"Seeing the Light" a Concert by the University Singers and Humboldt Chorale
The Cal Poly Humboldt School of Dance, Music, and Theatre presents University Singers and Humboldt Chorale, led by choral director Rachel Samet, in two live concerts on Friday, December 13 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, December 15 at 2:00 p.m. The concert, called “Seeing the Light,” includes a range of compositions that convey the idea of light. “I love the idea of exploring light as a musical theme. Light can be literal, as in nature, and can also be an expression of hope or a way to grapple with contrasts. There is room for a rich variety of textures and expressions,” says Rachel Samet, conductor. Concert tickets are $15 general, $5 children, and free for Cal Poly Humboldt students with ID. Tickets may be purchased at the door or in advance at centerarts.humboldt.edu From the "All Events" drop down menu select "Department of Dance, Music, and Theatre" and select your event.
The 100+ member strong Humboldt Chorale will wake everyone up with Rise, Shine!, a powerful African American spiritual arranged by Texas-based composer Marques L.A. Garrett. The piece is followed by Shawn Kirchner’s moving arrangement of the Appalachian folk song Bright Morning Stars, which explores imagery of dawn in conjunction with “day breaking in my soul.” The Humboldt Chorale takes on Italian opera with Verdi’s famous Vedi! le fosche notturne spoglie (often called the Anvil Chorus), which depicts Spanish workers striking their anvils at dawn. Sunrise, Sunset from the musical Fiddler on the Roof reflects on generations, children, and tradition. Elaine Hagenberg’s dramatic Measure Me, Sky! conveys the desire to transcend physical limitations through connections with nature.
University Singers starts the second half of the program with Don Macdonald’s Winter Sun, which musically depicts the light and dark imagery of a Canadian winter. Italian Renaissance composer Claudio Monteverdi’s celebrated madrigal Ecco mormorar l’onde beautifully captures the serenity of dawn by the sea, the gentle motion of waves, and the singing of birds. Canadian composer Eleanor Daley’s evocative grandmother moon uses lush harmonies to describe the beauty and tranquility of a moon on a clear night, and Esther Scliar’s Lua, lua, lua honors a Brazilian moon. Elizabeth Alexander’s upbeat Faith is the bird that feels the light, based on a quote by Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore, features blues-inflected solos and varied choral textures. Well-known American composer Morten Lauridsen sets James’ Agee’s poetry to convey warmth and comfort with Sure on this Shining Night. University Singers finishes the set with Shawn Kirchner’s Unclouded Day, which combines traditional bluegrass vocal stylings with counterpoint and fugue in a way that will surely rouse the audience. The Humboldt Chorale will join the University Singers to close the concert in the most cheerful way with 130 singers performing the iconic 1983 Katrina and the Waves tune Walking on Sunshine, arranged by Mac Huff.
DATES/TIMES
WHERE
PRICE
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$15
/ Free Cal Poly Students with ID
/ $5 Children
