Community choir will perform Vivaldi’s ‘Gloria’ Sunday
April 27th, 2012 Posted in Arts and LifeLOGAN –- Sunday evening Elisabeth Evans will lead an interfaith choir in a performance of Vivaldi’s “Gloria,” a Mass cantata (musical liturgy) that celebrates God and Christ.
The performance, at 6 p.m. at Logan’s First Presbyterian Church, is one of two each year that Evans likes to “do big.” She has directed the church’s Chancel Choir since 2009, and has conducted community choir performances of Christmas and Easter cantatas as well as Logan’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebrations.
“Twice a year, I try to expand the choir’s experience to include bigger works, and invite members in the entire community to join us,” Evans said. “In this way we end up with an interfaith choir.” Sunday’s performance will feature about 20 singers and is accompanied by seven orchestra members including a string quartet, trumpet, oboe and harpsichord, she said.
The group has been practicing every Sunday since February because this performance can be difficult in certain sections.
“Several movements in the Gloria are imitative or fugal, which means each voice part is separated rhythmically, with no one part more important than another,” Evans said. “Not all of our choir members read music, so it has been a challenge to learn. In this style, choir members can’t necessarily rely on singing what their neighbor is singing”
On top of the complicated rhythms, the performers must sing in Latin. However, some performers seem to be relieved that it’s only Latin. “I’ve overheard a couple of choir members say that the Latin isn’t nearly as hard as the Swahili anthem that I had them sing last Thanksgiving,” Evans said.
Audience members can also look forward to solos from sopranos Marj Cramer, Brenda Paulsen and Anna Silver.
The lack of male soloists is due to Vivaldi’s involvement at a girl’s orphanage. He wrote the music to show the girls off to patrons, and therefore there were no solos written for boys.
Sunday’s performance will last approximately 45 minutes with a reception afterwards for guests, Evans said. There is no admission charge.
NW
Tags: community choir, Elisabeth Evans, Logan, Vivaldi's Gloria
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