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CULTURE
Appleton, Wisconsin December 2016 Vol. XXII
Issue III Page 9
In the hustle and bustle
of mid-December, as mid-
terms fast approach and
gifts are hastily purchased,
Appleton North finds solace
in its annual winter concert,
previously known as “Holi-
day Classics.” As the Orlyn
A. Zieman auditorium is
flooded with members of
the community and beyond,
the air fills with the specta-
cle of colorful lights and the
sound of classic melodies
and dissonant harmonies.
This year, the tradition of
the seasonal concert contin-
ues through “Wintersong.”
Mr. Aumann and Mrs.
Putman, the choir directors
at North, are paving the way
for the success of “Winter-
song.” Mr. Aumann, who
taught at Green Bay East
high school for the five
years preceding his tenure
at North, leads the Women’s
Overture and Varsity Men’s
choirs as well as the Wom-
en’s Choral Society and
North Choir. On his new po-
sition, he said, “I’m proud
of how students instinc-
tively developed a sense of
family and belonging. The
choirs are safe, welcome,
and people are celebrated
for who they are.”
This is also Mrs. Putman’s
first year as a member of
the North faculty after di-
recting at a middle school
in Geneseo, Illinois. Now,
she instructs both the Var-
sity Women’s Choir and the
Overture Men’s Choir and
expresses her excitement
for the upcoming concert
while detailing the intrica-
cies of the set list. “The Var-
sity Women are perform-
ing songs from all over the
world, from Great Britain
to Haiti to Norway, and the
Overture Men have incred-
ibly lively songs with a lot
of percussion.”
This highlights the con-
trast between “Wintersong
and past “Holiday Classics”
concerts. For one, “Winter-
song” will be featuring more
than just holiday songs,
which composed the entire-
ty of past winter concerts.
Mr. Aumann stated that by
diversifying the portfolio of
the choral pieces, “Winter
Song” will avoid prior mu-
sical limitations.
Additionally,
Aumann
added, “Holiday Classics
was a concert that involved
skits, which would serve as
a transition for all the songs
as well as a sort of narrative
for the entire night; it was
really cool for the audience
to experience the ‘stage
magic’ that was involved.
While ‘Wintersong’ will
not have these skits, there
will still be the same ‘stage
magic,’ maybe even more.”
Part of this “stage magic”
will include harp, clarinet
and flute solos; lively per-
cussion and smooth, con-
necting transitions that will
ultimately fuse each indi-
vidual piece into one long
song of winter (hence the
title of the concert).
Overall, the choir direc-
tors want people to know
that though there will be a
few changes, “Wintersong”
will still be very similar to
the beloved winter concerts
of years past. “The purpose
is still to provide a relaxing
and joyful environment dur-
ing one of the most stress-
ful parts of the year,” Mr.
Aumann says. “And we’re
still performing [the song]
‘Christmastide.’ We’re even
adding some really special
instrumental solos to the
mix.”
Ultimately, the ANHS
choirs are working diligent-
ly to create a concert that is
as smooth and as cheerful
as an end-of-the-year con-
cert can be. On a parting
note that caters to the hope-
ful and spirited nature of
the “Wintersong” concert,
Aumann stated, “Singing
is all-inclusive for people,
no matter their economic,
cultural or religious back-
ground. Singing is for ev-
eryone.”
Performances for “Win-
tersong” will be held Dec.
15 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 16
at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets
are $10. For more informa-
tion, visit the choir website,
thechoirsatnorth.weebly.
com.
By Maddy Schilling
The choirs at North welcome ‘Wintersong’
Cultural spotlight: Lunch in the home of a Muslim
family
The biggest meal of the
day, instead of what dinner
tends to be for most Ameri-
cans, is typically lunch for
an Islamic household. It is
customary that if there is a
visitor at their house around
the time of lunch, they do
not permit the visitor to
leave without sharing a
meal, whether this visitor is
a stranger or not. Then they
begin the boundless feast.
Stage 1) Tea time
The guest is invited into
the dining area where they
are served hot tea. It is also
common for the visitors to
bring tea to the house. The
family and guest share tea
and converse while they
wait for the next portion.
Stage 2) Helping hands
Nuts, typically almonds
and pistachios, are brought
out to occupy the guest and
family while the meal is be-
ing prepared and the table is
being set. The whole family
typically helps to set the
table and then the meal is
brought out.
Stage 3) An abundance
of nourishment
The food is set and the
family as well as the guest
are ready to eat. A salad
called “salata” is served
with almost every meal and
there is typically a soup
and then a main entree. The
guest is expected to try ev-
erything and eat as much as
they would like. Water, soda
and more tea is brought out
with the meal.
Stage 4) Fruit-specta-
tions
After the table is cleared
the family will serve fruit
to the guest and the guest is
expected to try a bit of all
of it, just in case they didn’t
get enough to eat previous-
ly.
Stage 5) Indulging the
sweet tooth
Dessert is brought out af-
ter fruit. This entails cook-
ies, pastries such as Bak-
lava and Kanafeh as well
as other traditional desserts
specific to regions and na-
tionalities.
Stage 6) Tea time part 2
One more round of hot tea
goes to the family and the
guest.
Stage 7) Coffee and
Closure
After dessert and tea,
the family will bring out
hot coffee. This is the last
course of the meal. The
guest will close their con-
versations, thank the family
for the meal and bid them
goodbye.
A meal in the home of a
Muslim is not a meal on an-
other planet. As displayed
above in one specific ex-
ample, this is not the case.
Islam is a peaceful religion
that 23 percent of the world
follows, making it the sec-
ond most widely practiced
religion in the world.
In Appleton there are two
mosques (Muslim places
of worship). Mohammed
Ashour, a member of the
Muslim community says,
“The generosity of the
Muslim extends far beyond
pressing food on guests. As
a (part of a) compassionate
and giving lifestyle, I am
part of a proud and a chari-
table religion that contrib-
utes a whole array of per-
spective and kindness to the
public.”
Brennan Arnold, a se-
nior at North High who has
grown up in Appleton his
entire life, says, “I used to
think that Muslim people
were a part of a totally sepa-
rate society from mine, but
I’ve come to realize they are
an important part of society
pretty much everywhere.”
Hopefully, this inclu-
sive sentiment will spread
throughout the entire com-
munity.
The ANHS choral
classes prepare for
their winter concert
By Yasmeen Ashour
Understanding
part of the Muslim
culture
Mr. Aumann directs the North Choir piece “Wassail” during a re-
hearsal for “Wintersong.”
Photo by Maddy Schilling
Drinks are prepared in the home of the Khatibs, a Muslim family
from Appleton.
Photo by Alaa Khatib