Every year since 1940 Cincinnati’s Episcopalian Christ Church Cathedral presents The Boar’s Head and Yule Log Festival, free, the congregation’s magnificent gift to the City. We’ve attended almost every year since 1973 and it never fails to move us to tears.

Some things are beyond the power of words to express. I remember thinking, when we were on the island of Kauai, “How will I ever convey the beauty of this place to the folks back in Ohio?” We can only recount the bare facts of the experience and attach a label to our emotional response.

The Boar’s Head Festival is like that. The facts are: 150 volunteer performers in gorgeous costumes, carrying lovingly crafted props, present a Christmas pageant with the accompaniment of a large chorus and full orchestra. The SRO crowd adds their voices to those of the choir as familiar carols alternate with solos sung by the ‘stars’ of the cast.

The Master of the Revels opens with the majestic “Boar’s Head Carol,” enjoining the attendees to sing along with the chorus. It’s a joyful tune with joyful words, yet I weep all through it, as I do pretty much throughout the whole pageant.

How shall I label our emotional response? What is it, exactly, that moves us so powerfully?

The Boar’s Head Festival demonstrates what humanity can achieve when we are at our best. Responding to the beauty of it, the humor, the majesty, the heartfelt reverence, cast and audience alike are brought to an awareness of our common humanity. We feel that, despite all the hideousness, the cruelty, the greed, the terror we humans inflict, there is something wonderful about us after all, something that redeems us.

Why is this moving? We are each profoundly different from the rest. We arrive at every present moment by way of distinct and separate paths, long and winding paths that have led us all through deep shadows and sunny glens. It is miraculous that we can communicate with one another at all.

When, as part of an audience, we are moved by a shared experience, the awareness of our differences seems to drop away for a little while, our solitude is relieved. The tears we weep are tears of joy, relief and solace.

My little set of variations on The Boar’s Head Carol is a light and humble work, scored for just three musicians. It falls far short of the splendor of the Boar’s Head Festival that inspired it. Yet it is my sincere homage to the good people of Christ Church Cathedral, my expression of gratitude for the joy they have brought their audiences every Christmas since 1940.

This seems an appropriate moment to quote the British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams. He said, “There can only be a few great composers, but there can be many sincere composers.”

Please accept this piece as my sincere attempt to bring you joy.

To hear Variations on The Boar’s Head Carol splendidly performed by the Mirecourt Trio (violinist Ken Goldsmith, cellist Terry King, pianist John Jensen), click on the link above.

To see a PDF of the score, click on the link above.

Rick Sowash
Cincinnati, OH
Dec. 20, 2015