MUSIC FOR LUNCH
Pianist James Thompson performs charming miniatures by Grieg, Schubert, and Debussy. Also on the program are two transcriptions by Franz Liszt (1811-1886), Schubert's "Standchen" and Wagner's "Lohengrin's Verweis an Elsa." A composer of boundless energy, Liszt transcribed reams and reams of other composers' work for the piano, not only to champion composers he loved but also to feed the then-famished middle-class' hunger for piano music. Sherman-Clay Piano & Organ, 1624 Fourth Avenue, 622-7580, 12:15 pm, free.
STEVE KORN GROUP
This versatile and eloquent drummer celebrates the release of his new CD, Points in Time (Origin). Triple Door, 216 Union St, 838-4333, sets at 8 and 10 pm, $10.
FRIDAY DECEMBER 12
MEDIEVAL WOMEN'S CHOIR
Accompanied by medieval fiddles, harp, recorders, bells, and other percussion, this choir sings English Christmas carols, songs from the Finnish Piae Cantiones, and Danish chants. Also Sat Dec 13 at 8 pm. Graduate Reading Room at the Suzzallo Library, UW Campus, 527-2667, 8 pm, $10/$15.
SATURDAY DECEMBER 13
THE ESOTERICS
The Esoterics remain reliably adventurous, even for a holiday concert. This a cappella group tackles two cantatas that recount the story of the Nativity, Hugo Distler's Die Weihnachtsgeschichte and Benjamin Britten's A Boy Was Born. Also on the program: Arnold Schönberg's jubilant "Friede auf Erden" and the "Mater ora filium" by Arnold Bax. Also Sun Dec 14 at Holy Rosary Church in West Seattle at 3 pm. St. Joseph's Church, 732 18th Ave E, 935-7779, 8 pm, $15-$20.
NORTHWEST BOYCHOIR
This perennial favorite is patterned after the Christmas Eve observance at King's College in Cambridge, England. Nine holiday readings, traditional carols, audience sing-alongs--you get the idea. Arrive early, so you don't end up like me last time, standing behind a pillar. Town Hall, Eighth Ave and Seneca St, 528-0250, 8 pm, free will donation.
WILSON ZORN, DOUG THERIAULT & BRYAN EUBANKS
Three Portland-based musicians fuse heavily manipulated keyboards, a hybrid guitar/computer, the inner sounds of everyday objects, and circuit-bent generic guitar pedals into adventurous solo, duo, and trio improvisations. Circuit-bending, by the way, entails rewiring audio components to produce sounds never remotely considered in the original design; with enough practice and luck, you can wrest a symphony from Talking Barbie or your answering machine. Polestar Music Gallery, 1412 18th Ave at E Union St, 329-4224, 8 pm, $6.
SUNDAY DECEMBER 14
JOSEPH ADAM
St. James Cathedral organist Joseph Adam presents Baroque and Romantic works for Advent and Christmastide, including works by J. S. Bach, Dieterich Buxtehude, Nicolas de Grigny, Charles Tournemire, and Flor Peeters. St. James Cathedral, 804 Ninth Ave, 382-4874, 7:30 pm, $15 suggested donation, students pay as able.
MONDAY DECEMBER 15
SOUND OF THE BRUSH
If you missed Seattle School's packed gig at Polestar last month, here's another, albeit stripped-down, chance with Mike Min and several Seattle School chums. Ernst Karel's EKG holds forth for the second set, while the third set is an open-to-all-comers mix 'n' match improvisation. CoCA, 1420 11th Ave, 728-1980, 8:30 pm, donation requested.
