Dvořák and Other Friends

This week Going Beyond Words and ACDA Radio/ChoralNet host Stan Schmidt encourages you to visit the music of Antonin Dvořák, György Legiti, Owain Park, and three folk songs, one each from Bulgaria, Ukraine, and America.  You will recall Legiti’s “Morning” with the vocal cries of the rooster and turn right around with the beautiful American folk song arranged by John Rutter called “Black Sheep,” a folk tune that Mr. Rutter first penned for the King’s Singers.

The enriching choral literature of Kitka from Oakland, CA, is present with a folk song from Bulgaria and a lullaby from the Ukraine. This fabulous female ensemble focuses on choral music from Eastern Europe. Then there is the 25-year-old genius, born in 1993, Owain Park who studied at Cambridge University with John Rutter in the field of composition and orchestration and then pursued his masters. The choir from Trinity College, Cambridge, presents his “Lord’s Prayer.”

The main thrust of this broadcast is the music of Antonin Dvořák.  In 1894 the composer wrote 10 settings of verses from the Psalms for low voice and piano. However, later Dvořák set them for baritone voice and full orchestra. You will hear the first five featuring verses from Psalms 97, 119, 55, 22, and 145.  I am sure many of you have been able to pass along to your singers these marvelous works for voice.

Finally, when Dvořák set out for the USA he was asked by the president of the National Conservatory of Music in America to compose a cantata to help with the October celebrations of the 400^th anniversary of Columbus’s arrival in America.  Dvořák selected a text of his choice and this resulted in a “Te Deum” presented in Carnegie Hall in 1892. The work was scored for solo voices, chorus, and in this case features the Prague Symphony Orchestra led by Valcav Smetacek. Hope you enjoy the variety.

For a look at the CDs used and a complete list of the music heard, go to the blog of WWW.GOINGBEYONDWORDS.COM website and click on show 2446.