Christmas in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania: Concerts

Christmas in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania: The Moravians

Christmas in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania: History of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Christmas in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania: Christmas Candles and Lights

Christmas in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania: Moravian Stars

Christmas in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania: Community Putzes

Christmas in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania: Religious Services

Christmas in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania: Historic District

Visitors to Bethlehem also have the opportunity to hear many Christmas concerts, some featuring Moravian music. Moravians have long encouraged music making within their communities. The early Moravians composed thousands of musical pieces, safeguarded the biggest collection of music in the American colonies, and harbored amongst them many instrument makers. One unusual feature of the distinguished Moravian musical heritage is the trombone choir, an ensemble made up entirely of tenor, bass, alto, and soprano trombones. Moravians brought the first trombones to this country in the mid-eighteenth century, where they continued to be a novelty outside Moravian communities until well into the nineteenth century.