Featuring AAUF’s own Carl Backman, the Auburn Community Orchestra will perform a holiday concert on Thursday, December 5 at 7pm in the sanctuary of the Auburn United Methodist Church at Gay and Magnolia (parking opposite the new Gay Street Publix). It will of course feature Sleigh Ride, among other favorites, and there will be opportunities to sing along. There is also a new (to our correspondent, 2nd trombonist Carl Backman of the Fellowship) collection of Hanukah-related pieces that someday may be as popular as Sleigh Ride.

The East Alabama Community Band will perform a holiday concert on Monday, December 9 at 6:30pm in the sanctuary of the Auburn United Methodist Church at Gay and Magnolia (parking opposite the new Gay Street Publix). If you missed the community orchestra’s rendering of Sleigh Ride, you can hear another rendition here (minus the string section). If you were there for the orchestra concert, you can compare the tempi of elder statesman conductor Rusty Logan of the orchestra and young whippersnapper Josh Wine of the band. Sometimes Sleigh Ride is performed at a gentle trot and sometimes like the horses are headed for the barn, at a full gallop. Who knows what’s in store this time.