Donna and I attended a great concert yesterday by the Baltimore Choral Arts Society, of which our daughter Kate is a member.
(I must be getting old—over the years I have acquired an
appreciation for things I never thought I would, like choral music
and opera. I still don’t have a taste
for country music or rap but I do try now and then.)
The concert was a collection of poems—from biblical
psalms to Shakespeare to 20th century poetry—that have been set to
music by renowned composers, including Samuel Barber, John Rutter, Arvo Part,
Morten Lauridsen, Franz Biebl and others.
(Other than Rutter and Biebl, these names are foreign to me; my wife and
daughter are the music aficionados of the family). Most of the works were performed twice, each
time in a different arrangement by a different composer.
Tom Hall, the music director of Choral Arts, introduced
each poem with interesting information about the genesis of the poem as well as
background into the composers’ motivation.
He is so well versed in the subject that he didn’t use notes.
The music interpretations really enhanced the text and
gave you new insights, adding power and color to the poems. The chorus members are incredibly talented
and their attention to phrasing, volume (I know I’m not using correct
terminology here) and other details is remarkable.
The themes of several poems were about faith, and the
power of off-loading your burdens—coincidentally the topic at Mass yesterday. It’s a poignant and timely message.
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