Choral Showcase

Offerings: Sacred Music of the 20th Century

2012-2013 Season 987th Concert April 9th, 2013 Dalton Recital Hall 8:15 p.m.

MODERN H.S. CHAMBER CHOIR KYLE R. KARUM, Conductor WHITE KEYES, Piano and Celesta

Rene Clausen b. 1957

Seek the Lord

Pepper Choplin b. 1936

This is My Word

Matthew Brown b. 1979

Sweet was the Song

Alice Parker b. 1925

Offerings

Gerald Finzi 1901-1956

My Spirit Sang All Day

David Conte b. 1955

Ave Maria

Arr. Moses Hogan 1957-2003

My Souls Been Anchored in the Lord!

Offerings: A Collection of Sacred Music in the 20th Century All sorts of public high schools and middle schools are now removing sacred music from their libraries and concert programs. Many proponents of this new act say that 20th century sacred music is 1) Politically Incorrect and 2) Has no more important baring on music education. This provides one of just many reasons of why I selected this program. Sacred music is just as important today as it was at the development of the Gregorian Chant. This program is meant to examine just a small contingent of the most previous centuries choral music.

Seek The Lord: Taken for the biblical text in Isaiah 55:6 + 10-11, this piece was composed by the living choral legend, Rene Clausen in 1988. Although he is incredibly well-known, this work is not. However, as can be assumed by any Clausen fan, this piece uses lots of major and minor 2nd relationships creating what is more commonly known as a tone cluster. The style of the this work is also very Clausen-like in the sense that there is Neo-Romantic in the rubato and has lots expression in this piece. This Is The Word: Also set to the same bible verses as the Clausen piece, this song was composed by Pepper Choplin in 1999. This song is not very well known, but in contrast to the rest, this piece resembles one the would be more likely performed for a church service. Also like the Clausen piece, not much information is out there for this number. Sweet Was The Song: Based off of the text written by an unknown poet circa 1590, this piece was composed in 2006. After being in the works for around 420 years, it is no wonder that this piece was awarded the 2007 VocalEssence Carol Competition. This work demonstrates a very fluid and legato sense to its phrasing and poetry. This also creates a mysterious and magical atmosphere throughout the 3:55 duration of this song. That is only one of several reasons I have chosen this piece for this particular setting. Offerings: Alice Parker is known the world over for being a great choral composer. Well in this piece she has done it again. This choral piece is a near-recitative 4-part work that is set to the book of Micah, chapter 6, verses 6-8. In the text, questions are ask and then are followed by the commands of those particular verses. The entire piece is a very somber and reflective that will cause even the most resistant listener to contemplate its meaning. My Spirit Sang All Day: Set to the words of poet Robert Bridges, this piece has already stood the test of time as it was composed in 1937 by Gerald Finzi. Although very up-tempo, the harmonic structure and texture in this piece is absolutely astounding. This wonderful setting accompanied with the fluidity of the text make a great combination. Ave Maria: Yet another piece set to a very classic text, this work is a contemporary composition composed by David Conte in 1992. Possibly one of the most simple pieces on this program, it is also one of the most beautiful. Conte utilizes a canon-like in certain places in his music, but makes sure that he creates an aesthetic harmonic structure. I feel that he also embodies everything that a contemporary composer should be. My Souls Been Anchored In The Lord!: Arranged by world renowned composer, Moses Hogan, this piece is known throughout the choral community as an absolute classic and as a staple in choral repertoire. This pieces up-tempo feel and close harmonic structure create a sassy sort of spiritual that praises God like no other piece of music.