Evaluation of a Fine Evening of Choral Music, Essay Example

I attended a programme of choral work, which was largely religious in tone and theme, and covered a range of cultural traditions, languages and styles. The works were performed by a local choral society (add name), as well as several individual singers, including soprano Summer Latimer. Other notable performers included conductor Julie Smith, whose work on the piece ‘Tiempo para un tiempo’ was especially noticeable. The section devoted to the Chichester Psalms featured some excellent vocalists, with Ghythe Haddad singing soprano along with Janie Dusenberry, Cathy Williams providing a fine alto voice, Albee Marbeza singing tenor and Jonathan contributing his rich bass voice to the pieces. Instrumentalists included cellist Marilyn Winkle and horn player Kelly Hesterberg. Other vocal soloists were Chloe Smart and Matt LaRochelle, whose work on the folk song ‘Wayfarin’ Stranger’ was particularly fine.

This impressive range of performers had some really fine material to get their teeth into as well, with variety and diversity making this programme a much more stimulating type of program than is often seen. In many ways, the program attempted to fit the history of the USA into a narrative, with the evening beginning with a pievce by William Billings, considered as America’s first real composer of the colonial period. The piece ‘I am the Rose of Sharon’ was an emotional opening to the program, setting a tone of spirituality for the rest of the event.

From that opening in America’s very beginnings, there was a jump forward in time to the 21st century, with ‘The Road Home’ by Stephen Paulus coming next. There was no uncomfortable lurch though, casued by the leap in time, with the work fitting seamlessly into the whole. There was no puase in proceedings, as the choir moved into their rendition of ‘At the Round Earth’s Imagined Corners’, based on a poem by 17th century English poet John Donne. It was a superb way to end the first part of the program, with the audience stimulated and clearly keen for more.

The program took a more metaphysical turn as it stepped into the Celtic mists of Ireland. ‘Reincarnations’ by Samuel Barber is based on lyrics about three Irish characters from the past. While the lyrics seemed a little opaque, the way in which the performers were able to bring the Celtic twilight to life with an eerie and affecting vocal performance was thrilling. From one Atlantic island, we were taken to others with the Caribbean pieces which came next. ‘Tiempo para un tiempo’ is a piece by the Cuban composer Roberto Valera, and, sung in Spanish, it was a wodnerful juxtaposition with the more ethereal sounds of the Irish pieces which preceeded it.

The Caribbean theme continued with the Balia de Sehu, a piece based on a folk dance from the island of Aruba. Some Folk Dances, delivered with the characteristic vocal mannerisms of the Swingle singers, added to the feeling of joyous folk music. The dynamics here were really superb, with some wonderful interpretations by the performers.

The mood changed again though with the advent of the section devoted to the Chichest Psalms by Leonard Bernstein. This section featured dissonance, as well as having a much more serious and grave tone. It was impressively delivered by the performers, who related well to the complexity of the pieces. The evening ended by the performers stepping back into American folk traditions, with the Pennsylvania Dutch song ‘Johnny Schmoker’ being complemented by spirituals ‘Deep River’ and ‘My Soul’s Been Anchored in the Lord’, which provided a fitting end to the program. ‘Wayfarin’ Stranger’ really helped to highlight the American nature of the evening.

Overall, the program was excellent, covering a range of musical styles while still retaining a sense of Amerca. The combination of folk melodies with much more serious pieces helped to make things entertaining and involving. This was an engaging evening of music which triggered many thoughts about the work we have done in class. The way in which earlier music and forms of musical worship influenced later ideas is especially relevant. Ideas resonate through the ages, and it was interesting to see ideas explored in class still show themselves in later pieces. Music from earlier ages continues to exert significant influence.