Kirkland Choral Society’s (KCS) final concert of the season, Made in Washington, celebrates this with a program of choral works by some of the Evergreen State’s finest creative talent.
Conducted by Dr. Glenn Gregg and accompanied by pianist Cori Belle, the society’s Made in Washington performance begins at 7:30 p.m. on May 20 at the Bastyr University Chapel, 14500 Juanita Dr. N.E. in Kenmore. KCS has performed at Bastyr since 2001.
The program opens with a setting of the hymn, “How Can I Keep from Singing,” by Karen. P. Thomas. This arrangement was premiered in 2005 and has since been a favorite of many choirs. Its theme is enduring hope and happiness.
The concert continues with Giselle Wyers’ “I Go Among Trees.” Wyers has created a musical setting for Wendel Berry’s poem of the same name. The poem speaks of meditation and connection with nature and finding peace.
“Curve of Gold,” composed by Donald Skirvin, is a suite of four pieces on poems by Sara Teasdale, dealing with love’s journey, its losses and discoveries. Skirvin has set these poems with strong choral arrangements and a rich piano part. Also featured in this set is local soprano soloist Holly Boaz.
The final piece in the first half of the concert is Morten Lauridsen’s “Dirait-on,” a setting of Rainier Maria Rilke’s poem in a chanson populaire, or French folksong, setting. Lauridsen is Washington’s most famous choral composer, having received a 2007 National Medal of Arts, the country’s highest artistic award, for his “radiant choral works combining musical beauty, power, and spiritual depth.”
After a brief intermission, the concert resumes with the rousing “Carpenters of God” by Vijay Singh. Although a contemporary piece, it is written in the style of an early American hymn. The pentatonic melody is invigorating and the lyrics use the metaphor of a carpenter’s tools to “build a spirit strong.”
Next is “In Pace,” by Evan Ingalls, winner of the 2017 Kirkland Choral Society Young Composer Contest. Ingalls has combined texts from the book of Psalms to create a serene and peaceful setting about a spirit at rest.
The concert takes a romantic turn with Reginald Unterseher’s choral setting of Shakespeare’s sonnet “Live With Me and Be My Love.” This poem, from “The Merry Wives of Windsor,” is a romantic proposal.
However, the romantic excursion is brief. The concert continues in a humorous vein with John Muehleisen’s “Eat Your Vegetables,” a three-piece collection about vegetables: too much zucchini, an aversion to carrots and an energetic cheer for rutabaga. Denise Bowen is the guest clarinetist whose melodic lines highlight this set.
The penultimate piece in the concert is a blues setting by Melinda Bargreen: “Big Easy on My Mind,” a song about New Orleans, with relaxed piano accompaniment, composed in 2005 as part of a benefit for Hurricane Katrina relief.
The program concludes with another beloved work by Morten Lauridsen, “Sure on This Shining Night,” a setting of James Agee’s poem of hope, gratitude, humility, and acceptance. In particular, the poem speaks of time moving on but that one should look for and treasure life’s perfect moments as they happen.
Not only have all the pieces in this concert been composed by Washingtonians, the selections have a strong theme of connection and peace and with nature. Concertgoers can expect to be entertained and uplifted by KCS’s final concert of the season.
Tickets for KCS concerts are available at www.kirklandchoralsociety.org, by emailing tickets@kirklandchoralsociety.org or by calling (425) 442-9240.
