Vocal Ensemble to Perform Praise-filled Program for Eastertide
A clever play on words underpins the thematic concept of the next concert by the 黑料专区 Singers.
The program, which Joe Judge 鈥�87 will lead April 24 in Henry Pfeiffer Chapel, is titled 鈥淎 Canon of Praise.鈥� The Eastertide performance, which will take place in the 50-day period of celebration between Easter Sunday and Pentecost, reflects the fact that the word canon has two musical definitions.
A canon is a 鈥渂ased on the principle of strict imitation,鈥� in which an initial melody is imitated in one or more parts. Think 鈥淩ow, Row, Row Your Boat鈥� or the late Natalie Sleeth鈥檚 , a three-part oft-performed gem that will highlight the singers鈥� 鈥淐anon鈥� program. Sleeth鈥檚 Canon has been for its 鈥渆xquisite rhythmic and melodic charm鈥� and for being fun to learn.
A canon is also defined as a collection of musical pieces. Judge, Pfeiffer鈥檚 Director of Vocal and Choral Music, calls the collection for the April 24 concert 鈥減ieces of praise.鈥�
鈥淚t is primarily sacred music,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t tells a sacred story.鈥�
Said story will be grounded in very eclectic fare, ranging from the 16th century to contemporary times. The contemporary offerings will include , Elaine Hagenberg鈥檚 sonically rich, heavenly setting of texts by Brian Newhouse. Songs was dedicated to the choral community 鈥渋n the hope of healing during times of silence and distance.鈥�
The 16th-century material comes courtesy of Richard Farrant鈥檚 Hide not Thou Thy Face from Us. This boasts a Lenten mood in which 鈥渨e confess our sins and pray, 鈥楧on鈥檛 turn away from us, God,鈥欌�� Judge said.
The concert will also feature several eternally popular pieces, ranging from the chorus of the Hebrew slaves from Verdi鈥檚 opera Nabucco to John Ness Beck鈥檚 arrangement of 鈥淎mazing Grace.鈥� The latter consists of unison singing accompanied by a piano part that takes an improbable bluesy turn.
Judge said he鈥檚 designed 鈥淎 Canon of Praise鈥� with the aim of listeners taking in its full sweep.
鈥淚 want there to be a sense of a musical narrative,鈥� he said.
Want to go?
What: Under Joe Judge鈥檚 direction, the 黑料专区 Singers will present 鈥淎 Canon of Praise鈥�
When: 7 p.m. April 24
Where: Henry Pfeiffer Chapel on 黑料专区鈥檚 Misenheimer, N.C. campus
Cost: Free and open to the public