Composer Christian Asplund, a professor of music at Brigham Young University, has been introducing area residents to the intimate settings of music salons for nearly 25 years.

A music salon generally offers instrumental music that is light, pleasing to the ear and often sentimental. It is suitable for the drawing room rather than the concert hall, according to Google.

On Monday, Asplund and guests will hold the 12th Annual Boxing Day Salon at 8 p.m. at The Blue Door, 349 W. 400 South in Provo. The Salon carries a holiday theme. The community is invited to this free post-Christmas event.

Asplund, raised in Canada, celebrated Boxing Day throughout his youth and carries on the lifelong tradition in Utah County.

Historically, Boxing Day was a time when the upper classes would give boxes of clothes and items to the poor, give a dinner of leftovers for their servants who had to work Christmas Day and continue with the holiday celebrations.

The first time Boxing Day was put as words on paper was in the popular Charles Dickens novel “The Pickwick Papers.” In 1833, clergy also distributed contents of alms for the poor collected by church members.

For Asplund, not only is he sharing his heritage, but he’s also facilitating a night of kicking back and enjoying an extension of the holiday season.

This year’s performing guests come from across the country. The include:

• Logan Hone, from Los Angeles, playing ragtime piano and original banjo ditties.
• Lula Asplund, of Chicago, who will offer electronic music using light sensors and processed piano.
• We Free Kings, set to play avant-garde jazz.

Other performers include Jesse Quebbeman-Turley and Stuart Wheeler from LA, Melissa Heath and Christian Asplund from Provo, Jonny Stallings from San Diego and Morton Feldman.

“It’s going to be a blockbuster this year,” Christian Asplund said. “As usual, please bring leftover treats and we’ll arrange them on our table. Even if there are just a few items, we’ll curate them with other similar items. You may have OD’d on your particular treats, but others have not, so put them to good use.”

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