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This year, I am a member of the Willamette Master Chorus, the premier auditioned chorus of the Willamette Valley (in Oregon, USA). Our Spring concert is coming up, and it's going to be a lot of fun. If you have never heard Arthur Honegger's oratorio "King David," and you like classical music, I highly reccomend getting a cd of it to listen to. It's a great piece, and I am having a blast singing it. Here's the press release for the concert:
The Willamette Master Chorus Presents
“King David, Soldier, Psalmist, Shepherd”
The Stravinsky, well, it will be nice to say I've sung it. Bragging rights, y'know, and it is a major work. I can appreciate the artistic merit of the piece on an intellectual level, but I don't reallly enjoy it. The Honegger rocks. Oh, and the soloists listed in the press release? Almost all of them are altos, even the ones singing soprano solos. We've got a lot of displaced sopranos in the alto section, for some reason. I happen to be one of them, though I didn't try out for a solo. Solos are a bit more pressure than I care for.
The Willamette Master Chorus Presents
“King David, Soldier, Psalmist, Shepherd”
The Willamette Master Chorus, the valley’s premier auditioned choral ensemble proudly announces their Spring Concert. Inspired by the theme of “King David, Soldier, Psalmist, Shepherd”; the chorus will pair Igor Stravinsky’s “Symphony of Psalms” with Arthur Honegger’s “King David”.
Performances will take place on Saturday May 6 at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday May 7 at 3:00 p.m. at Hudson Hall in the Mary Stuart Rogers Music Center on the campus of Willamette University in Salem.
Music Director, Dr.Paul Klemme has chosen two works that compliment the connection between King David from the Old Testament (Honegger) and the Davidian Psalms set by Stravinsky. Dr. Klemme states that “these compositions are two of the most significant choral works of the early twentieth century. Both compositions were written within a few years of one another by world-renowned composers that knew each other well. Coincidentally, both pieces use very unusual orchestration; a full compliment of brass, woodwinds, percussion, cellos and string basses. There are no violins or violas in either work.”
Symphony of Psalms was commissioned by the Boston Symphony on the occasion of its Fiftieth Anniversary in 1930. Stravinsky chose three of David’s “Psalms” (38, 39, 150) to express the “alternate struggle and passivity of the Old Testament, where the pain and suffering of life are real and down-to-earth.” The three movement work is performed in Latin.
Swiss composer Arthur Honegger (1892-1955) was approached by Rene Morax in 1921 to write incidental music for his stage play based on the life of King David. Honegger had been recommended to Morax by Igor Stravinsky. The Willamette Master Chorus will perform the concert stage adaptation of this work. The piece calls for soprano, alto, and tenor soloists, with chorus, orchestra, and narration.
Portland sports and radio celebrity Bill Schonely, will be the featured narrator. As a fellow singer and lover of choral music, Schonely will tell the story of King David, the greatest of the kings of Israel. Based principally on the books I Kings and I and II Samuel in the Old Testament, the piece traces David’s life from his humble beginnings to his death.
Soloists from the Willamette Master Chorus include Jana Loney, Mary Ann Zielinski, Mike Wall, Marcia Christenson, Becky Muir, Cak Marshall, Holly Collins and Julie Tourtelotte.
The Salem Statesman Journal is a major sponsor of this event. Additional support for the 2005 – 2006 Willamette Master Chorus concert season is provided by the Collins Foundation and the Salem Foundation. The Willamette Master Chorus is recognized for its artistic achievements by the Oregon Arts commission, supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
Admission is $15, or $12 for Seniors and Students. For additional information or to purchase tickets, visit the Willamette Master Chorus website www.WillametteMasterChorus.org Tickets are also available at Jackson’s Books in Salem (503-399-8694) or at the door.
Performances will take place on Saturday May 6 at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday May 7 at 3:00 p.m. at Hudson Hall in the Mary Stuart Rogers Music Center on the campus of Willamette University in Salem.
Music Director, Dr.Paul Klemme has chosen two works that compliment the connection between King David from the Old Testament (Honegger) and the Davidian Psalms set by Stravinsky. Dr. Klemme states that “these compositions are two of the most significant choral works of the early twentieth century. Both compositions were written within a few years of one another by world-renowned composers that knew each other well. Coincidentally, both pieces use very unusual orchestration; a full compliment of brass, woodwinds, percussion, cellos and string basses. There are no violins or violas in either work.”
Symphony of Psalms was commissioned by the Boston Symphony on the occasion of its Fiftieth Anniversary in 1930. Stravinsky chose three of David’s “Psalms” (38, 39, 150) to express the “alternate struggle and passivity of the Old Testament, where the pain and suffering of life are real and down-to-earth.” The three movement work is performed in Latin.
Swiss composer Arthur Honegger (1892-1955) was approached by Rene Morax in 1921 to write incidental music for his stage play based on the life of King David. Honegger had been recommended to Morax by Igor Stravinsky. The Willamette Master Chorus will perform the concert stage adaptation of this work. The piece calls for soprano, alto, and tenor soloists, with chorus, orchestra, and narration.
Portland sports and radio celebrity Bill Schonely, will be the featured narrator. As a fellow singer and lover of choral music, Schonely will tell the story of King David, the greatest of the kings of Israel. Based principally on the books I Kings and I and II Samuel in the Old Testament, the piece traces David’s life from his humble beginnings to his death.
Soloists from the Willamette Master Chorus include Jana Loney, Mary Ann Zielinski, Mike Wall, Marcia Christenson, Becky Muir, Cak Marshall, Holly Collins and Julie Tourtelotte.
The Salem Statesman Journal is a major sponsor of this event. Additional support for the 2005 – 2006 Willamette Master Chorus concert season is provided by the Collins Foundation and the Salem Foundation. The Willamette Master Chorus is recognized for its artistic achievements by the Oregon Arts commission, supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
Admission is $15, or $12 for Seniors and Students. For additional information or to purchase tickets, visit the Willamette Master Chorus website www.WillametteMasterChorus.org Tickets are also available at Jackson’s Books in Salem (503-399-8694) or at the door.
The Stravinsky, well, it will be nice to say I've sung it. Bragging rights, y'know, and it is a major work. I can appreciate the artistic merit of the piece on an intellectual level, but I don't reallly enjoy it. The Honegger rocks. Oh, and the soloists listed in the press release? Almost all of them are altos, even the ones singing soprano solos. We've got a lot of displaced sopranos in the alto section, for some reason. I happen to be one of them, though I didn't try out for a solo. Solos are a bit more pressure than I care for.
