This is a very strong conference – top notch sessions and very strong performances from college choirs.
I listened to two great sessions on the first day: Helmut Rilling and Chet Alwes. Rilling gave a demonstration lecture about the Bach Motets (Singet and Jesu Meine Freude). It was everything you would expect and I got much from the session. Two things stood out to me – the first was the freedom Rilling gave the conductor in accompanying the motets with a variety of instruments (and the reasons he did it the way he did). I also took particular notice of how he tried the “non-subject” voices in a fugue – they were extremely soft – softer than you would expect.
Chet Alwes gave an insightful talk entitled “The Choral Music of Orlando di Lasso.” He thinks that di Lasso whould be at least as prominent as Palestrina and made a strong argument asserting that di Lasso was the more creative composer. He supported it with excerpts from the literature sung by University of Wyoming’s fine concert choir. Very informative and challenging.
The performances on Thursday were very strong:
- Riverside Community Singers opened the conference with a strong performance – John Byun is an interpretive master and he used the full force of his gifts on Richard Burchard’s incredible “O vos omnes.” Superb composition, masterful interpretation.
- Greg Gentry demonstrated the vocally powerful Arizona State University Symphonic Chorale in a work by Vasily Titov and the Stravinsky Mass. Greg’s conducting was beautifully expressive and the choir was outstanding.
- In the evening session, we heard Graeme Langager lead the University of British Columbia University Singers. His choir had a very forward and resonant tone; I enjoyed his musicality and tonal concept. If you have a chance to hear this choir, do it. David Azurza’s “Ave virgo sanctissima” and the Antognini “I Am the Rose of Sharon” were my favorites.
- Rob Taylor and the College of Charleston followed. I’ve heard many of Rob’s groups over the years and I was especially impressed with this College of Charleston choir. Their tone was rich, their dynamic contrast was impressive – they easily sang the loudest forte’s and softest piano’s of the day.
- Capital University Chapel Choir and Lynda R. Hasseler gave a unique performance to end the night. They were extremely creative in their staging and transitions between works. They sang with great tonal variety and their performance was very soulful – they were honestly sharing their music with the audience, not performing for us. Ola Gjello’s “Förklaring” opened the concert and that melded beautifully into Steven Sametz’s arrangement of Wondrous Love; I also enjoyed Purcell’s “Hear My Prayer” and Durufle’s “Notre Pere.” They ended the concert on a brave note, singing an arrangement of a contemporary Christian song, “I will rise.” Although some may fault them for the choice, I thought it truly represented who they were and what they were about.
All the performances were strong – the piece that still speaks to me was Richard Burchard’s “O vos omnes.” I won’t forget that little masterpiece.
Bravo, NCCO, for such a high quality conference.
James D. Feiszli says