Bob Jones Chorus Concert previews Carnegie Hall
Students in Patriot Singers will be among the vocalists in the Bob Jones Chorus Concert on Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. CONTRIBUTED
MADISON – Bob Jones Chorus Concert on Feb. 18 will preview their program for their appearance at Carnegie Hall in April.
About 60 chorus students will perform in the free concert at 7 p.m. in Zompa Auditorium.
Their Carnegie Hall program will include composer Aaron Copland’s adaptation of “Zion’s Walls.” “The original tune dates back to the 1850s, but Copland’s setting was composed in the mid-20th century,” Randall Fields said. Fields teaches choral music and piano at Bob Jones.
The chorus will sing “Ubi Caritas” by Dale Sakamoto in Latin. The words originated in an ancient sacred text that predates Roman Catholic liturgy, Fields said. However, the music is contemporary.
“It’s exciting to think of this work with ancient words and new music performed both locally and in the historic setting of Carnegie Hall,” Fields said.
Robert Burns’ poetry was the basis for “O My Luve’s Like a Red, Red Rose” by Rene Clausen. The music “features sweeping romantic-sounding piano lines and an 18-measure section in which tenors and basses sing alone in rich four-part harmony,” Fields said.
Vaughan Williams’ “Antiphon from Five Mystical Songs” was originally written for chorus and full orchestra. “Our very capable pianist, Lois Graff, will play on the piano a reduction of the orchestration,” Fields said.
The program also includes “Adijo, Kerida,” a Sephardic (or related to a Jewish community) folksong arranged by Joshua Jacobson. “Let Everything That Hath Breath” by Jeffrey Ames “is composed in a gospel style,” Fields said. “The front cover of the piece states, ‘Gospel music fulfills its purpose to uplift the spirit and hearts of all who hear.'”
In addition, students who rated “Superior” at state solo and ensemble festival have the option to sing a solo.
For their Carnegie Hall performance, Bob Jones Chorus will visit New York City on April 7-11. Rehearsals will begin April 8. Conductors will be Lynne Gackle and Rollo Dilworth for the Bob Jones concert on April 10 at 8:30 p.m. EST. (carnegiehall.org/Calendar)
For more information, visit Facebook/Chorus at Carnegie Preview Concert.
