Choir & Chamber Singers Combine to Present 'American Folk' Sunday
March 10, 2015
A joint concert by the DePauw University Choir and DePauw Chamber Singers, titled "American Folk," will be presented at the Green Center for the Performing Arts on Sunday, March 15. The program, which takes place at 3 p.m. in Kresge Auditorium, draws on a rich variety of a cappella music from the Americas, including Negro Spirituals, Russian-Jewish melodies from Tin Pan Alley, Afro-Latin dance beats, Appalachian mountain tunes, songs from the Atlantic Sea Shanty tradition, shape note hymns, Shaker melodies and Latin motets.
“I wanted to create a program that incorporated pieces by composer Roberto Sierra, whom we had the unique opportunity to coach with during his recent ‘Music of the 21st Century’ residency,” says Kristina Boerger, director of DePauw University Choirs. “I was also looking for an occasion to represent some of the extraordinarily beautiful music that we’d worked on with Joseph Horowitz during the Dvorak Festival this fall.”
Working with Sierra and Horowitz had provided students with new insights into choral repertoire, as well as furthered their knowledge of some of the pieces to be performed.
“The concept of organizing a program of American folk music was broad enough to encompass both those repertoires and allowed me several other attractive and varied choices.”
Sunday’s concert, which features a number of pieces performed by small ensembles, chosen from within the larger choirs, created another opportunity. In order to prepare such a varied program within the available rehearsal time, the choirs adopted a new rehearsal style—breaking down the two larger groups into smaller sections, which were, in turn, almost entirely student led.
The small ensemble experiment proved very effective in tackling the challenging repertoire. “Preparing these songs in sectionals has been quite productive,” says first-year voice major and University Chorus member Christina Goetz. “We have been working together really well, and I think this will make for a great finished product.
“I am always amazed by the musicianship of my peers. It inspires me to work harder,” continues Goetz. “It’s
rewarding to make music as a team.”
“I hope audience members will be impressed with the beauty and intricacy of our students’ execution, surprised by the different kinds of styles they find attractive to hear, impressed by the cultural histories carried in choral repertoires, and curious to learn and hear more, always more,” Boerger adds.
General admission to DePauw choir concerts is $3; tickets for seniors, children and all students are free. For ticket information and purchases, visit www.depauw.edu/music/tickets or the Green Center box office, which is open Monday through Friday 12-4 and 6-8 and Sunday noon-8 p.m.