It’s the season for choral music
Through the weekend. Choral Music. At no time of the year does choral music seem more appropriate than at Christmas. The St. Martin’s Chamber Choir, one of the area’s top ensembles, will present its take on the season, “Thou Little Tiny Child,” with three performances. They will take place at 7:30 p.m. today, St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral, 1350 Washington St.; 7:30 p.m. Saturday, First Congregational Church, 1128 Pine St., Boulder; and 3 p.m. Sunday, Augustana Lutheran Church, 5000 E. Alameda Ave. The multifaceted program will include Camille Saint-Saëns’ infrequently performed Christmas Oratorio and will involve such guest artists as organist Frank Nowell and the Confluence Quartet. $20, $18 seniors and $5 students. 303-298-1970 or . Kyle MacMillan
Visual arts
Through the week. Multimedia. Looking for a place to take Aunt Betty or those pesky cousins while they’re in town for the holidays? The Denver Art Museum has three major exhibitions on view — all quite different in style and look. Among them is “Houdon From the Louvre,” which showcases 21 premier busts by French Enlightenment sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon. They portray such intellectual and political leaders as George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and Denis Diderot. From today through Jan. 4, the museum is hosting “Winter Break.” Family activities will take place throughout the museum each day, and those 18 and younger will be admitted free. The museum will be closed Christmas and New Year’s Day but will have normal operating hours otherwise. 720-865-5000 or denverart . Kyle MacMillan
Classical music
Through the weekend. Christmas music. The Denver Brass and Colorado Chorale join forces for a large- scale musical tribute to the Christmas season. The program includes “Laudes,” an original oratorio, and trumpeter Joe Docksey’s evocative solo take on “O Holy Night.” In addition, Santa Claus and the Grinch will make appearances, reinforcing the event’s family flavor. Performances are set for 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday at Bethany Lutheran Church , 4500 E. Hampden Ave. ($8-$23), and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the University of Denver’s Newman Center for the Performing Arts, 2344 E. Iliff Ave ($22-$43). 303-832-4676 or denverbrass . Kyle MacMillan
Saturday and Sunday. New Music. It’s a big weekend for Boulder composer Richard Toensing. He will be featured at 7 p.m. Saturday on Colorado Public Radio’s Colorado Spotlight (KVOD 88.1 FM in Denver). Toensing’s comments will be aired along with excerpts from a new recording of his “Kontakion on the Nativity of Christ,” a spellbinding Christmas choral concerto in traditional Orthodox style. In addition, the Boulder Chamber Orchestra will premiere Toensing’s “When Beings of Fire Sang Praises With Beings of Clay.” Performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Broomfield Auditorium, 3 Community Park Road, and 4 p.m. Sunday at the Seventh Day Adventist Church, 345 Mapleton Ave., Boulder. $20. Boulderchamber . Kyle MacMillan
Pop music
Tonight. Singer-songwriters. When a show is billed as “HomeVibe Presents,” you can always count on two things: Quality Colorado music, and a living-room-style environment that makes you want to kick off your shoes. Seriously, HomeVibe does just that — it presents shows in clubs and bars and other spaces, and takes the time to warm up the room with care, attention to detail and personality. (At this year’s Denver Post Underground Music Showcase, we gave HomeVibe a large Persian rug shop as its venue. The result was amazing, and one of the biggest hits of the festival.) Tonight’s HomeVibe for the Holidays show features acts Tiny Television, Gregory Alan Isakov, Reed Foehl and Jefferson Hamer at the Walnut Room. Admission: $12-$15. More: . Ricardo Baca
Saturday. Rock. In 2008, Tickle Me Pink released its major-label debut. And in early 2009, Meese will release its major label debut. Colorado enjoying an impressive showing on the majors these days, and fans will have a chance to see Tickle Me Pink play with Meese — and the Heyday and Give Er Hell — at the Aggie Theater on Saturday night. Tickets are $12. More: aggie . Ricardo Baca
Saturday. Tribute band. Sometimes a record gains a reputation for being so important and essential that it almost outgrows the artist who wrote it. Just a few examples: “Dark Side of the Moon,” “Thriller,” “The White Album” and “Highway 61 Revisited.” These records inspire academic research, outrageous displays of fandom and, of course, tribute bands looking to re-create that magic. One of modern underground music’s best examples is “Endtroducing,” the dazzling 1996 debut from trip-hop’s DJ Shadow. The record — made completely with a mindblowing array of samples — was an instant classic, and by the late ’90s, music historians agreed that it deserved a place next to the greats. And so it makes sense that the record has inspired a tribute act — the Shadow Sessions — but it’s surprising to find out that the cover act is actually a live band. The Shadow Sessions’ Saturday show at the Walnut Room should be an interesting experiment, especially given the band’s varied instrumentation. Cover: $10. More: . Ricardo Baca
Family fun
Tonight. Holiday performance. Christmas music gets the artsy treatment at “Music With a View” at the Arvada Center for the Performing Arts. Before the Boulder Philharmonic Chamber Players present “Yuletide Brass,” check out fine art on display at the center — you’ll be able to chat with artists, writers and local scholars while enjoying preconcert refreshments. Then, settle in for a festive, family-friendly concert of holiday favorites, including a special version of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” Art show begins at 6:15 tonight, the concert follows at 7 p.m. Arvada Center for the Performing Arts, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd.; 720-898- 7200. General-admission tickets are $13.50 each, or $50 for four. Call to order tickets in advance. Kathleen St. John
Tuesday. Classical kids. Add a little jazz to your jingle with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra. Joined by conductor David Benoit and his jazz quartet, the CSO mixes contemporary jazz with classical orchestra to rework songs from the classic TV special “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” Expect new takes on “O Tannenbaum,” “Pebble Beach” and melancholy favorite “Christmas Time Is Here.” 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Boettcher Concert Hall at the Denver Performing Arts Complex, Speer Boulevard and Arapahoe Street. Tickets are $15-$73 for adults, $13.50- $65.75 for seniors age 62 and older and $7.50-$36.50 for students and kids. Call 303-830-TIXS or visit ticketmastercom. Kathleen St. John
Tonight-Saturday. Holidays old. Celebrate an old-fashioned English Christmas in “Washington Irving’s ‘Old Christmas’ ” at the Byers-Evans House. The presentation of Irving’s story is a nostalgic musing on Christmases past. Traditional Christmas carols will add a little extra cheer, as will holiday snacks. 7 p.m. today and Saturday. Byers-Evans House Museum, 1310 Bannock St.; 303-620-4933. Reservations are required — call to save a spot. Admission is $15. Kathleen St. John
Monday. Hanukkah celebration. Mayor John Hickenlooper and Gov. Bill Ritter help light a community menorah at the Allied Jewish Federation of Colorado. It’s the second night of the eight-day Hanukkah celebration, and all are invited to attend. After lighting the Chabad Lubavitch of Colorado menorah, head inside to warm up. Have a hot drink, and munch on latkes and sufganiyot, a type of jelly doughnut. 5 p.m. Monday. Allied Jewish Federation, 300 S. Dahlia St. Call 303-316-6459 for more information. Free. Kathleen St. John
