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May 11, 2008 - 7:30 pm
Oscar Peterson Concert Hall
Concordia University - Loyola Campus
7141 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal
Programme (subject to change without prior notice)
Music to Hear - 5 Shakespeare Songs by Sir George Shearing (1919 - )
Birthday Madrigals by John Rutter (1945 - )
Songs & Sonnets by Sir George Shearing (1919 - )
Three Shakespeare Songs by Sir John Dankworth (1927 - ) arranged by Ron Smail
O Mistress Mine - Shall I Compare Thee by Nils Lindberg (1933 - )
Works for soloist and jazz trio
For its second concert of the 2007-08 season, Musica Orbium sidesteps into the jazz arena. For this concert the choir will be joined by soprano soloist Carole Therrien, a cross-over artist who is usually a member of Orbium’s professional core, and her jazz trio. Concert-goers will be treated to a little jazzy Shakespeare, some Elizabethan poetry, and some classic American vocal jazz. The classically-trained singers will certainly expand their musical horizons with this music, and the audience will be awed by the beauty of the harmonies.
George Shearing was a poor, blind kid from England with only 4 years of formal musical training who has become a jazz piano legend. He draws his inspiration from the classics; Shakespeare is the author of Shearing’s entire suite Music to Hear. Here, Shearing uses the choir as a vocal Big Band, creating a broad sound picture, which is accompanied by piano and double bass. Even though some parts remind the listener of music of Shakespeare’s own time, Shearing’s ease with melodies and rhythmic undertone always gives a modern lilt to the work. Also on the programme is a captivating new cycle of Shakespeare settings, Songs and Sonnets. Those who associate this composer with instrumental jazz will be astonished and delighted at the youthful charm and skilful word-setting of this 81-year old master’s choral writing.
Musica Orbium will excel in these two collections, which are suited to the larger forces of the choir, as compared to a smaller, traditional jazz choir. The choir has previously interpreted the words of the Bard and enjoys the playfulness of the poetry.
Artistic Director Patrick Wedd is not usually a fan of John Rutter’s compositions (a little too mainstream for him). However, Rutter’s Birthday Madrigals, written for George Shearing’s 75th birthday, are a musical treat. The set comprises five Madrigals, written with an obvious and warming affection for the Renaissance secular polyphonic tradition. Some are unaccompanied and others have full piano and optional double bass. There will be plenty to catch the ear, both for choristers and audience members.
Orbium shines in the a cappella genre and under the baton of Patrick Wedd, the choir will introduce this relatively new composition to its audience. These madrigals will complement the Shearing Shakespeare pieces.
Sir John Dankworth is a British jazz composer, saxophonist and clarinetist whose career as performer, composer and conductor spans almost fifty years. Born in 1927, Dankworth studied clarinet at London’s Royal Academy of Music. His early career led to a succession of honours and hit records. His composing career has covered film, theatre, ballet and musicals, works for choir and orchestra, symphonic variations, piano and clarinet concerto and string quartet. Dankworth founded the London Symphony Orchestra’s Summer Pops in 1985 and has continued to work with symphony
orchestras worldwide. His Shakespeare Songs were written in the early 1960’s for his wife, the jazz singer Cleo Laine. For this selection, Musica Orbium will be singing new arrangements for choir by Canadian composer/arranger Ron Smail, specially commissioned for this concert.
When listening to the compositions and arrangements of Nils Lindberg, it soon becomes evident that his musical roots are from his native Dalarna, the traditional home of Swedish folk music. One well-known music critic is noted for saying that Nils Lindberg is like a musical knight, riding along the frontiers of music with the triangle as his coat-of arms. One corner represents jazz, one symphonic works, and the third folk music. From the suite "O Mistress mine", based on texts by Shakespeare and his contemporaries, Orbium will feature "Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer's Day".
Lindberg is a composer virtually unknown to Montreal audiences and this will be the first time Orbium and director Patrick Wedd have performed one of his compositions. His style of jazz will contrast the other more traditional jazz pieces on the program, and be pleasing to the ear. For the choir, the rich harmonies performed at a slow tempo with represent a particular challenge.
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