acadia
choral
society
Singers' Study Guide
STUDY GUIDE FOR CHORISTERS
Next rehearsal—March 2:
- From Darkness to Light: Mvts. 3 & 6, and other movements if we have time
- Rutter: Distant Land
- MacGillivray: Review whole set
Jonathan Willcocks
Brief bios of Jonathan Willcocks are available on his Web site, at "Meet Our Composers" at the Lorenz Corporation, and at MorningStar Music. Jonathan is the son of renowned composer, conductor, and organist Sir David Willcocks, who with John Rutter edited several collections of carols for choirs, including The Oxford Book of Carols.
From Darkness to Light (A Requiem of Hope) is a powerful cantata that combines movements from the Requiem Mass with poetry by Korean War veteran Ryland Andrew Baldwin. Three of Baldwin's poems are based on his experiences serving with the 1st Marine Division in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir in November 1950. Another reflects upon his visit to the American Cemetery at Belleau, France, site of the prolonged and controversial Battle of Belleau Wood in June 1918. (Search "Belleau Wood" for many more resources.)
"Lord, Make Me an Instrument," published separately, is also incorporated in Willcocks' cantata Lux Perpetua. This is another outstanding work that the Acadia Choral Society is very likely to perform within the next few years.
A CD of From Darkness to Light is available from MorningStar Music. (The CD also includes Morten Lauridsen's Lux Aeterna.)
Allister MacGillivray
Allister MacGillivray is a Nova Scotia musician, author, and folklorist. Many of his songs, inspired by life in the Maritimes, have a distinctly Celtic flavor. Additional biographical information is available here.
His most popular song is "Song for the Mira," published in 1979. Many solo and choral renditions are available on YouTube; we will perform Stuart Calvert's SATB arrangement, which includes a lovely oboe solo. This love song to the people and places along Cape Breton's Mira River will strike a chord with all who cherish in their soul a beloved place of peace and wholeness. A few of the YouTube videos include scenes from the Mira. Specific locations referenced in the song include Marion Bridge and Oak Island, which is the subject of countless romantic and mysterious legends about buried treasure.
"Away from the Roll of the Sea" is rich with nautical imagery in its descriptions of "small craft in a harbor that's still and serene [giving] no indication what their ways have been." Although they hold secret tales of adventure, we hope that they will awaken to fair winds and a plentiful harvest until they finally come home to stay. Many recordings for various voicings are available on YouTube; we will perform MacGillivray's SATB arrangement.
"Song for Peace" also uses sea-faring imagery in calling all of us to cast our nets and set our sights on the horizon together, "side by side, arm in arm, hand in hand."
John Rutter
John Rutter is one of the most esteemed and oft-performed choral composers of our time.
"The Lord Is My Shepherd" features a beautiful oboe obbligato that enhances the pastoral feel of the piece. This selection is available in the iTunes Store, where is it included on several albums.There is also a nice recording on YouTube.
Presto Classical sells several recordings of "To Every Thing There Is a Season" in collections with other choral works by Rutter. These collections are also available in the iTunes Store, where you may purchase the entire album or this single track.
"Distant Land" is a "prayer for freedom" that Rutter composed in 1990 soon after the fall of the Berlin Wall and Nelson Mandela's release from prison. Rutter himself wrote the heartfelt words: "I hear a distant song; it fills the air. I hear it, deep and strong, rise up in prayer: 'O Lord, we are many; help us to be one. Heal our divisions; let thy will be done.'" Rutter's CD entitled Distant Land is available in the iTunes Store, and this specific track can be purchased separately. There are several recordings on YouTube; this one is a nice performance.
If you know of a recording, Web site, or any other resource that would be useful to the chorus members, please let Jamie know.
