I am always fascinated at the sounds of
music of our own time. Gloriae Dei Cantores is preparing for
the upcoming programs which include works of William Walton, Howard
Hanson, and Zoltan Kodaly - all of whom were extremely active as
composers, educators, and conductors for a large portion of the 20th
century. They have a "voice" unlike each other and have
unmistakable hallmarks to their writing. But, what is so amazing is
that all of them managed - to some degree instinctively - to use
traditional methods and musical colors in a new way at a time when
many other composers were abandoning any sense of traditional
composition! They found ways to invite the "common man"
into their music,offering an extraordinary experience with a
musical language common to the day while leaping to the future. Hope
you can join us to share in that experience!
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Friday, May 17, 2013
Pentecost
To watch a lovely video called "A Gift and a Prayer for Pentecost" - click on the link below:
http://youtu.be/PcS_bshe7tY
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
The Little Things
In our concerts April 26 and 27, we sang a set of Four songs by Edvard Grieg. The music and text, for choir and baritone solo, are a beautiful melding of folk melodies and of religious psalms and poetry. The setting certainly has it's challenges - the tuning is crucial as Grieg's harmonies melt in and out, not to mention pronouncing the Norwegian correctly. But the interesting thing is, if the details are in place, the piece sounds amazingly simple. Because in the truest sense, it is. As one Grieg scholar said "In each of the four psalms, Grieg allows himself to receive his key inspiration from the texts, letting them guide his forms. As a result, he lends their performance a natural, idiomatic quality..." I was struck by how many people commented on the Grieg after the concert. It's the kind of music that, in its simplicity, seeps into your heart almost without you noticing. The kind of tune you could go away humming. And it made reminded me, sometimes, it's all about the little things. In music, in life - it's not always the thing that seems the most impressive that leaves a lasting impression.
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