"Songs of the Season" is a multi-cultural musical celebration of the winter holidays
including Christmas, Yule, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. The music include selections
from general Yuletide music, Christmas, Gospel Christmas, Chanukah and Kwanzaa.
We sing
in English, Hebrew, Ladino, Spanish, German, Swedish, French and Yoruban.
The
origins of
the
holidays are explained and, to make the program more festive, the Performers
can dress
in Victorian period costumes. The music can be completely secular if requested.
Robin can either perform solo or in a duo with accompaniment on guitars, bass, other instruments, and various percussion instruments including jingle bells. It is a wonderful and fun holiday program that engages people of all ages from all cultures.
The CD featuring music from this show was released 2010 and is available for purchase here.
Scroll
down below to hear sound clips from this show.
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| Over a dozen Brooklyn & Queens Public Library Branches, NYC | Lindenhurst Memorial Library, L.I., NY | C.W. Post / L.I. University, NY |
| Rutgers University, NJ | Southold Historical Society, LI | Islip K-2 School, L.I., NY |
| Centenary College, NJ | Univ. of Delaware | College of New Jersey, Ewing |
| Danbury Library, CT | Silas Bronson Library, Waterbury, CT | Hamden Library, CT |
| Univ of Conn. - Stamford | East Hartford Public Library, CT | Bloomfield Public Library, NJ |
| East Stroudsberg Univ., PA | Raritan Valley Comm. College, NJ | Pearl River Library, NY |
| Tenafly Library, NJ | Paramus Library, NJ | Univ. of New Haven, CT |
| Grounds for Sculpture, Trenton, NJ | West Point Military Academy | Dickens Fest, Port Jefferson, NY |
The Brooklyn Public Library raves about "Songs of the Season"!
Highlawn branch: "They loved the show and kids participated playing
assorted instruments..."
Marcy branch: "The kids were most enthusiastic and actively participated"
Clinton Hill branch: "Everyone really enjoyed it. We would love to
have them (Robin and Cecilia) back again"
East Flatbush branch: "Most enthusiastic. Children young and old joined
in signing along with the performers."
"They rocked our little branch like the storm that was raging
outside that day. Robin Greenstein and Cecilia Kirtland sang and played lively
covers of Christmas
jingles on their amplified guitars. Their singing showed impressive strength
and range, varying from hushed, gentle lullaby to energetic pop to swaggering
rock. Instrumentally Robin and Cecilia complemented each other well, one playing
arpeggiated chords and riffs when the other was playing rhythm. They got both
a dulcet, pure sound from their acoustics and a baser, raw sound for their
'Stones-y' rocker, 'Let's Make a Baby King.'"
"Midway through the set, they varied the tempo of their performance by playing
rhythmic, chanting Kwanzaa songs. They also played a few Hanukkah songs that
roused the kids into dancing and smiles. After a few songs, [they] handed out
bells and tambourines to the children. The musicians prefered to keep the songs
flowing, delivering the goods with a no-holds-barred gusto that would have
made female folk-rock guitar acts (like Heart) proud!" (Alex Locke - East Flatbush)
Main Branch, Grand Army Plaza: "Robin Greenstein and Cecilia Kirtland
gave a professional, interactive performance that had the kids banging on rhythm
instruments and singing along gleefully. They seemed comfortable with a variety
of songs and styles and played a full range of multicultural holiday tunes.
They engaged the audience interactively with banter, and gave interesting explanations
of some of the lesser-known pieces they played. The audience, small though it
was, was enthusiastic and enjoyed the program tremendously." Susan Asis, Program
Specialist
"Children and teachers were taken with their program which was beautiful to
listen to and extremely informative to all. I was particularly impressed with
the excitement and joy they generated in our youngest students. We immediately
decided we wanted to make them a holiday tradition at our school"
Diane Druckman, Principal, Islip K-2 Center, Islip, NY
"The holiday show last year was great and we would like to have you back
at RVCC."
Mary Sullivan, Director of Student Life, Raritan Valley Comm. College, Somerville,
NJ
"Your lovely voices combined with the Victorian costumes
and your wonderful playing was a special pleasure. The selections were
truly remarkable and
respectful of the multi-cultural society we live in. Your program is unique
and inspiring."
Melissa Andruski, Southhold Historical Society, Southold, NY
Sound Clips: 
1. Winter
Wonderland/Jingle Bells
2. Hanukah Medley
3. Habari Gani -
a Kwanzaa song
4. Go Tell It On The Mountain
5. Silent
Night/Noche de Paz
6. Deck The Halls
for security reasons, clips are low-res audio. Due to copyright issues, only Public Domain songs are available to hear: