WILLIMANTIC, CT (11/17/2017) Written by Michael Rouleau
The Concert Chorale and Chamber Singers at Eastern Connecticut State University will perform their premier concert of the fall semester, “Magnificently Mistaken,” on Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m. in the Concert Hall of the Fine Arts Instructional Center. Conducted by David Belles and Sarah Kaufold, the three-part performance features musical compositions that are cloaked in mystery; with misleading twists and mistakenly developed histories. Admission to the concert is free.
“An aspect of singing is the opportunity to explore the manner in which our voices respond to other voices and across physical space,” wrote the conductors. “Featuring poly-choral pieces and ambient sounds, we have the opportunity to discover how some mistakes in music can be simply magnificent.”
Part one features pieces that are focused on the concept of “home.” Among them are “I’m Going Home,” selected from the Sacred Harp (1844), followed by “Kodutee,” which speaks of bridging the gap between life and death. “Yonder Come Day” closes part one with several traditional tunes that signify the “ultimate destination and resting place.”
The second part of the concert opens with “Tres Cantos Nativos Dos Indios Kraó,” a composition of freely based melodies sung by the Kraó tribe of the Amazon forest of northwestern Brazil. The sounds of a virtual rainforest enhance the three short melodies – which happen to have unknown meanings.
Another piece, Gregorio Allegri’s “Miserere Mei, Deus,” was developed over the ages through a series of mistakes. Once considered a favorite of the Vatican, the pope forbade anyone from transcribing it. In the 1830s the pope was defied by a composer who mistakenly transcribed it at a much higher pitch, then subsequently printed it in the New Grove Dictionary. “The result was a melding of the original version with a passage of high notes, creating the most famous and moving passage of the song,” wrote the conductors.
The concert closes with a collection of choral movements by Mozart ripe with historical confusions. Three were written for historic mass ceremonies. Revolving around the selections is a “spirited controversy as to how they fit into the canon in terms of form and function.”
Chamber Singers is Eastern’s premier vocal ensemble and consists of 20-25 auditioned singers. Repertoire performed by Eastern Chamber Singers encompasses chamber music from more than four centuries.
The Eastern Concert Chorale is the largest vocal ensemble at Eastern and focuses on choral and orchestral masterworks, as well as shorter choral selections. The Music Program at Eastern supports a variety of musical ensembles, small and large, classical and non-classical. Eastern’s ensembles are open to all students, regardless of major, symbolizing the liberal arts mission of Eastern.
###
Eastern Connecticut State University is the state of Connecticut’s public liberal arts university, serving more than 5,300 students annually at its Willimantic campus and satellite locations. In addition to attracting students from 163 of Connecticut’s 169 towns, Eastern also draws students from 26 other states and 20 other countries. A residential campus offering 40 majors and 65 minors, Eastern offers students a strong liberal art foundation grounded in an array of applied learning opportunities. Ranked the 25th top public university in the North Region by U.S. News and World Report in its 2018 Best College ratings, Eastern has also been awarded “Green Campus” status by the Princeton Review eight years in a row. For more information, visit www.easternct.edu.
It is the policy of Eastern Connecticut State University to ensure equal access to its events. If you are an individual with a disability and will need accommodations for this event, please contact the Office of University Relations at (860) 465-5735.
View Online: http://easternct.meritpages.com/news/eastern-music-students-to-perform–magnificently-mistaken–/1688