A First Christmas

The color of Doug Cameron's violin does not change. It remains a conversation point, considering it is glowing electric blue.

But he can change his attire, which is why he's picked out a nice Christmas tie for Saturday night, which is when he'll join the Fort Smith Symphony for a performance at the ArcBest Corp. Performing Arts Center.

As for the past few months, he's been carefully picking out individual notes as he prepares to turn his quaint 2012 album "Spontaneous Christmas" into a fully orchestral affair. Because rehearsal time with the full group is at such a premium, the work needs to be perfect.

"You can't sit and correct the oboe player's notes," Cameron says by phone from his home in Florida.

After months of work, "Spontaneous Christmas" makes its orchestral debut on Saturday.

It's fitting that a piece called "Spontaneous Christmas" had such a spontaneous transition from home recording to a program Cameron expects to perform with orchestras around the country.

Cameron recorded the project in 2012, adding his own string arrangements to classic Christmas songs and also adding in a few originals. Among those new songs are "Gift to the Children," which features Cameron's now 8-year-old son Alex, and the original tune "Christmas Dinner," written and performed by Peter, Paul & Mary member Noel Paul Stookey. The album sold well, and at one point was the third most-offered album on smooth jazz radio stations.

Cameron sent a copy of "Spontaneous Christmas" to John Jeter, music director of the Fort Smith Symphony. Having performed with the symphony several years before, Cameron had maintained a friendship with Jeter. After hearing the Christmas album, Jeter asked Cameron if he was interested in performing a Christmas program. Cameron said yes and got to work.

With the exception of a personal appearance by Stookey, almost all of the elements of "Spontaneous Christmas" will translate to full symphony arrangement. It can be a quiet album, and so Cameron will at times perform just with the symphony's rhythm section. But the album also incorporates much in the way of string arrangements, which become a natural fit for an orchestra.

Still, translating the work has been a daunting task.

"You don't know for sure until you hear an orchestra play it," Cameron says.

Cameron is sure of the quality of a few contributions. His son Alex will make an appearance at the debut performance, singing "Hark the Herald Angels Sing."

"My son sings like a boy from the Vienna Boys' Choir," Cameron says with pride.

Son Sean will also join the festivities. He will play alongside his brother and his father and a group of promising music students from the Fort Smith Suzuki School.

Cameron also promises sparks from a debut of "Fantasy on Carol of the Bells," which is not recorded for "Spontaneous Christmas." Cameron asked Canadian composer Ben Christenson to write an arrangement of "Carol of the Bells." He returned with the three-movement piece that will debut Saturday.

Overall, it's a light-hearted program that breezes past the all-too-common pressure of the season and serves as a reminder of the true reason for Christmas, Cameron says.

"It's about the original Christmas present. ... I am hoping this concert will send a very subtle spiritual message," Cameron say.