSENGER A PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TREE.

EMMA WAS PLEASENTLY SUPPRISED.

(MUSIC) (MUSIC) NARRATOR: ON THE SECOND DAY OF CHRISTMAS 2 MESSENGERS CAME BEARING A CAGE WITH 2 TURTLE DOVES AND ANOTHER PARTRIDGE IN ANOTHER PEAR TREE.EMMA WAS CHARMED (MUSIC) NARRATOR: ON THE MORNING OF THE THIRD DAY OF CHRISTMAS, 3 MEN TRUDGED THROUGH THE SNOW WITH 3 FRENCH HENS, 2 MORE TURLTE DOVES AND A THIRD PARTRIDGE IN A THIRD PEAR TREE.

HES OVERDOING IT MUTTERED EMMA'S MOTHER.

(MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) NARRATOR: ON THE FOURTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS MORE MESSENGERS BROUGHT OUT 4 CALLING BIRDS WHO CALLED OUT EMMA EMMA, EMMA!

EMMA!

3 FRENCH HENS, 2 TURTLE DOVES AND ANOTHER PARTRIDGE AND YET ANOTHER PEAR TREE.

WE BETTER BUILD A BIRD HOUSE SAID EMMA'S FATHER.

HER MOTHER MADE 10 QUARTS OF PEAR JAM.

ON THE 5TH DAY OF CHRISTMAS EMMA RECIEVED 4 MORE CALLING BIRDS, 3 MORE FRENCH HENS, 2 MORE TURTLE DOVES, AND ANOTHER PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TREE.

AND FOR A CHANGE, 5 GOLDEN RINGS!

(MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) NARRATOR: AT DAWN ON THE 6TH DAY OF CHRISTMAS EMMA WAS STILL IN BED WHEN SHE HEARD 6 KNOCKS AT THE COTTAGE DOOR.

SHE PEAKED OUT THE WINDOWAND SAW 6 SWANS SWIMMING IN A SILVER POOL.

ALL THE OTHER BIRDS WERE STEAKED UP BY THE CHIMENY.

5 MORE GOLDEN RINGS WERE TIED TO THE DOOR HANDLE.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

IT WAS THE 7TH DAY OF CHRISTMAS.

WHEN SHE OPENED THE DOOR, EMMA SAW 7 GEESE A LAYING, 6 MORE SWANS A SWIMMING, 5 GOLDEN RINGS 4 CALLING BIRDS, 3 FRENCH HENS 2 TURTLE DOVES, AND ANOTHER PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TREE.

THAT MAKES 69 BIRDS AND THEY ARE ALL LAYING EGGS SHE CROANED.

(MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) NARRATOR: ON THE 8TH DAY OF CHRISTMAS THERE WAS SOMETHING NEW.

8 MILING MAIDS, EACH WITH HER OWN PAIL MILKING STOOL AND COW.

BEHIND THEM WERE 7 MORE GEESE, SIX MORE SWIMMING SWANS, 4 CALLING BIRDS 3 FRENCH HENS, AND 2 TURTLE DOVES 4 MORE GOLDEN RINGS WERE HANGING ON THE PEAR TREE.

A PARTRIDGE WAS CHEWING ON THE FIFTH.

(MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) NARRATOR: WORN OUT, EMMA DREAMED SHE HEARD MUSIC BUT IT WAS NO DREAM.

IT WAS THE MORNING OF THE 9TH DAY OF CHRISTMAS AND WHAT SHE HEARD WERE 9 PIPERS PIPING A TUNE THAT WAS SO LOVELY SHE COULD ALMOST IGNORE THE 8 NEW MILK MAIDS AND THEIR COWS, THE 7 NEW GEESE, THE 6 NEW SWANS, THE 5 NEW GOLDEN RINGS, THE 4 NEW CALLING BIRDS, 3 NEW FRENCH HENS, 2 NEW TURLTE DOVES, AND WAY OFF IN THE DISTANCE A PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TREE.

SHE COULD ALMOST IGNORETHEM BUT NOT QUITE (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) NARRATOR: ON THE 1OTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS THE COTTAGE DOOR FLEW OPEN AND 10 DRUMMERS DRUMMED THEIR WAY INSIDE, TO THE 9 PIPERS PIPING.

THE 8 MILK MAID TUMBLED AFTER WITH ALL THE COWS, GEESE SWANS, GOLDEN RINGS, CALLING BIRDS, FRENCH HENS, TURTLE DOVES, AND OF COURSE THE PARTRIDGE IN ANOTHER NEW PEAR TREE.

THE FARMER AND HIS WIFE, PACKED SOME EGGS AND 100 JARS OF PEAR JAM AND LEFT HOME TO VISIT THE FARMER'S ANCIENT PARENTS WHO LIVED FAR AWAY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE KINGDOM.

EMMA STAYED HOME TO WATCH OVER THE FARM.

THAT NIGHT SHE MADE 52 PEAR OMLETTES FOR ALL THE DRUMMERS PIPERS, AND MAIDS.

SHE FED THE COWS 24 BAILS OF HAY.

THE BIRDS DID VERY WELL ON CHOPPED PEARS AND COTTAGE CHEESE.

ON THE 11TH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, 11 LADIES DANCED IN WITH 10 MORE DRUMMERS, 9 MORE PIPERS, 8 MORE MILKING MAIDS AND ALL THE USUAL BIRDS.

EMMY MADE 90 OMMLETTES, SQUEZED 10 GALLONS OF PEAR JUICE, AND FED EVERYBODY.

THEN SHE THREW THE 30 35 RINGS AT THE 32 CALLING BIRDS WHO WERE DRIVING HER CRAZY SCREECHING EMMA!

EMMA!

EMMA!

EMMA!

(MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) NARRATOR: ON THE 12TH DAY OF CHRISTMAS A VERY WEARY EMMA CLIMBED UP TO THE HAY LOFT FOR SOME SLEEP BUT OVER THE SNOWY HILLS SHE SAW 12 LEAPING LORDS 11 DANCING LADIES, 10 DRUMMERS DRUMMING, 9 PIPERS PIPING, 8 MILK MAIDS WITH COWS, THE 7 LAYING GEESE, THE 6 SWIMMING SWANS, THE 5 PAGES BEARING 5 GOLDEN RINGS, 4 CALLINGBIRDS, 3 FRENCH HENS, 2 TURTLE DOVES, AND JUST BEHIND THE PEAR TREE, AND ITS PARTRIDGE, THE PRINCE HIMSLEF.

SMILING, HIS FUNNY SMILE.

(MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) NARRATOR: IN SPITE OF HERSELF EMMA WAS ENCHANTED.

THE PRINCE RAN INTO THE HOUSE AND UP THE LADDER EMMA MY OWN TRUE LOVE HE CRIED.

NOW WILL YOU BE MY PRINCESS AND LIVE WITH ME IN THE CASTLE?

PRINCE DEAR, YES ANDNO, EMMA REPLIED.

I HAVE BEEN THINKING, MOST OF THE CASTLE'S PEOPLE MUST BE HERE BY NOW.

IF THEY STAYED AND YOU STAYED, WELL THEN WE COULD BE MARRIED!

WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE MY FARMER PRINCESS?

I'D LOVE IT HE SAID.

(MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) NARRATOR: AND SO IT WAS THAT EMMA AND THE PRINCE IN THE COMPANY OF 12 LORDS, 22 LADIES, 30 DRUMMERS, 36 PIPERS, 40 MILKING MAIDS AND THEIR COWS, 42 GEESE, 42 SWANS, 36 CALLING BIRDS, 30 FRENCH HENS, 22 TURTLE DOVES, 12 PARTDIRDGES, AND EMMA'S FATHER AND MOTHER.

EXCHANGED 40 GOLDEN RINGS AND WERE VERY HAPPILY MARRIED.

(MUSIC) (MUSIC) NARRATOR: THE PEAR TREES GREW INTO AN ORCHARD AND THE COWS INTO A DAIRY HERD.

AND THE 184 BIRDS LAID THOUSANDS OF EGGS.

MOST OF WHICH HATCHED.

(MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) BRAD CRESSWEL: WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A FEW MOMENTS TO TALK WITH 2 MEMBERS OF, WELL, A MEMBER OF THE TOWER BRASS QUINTET AND A FORCE BEHIND THE SCENES AS IT WERE.

I AM TALKING ABOUT DAVID SAYGERS.

DAVID IS THE TUBA PLAYER FOR THE TOWER BRASS AND ALSO HAS ARRANGED SOME OF THE MUSIC AND WRITTEN SOME OF THE MUSIC THAT WE ARE HEARING TODAY.

AND STEVEN WIPFLI IS A LONGTIME FORCE YOU KNOW BEHIND THE SCENES AND IN FRONT OF THE SCENES FOR CULTURE HERE IN NORTHWEST OHIO AND HAS BEEN A DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THIS COLLABORATION BETWEEN WGTE AND SAINT MICHAEL'S IN THE HILLS EPISCIPAL CHURCH WHICH IS WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.

UNFORTUNATLY AS I MENTIONED AT THE TOP OF THE SHOW WE ARE UNABLE TO RECORD THE CONCERT HERE WITH TOWER BRASS.

WE DID IT IN OUR STUDIOS AT WGTE BUT WE ARE ABLE TO CONGREGATE IN THIS BEAUTIFUL SPACE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROGRAM TODAY.

I WANT TO START WITH YOU STEVE AND TALK ABOUT HOW THIS CAME TO BE, THIS COLLABORATION BETWEEN WGTE AND ST MICHAELS IN THE HILLS, THIS ORIGINALLY WAS INTENDED TO BE PART OF YOUR PERFORMANCE SERIES OFF THE BEATEN PATH.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT?

STEVEN WIPFLI: YES WELL LAST YEAR WE INAUGURATED OFF THE BEATEN PATH AS A SERIES OF CONCERT EVENTS AND EDUCATIONAL EVENTS THAT WOULD BRING OUR COMMUNITY AT ST MICHAELS.

THE TOWER BRASS QUINTET WAS PART OF A VERY SUCCESSFUL PERFORMANCE IN DECEMBER WE ALMOST IMMIDIATLY RESERVED THE DATE FOR THIS YEAT AND WHEN WE FINALLY HAD A DISSCUSION IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PANDEMIC TO SAY OK WHAT SHOULD WE DO.

WGTE UHH ALSO PROPOSED A RECODED CONCERT AND THEN JUST KIND OF MAGICALLY THE COLLABORATION HAPPENED.

BRAD: LETS HEAR A LITTLE BITMORE ABOUT OFF THE BEATEN PATH THATS THE NAME OF THE PERFORMANCE SERIES UM CAN YOU TELL US, GIVE US A SENSE OF LIKE SOME OF THE PEOPLE YOUVE HAD HERE BESIDES TOWER BRASS?

STEVEN: RIGHT WELL OFF THE BEATEN PATH IS KIND OF A WINK IN THE TITLE TO OUR KIND OF SECRET LOCATION HERE AT ST MICHALES.

WE ARE IN A WOODED AREA OF OTTAWA HILLS.

NOT MANY PEOPLE DRIVE BY AND WE REALLY HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO ENGAGE OUR CONGREGATION WITH THE WIDER COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL FACILITY ITS A PARTICULARLY GORGEOUS SPACE FOR LIVE MUSIC MAKING.

GREAT ACCUSTIC, A GREAT ORGAN, A GREAT PIANO.

WE ALSO WANTED TO PROVIDE REALLY UNIQUE EXPERIENCES IN THE AREAS OF SPIRITUAL LIFE AND EDUCATION AND CULTURAL EVENTS.

I MEAN WE ARE SITTING HERE WEARING MASKS.

WE ARE SITTING APART FROM EACHOTHER.

LETS TALK ABOUT HOW THE PANDEMIC HAD AFFECTED DIRECLTY.

WHAT IS IT YOU DO?

DAVID SAYGER: FOR MUSICIANS AROUND THE WORLD, IT HAS BEEN A DIFFICULT TIME TO UH TO COME TOGETHER, TO BE COMFORTABLE IN THE SAME SPACE AS OTHERS SO YOU MAKE ADAPTATIONS WE TRIED BELL COVERS ON OUR INSTRUMENTS FOR REHEARSALS AND SUCH AND UH TRIED TO KEEP A LITTLE MORE DISTANCE.

SOME CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH PLAYING MUSIC WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE SO MUCH FURTHER AWAY FROM YOU THAN YOU WOULD NORMALLY BE.

BRAD: I DO WANT TO MENTION THIS BROADCAST TODAY IS SPONSORED BY ST MICHAEL'S IN THE HILLS EPISCIPLE CHURCH UM STEVE DO YOU WANT TO TELL FOLKS WHERE THEY CAN GO ONLINE MAYBE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OFF THE BEATEN PATH, FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE MUSICAL MISSION OF THE CHURCH RIGHT NOW.

STEVE: YES, YOU CAN FOLLOW ST MICHAEL'S IN THE HILLS EPISCIPLE CHURCH ON FACEBOOK.

WE ALSO HAVE OUR OWN YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

WE HAVE BROADCASTED SOME EXCERPS OF THE CONCERT THROUGH DECEMBER AND THOSE ARE AVAILABLE ON THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL AND ON FACEBOOK AS WELL.

BRAD: THATS WONDERFUL.

DAVID, I KNOW YOU HAVE SOME CHRISTMAS CD'S STILL OUT THERE THAT PEOPLE CAN FIND ONLINE.

TELL US WHERE THEY CAN GET TO TOWER BRASS ONLINE.

DAVID: YOU CAN VISIT TOWER BRASS QUINTET, ALL ONE WORD DOT ORG ON THE WEB AND UHH THERE YOU CAN FIND RECORDINGS FROM THE QUINTET UMM THAT YOU CAN DOWLOAD.

YOU CAN ALSO PURCHASE CD'S BRAD: WELL I WANT TO THANK THE 2 OF YOU FOR SPENDING A LITTLE TIME TALKING ABOUT THE FORCES BEHIND THE SCENES AS IT WERE AND GIVING US A LITTLE INSIGHT INTO THIS WONDERFUL PROGRAM TODAY.

DAVID: THANKS VERY MUCH AND THANKS TO ST MICHAEL'S AS WELL.

BRAD; WE ARE GOING TO GO BACK NOW TO WGTE PRESENTS CHRISTMAS WITH THE TOWER BRASS QUINTET.

(MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC)