Repertoire: 1990/91 to 2000/01
- Richard Sparks
- Apr 30
- 19 min read
Here's a continuation of my repertoire/concert list/programs from 1990-91 to 2000-2001. This period includes:
My last decade at PLU
My time as Director of the Seattle Symphony Chorale (1990-94)
and the beginnings of both Choral Arts Northwest (1993), and Pro Coro Canada (1999).
Therefore, it includes:
lots of repertoire with the SSO Chorale, plus 9 recordings on Delos;
the beginnings with both Choral Arts in Seattle and Pro Coro Canada in Edmonton;
some other great repertoire (from Brahms 4th Symphony to Verdi Requiem and my first time conducting the Rachmaninoff All-Night Vigil in '96);
premieres of my friend Richard Nance's works;
lots of Swedish repertoire;
and three years at the Anchorage Music Festival (beginning with Brahms Ein Deutsches Requiem when I substituted for Robert Shaw in 1993)
Once I began with the SSO Chorale (after the first season), I stopped conducting the PLU Choral Union, turning it over to my colleague and friend, Richard Nance. Richard did an outstanding job.
Conducting the SSO Chorale meant driving to Seattle every Monday night for rehearsals from Tacoma, plus extra rehearsals around concerts and normally 2 subscription concerts (occasionally with a third performance on Sunday afternoon). The schedule was at times quite intense, which you'll see as you see how close together some performances were, particularly for an all-volunteer choir with one rehearsal a week (not counting those with the orchestra as we got to the performances). This was a great and intensive time to work with a top-class orchestra (Music Director, Gerard Schwarz) and a dedicated symphonic chorus.
The Anchorage Music Festival (always held during Summer Solstice) came about because Robert Shaw had a series of TIAs and his doctor said he had to curtail his schedule. David Hagen, who'd studied conducting privately with me for about a year, was now the administrator for the Festival, and (with little notice) asked if I could come up to conduct Brahms Ein Deutsches Requiem, which (of course!) I accepted, even though I hadn't conducted the work (or even sung it). So, some intensive time preparing the score! It was a great experience (besides the Festival Chorus, prepared by the legendary Elvira Voth, used members or the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra. I ended up conducting at the Festival two more years (until David Hagen left as ED, and the new one went a different direction as far as conductor).
Of course, the beginnings of both Choral Arts Northwest (which I began in order to work with a professional-level chamber choir) and work with Pro Coro Canada (a professional choir in Edmonton, Alberta) also changed my life in great ways. I left the SSO Chorale (for a variety of reasons) after Choral Arts was established in 1993. That became an extraordinarily important experience both musically and in so many other ways, with a terrific group of people, and also led to making three recordings for Loft/Gothic records.
Pro Coro Canada came later: when I did the CANW debut concert with Eric Ericson conducting, he was also guest conducting PCC. He told them about my work and they asked several times for me to guest conduct, but timing didn't work until 1996, when they were doing a program with Gustav Sjökvist (then Chief Conductor of the Swedish Radio Choir), who had to cancel. I was able to make it work that time and worked with them for the first time. They'd just hired Agnes Grossman (daughter of long-time Vienna Boy Choir conductor, Ferdinand Grossman) as their new Artistic Director. However, a couple years later she had the opportunity to go back to Vienna (she was living in Toronto at the time) and take over the Boychoir (the first woman to lead it, although it didn't last long), so the position opened up with Pro Coro and they asked me to become a candidate for Artistic Director. Consequently, I conducted a concert in 1998 as an audition program. I was appointed AD and began that position in 1999, one which I held for 12 years and was another outstanding experience with a lot of great people and a wonderful city. I was able to commission new music, take several tours to different parts of Canada, work with a great festival in Toronto, and work regularly with members of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra on a wide variety of repertoire, including all the late Masses of Haydn, along with Bach (St. John Passion/Mass in B Minor), Mozart Requiem, etc.
This decade was an extraordinarily busy and productive time!
1990-1991
September—prepared Seattle Symphony Chorale for Bach Wachet Auf, Gerard Schwarz conducting
October—prepared Seattle Symphony Chorale for Debussy Nocturnes, Maximiano Valdes conducting
November—PLU Choral Union
Liebeslieder Walzer........... Brahms (with Calvin & Sandra Knapp, pianists)
Requiem........... Rutter
December—prepared Seattle Symphony Chorale for Busoni Piano Concerto, Gerard Schwarz conducing
December—prepared Seattle Symphony Chorale for Handel Messiah, Christopher Kendall conducting
December—PLU Christmas concerts, including
Den heliga natten........... Hilding Rosenberg
January—Music Director/Conductor for PLU premiere performance of Gregory Youtz’s opera, Songs of the Cedar House
February—prepared Seattle Symphony Chorale for Elgar Dream of Gerontius, Gerard Schwarz conducting
February—prepared Seattle Symphony Chorale for Howard Hanson Lament for Beowulf, Gerard Schwarz conducting (also recorded for Delos, nominated for a Grammy)
March—prepared Seattle Symphony Chorale for Bright Sheng Two Folksongs from Chinghai and Walter Piston Psalm and Prayer of David (Piston also recorded for Delos)
March—prepared Seattle Symphony Chorale for Handel Acis and Galatea, Gerard Schwarz conducting (also recorded for Delos)
April—prepared Seattle Symphony Chorale for Mendelssohn Lobgesang, Gerard Schwarz conducting (also recorded for Delos)
April—PLU Choir of the West tour (WA, OR, then after graduation tour to Japan, China, and Hong Kong, along with strings from the University Symphony Orchestra):
Tristis est anima mea........... Johann Kuhnau
Ave Maria........... Bruckner
Hear my prayer, O Lord........... Purcell/Sven-David Sandström
Festival Te Deum........... Britten
Lobet den Herrn........... J.S. Bach
Night and Morning........... György Ligeti
3 Folk Songs........... Gail Kubik
2 Folk Songs (premiere)........... Barbara Poulshock
Organ Fugue........... J.S. Bach/Swingle
May—PLU Choral Union
Coronation Mass........... Mozart
Vesperae Solemnes de Confessore
1991-1992
September—prepared Seattle Symphony Chorale for Mahler 3rd Symphony, Gerard Schwarz conducting
October—PLU Choir of the West—All Saints Service (this was a continuation of giving the choir the opportunity to prepare a work in four rehearsals—a little more than 5 hours) then sing it on Friday)
Requiem........... Gabriel Fauré
October—prepared Seattle Symphony Chorale for Danielpour’s Journey without Distance, conducted by Gerard Schwarz (also recorded for Delos)
November—PLU Choral Union
music by Praetorius, Schütz, Gabrieli, Vaughan Williams, Hovland, and Foss with brass and organ:
November—prepared Seattle Symphony Chorale for Handel Suite, Pacific NW Ballet, Stewart Kershaw conducting
December—PLU Christmas concert, including
Hodie........... Vaughan Williams
December—prepared Seattle Symphony Chorale for Handel Messiah, Gerard Schwarz conducting
December—Seattle Symphony Chorale—Christmas concert
January—prepared Seattle Symphony Chorale for Walton Belshazzar’s Feast, Gerard Schwarz conducting
Feb. 8, 9, 1992—Guest conductor, Portland Symphonic Choir
"Many Voices in Early Song"
Ecce beatam lucem........... Alessandro Striggio
O bone Jesu........... Robert Carver
Gloria........... Givovanni Gabrieli
Laudate Dominum terzo........... Claudio Monteverdi
Four madrigals........... Luca Marenzio
Spem in alium........... Thomas Tallis
April—PLU Choir of the West Spring concert—Music from Folk Traditions
Zigeunerlieder........... Brahms
Bushes and Briars........... Vaughan Williams, arr. Donald James
Londonderry Air........... arr. Percy Grainger
Goin’ Home Songs (premiere)........... Barbara Poulshock
My Lord, What a Mornin’........... Harry T. Burleigh
Obey the Spirit of the Lord........... arr. Robert DeCormier
—
Les Noces (sung in Russian)........... Igor Stravinsky
April—Seattle Symphony Chorale Lenten program (conducted by me)
Bruckner accompanied by principal winds and brass of the SSO
At St. Mark's Cathedral in Seattle
Bruckner Ecce Sacerdos & Os justi
Poulenc Lenten Motets
Bruckner Mass in E Minor
May—prepared PLU Choir of the West for the NW Chamber Orchestra, Sidney Harth conducting
Nelson Mass........... F.J. Haydn
May—PLU Choral Union
Coronation Anthems........... Handel
Wedding Anthem “Sing unto God”........... Handel
May—prepared Seattle Symphony Chorale for Beethoven 9th Symphony and Howard Hanson Symphony nr. 7—A Sea Symphony, Gerard Schwarz conducting (Hanson also recorded for Delos)
June 19, 1992—Anchorage Festival of Music, Anchorage, AK
Ein Deutsches Requiem........... Brahms
(I substituted for Robert Shaw, who was ill)
1992-1993
October—All Saint’s Chapel—Choir of the West
Requiem........... John Rutter (again, doing this in 4 rehearsals, performed on Friday at PLU Chapel)
November—PLU Choral Union
Music of NW composers with organ and brass
November—prepared Seattle Symphony Chorale for Orff Carmina Burana, Donald Runnicles, conductor
December—PLU Christmas concert, including
A Christmas Garland........... Conrad Susa
December—prepared Seattle Symphony Chorale (a smaller group from the Chorale) for Handel Messiah, Gerard Schwarz conducting
December—prepared Seattle Symphony Chorale (also a smaller group from the Chorale) for Handel Judas Maccabaeus, Gerard Schwarz conducting
January—prepared Seattle Symphony Chorale for Holst Planets, Gerard Schwarz conducting
January 17, 1993—prepared Choral Arts for their inaugural concert, Eric Ericson conducting
Ecco mormorar l’onde........... Monteverdi
Sfogava con le stelle........... Monteverdi
Vineta, Op. 42 #3........... Brahms
Trois Chansons........... Debussy
Due Composizione Corali........... Ildebrando Pizzetti
Komm, Jesu, komm........... Bach
Agnus Dei........... Sven-David Sandström
De Profundis........... Ingvar Lidholm
Jorden oro viker........... Ludwig Norman
Rex Gloriosae........... Otto Olson
Kung Liljekonvalje........... arr. Wikander
Och jungfrun hon går i ringen........... Hugo Alfvén
January—PLU Choir of the West tour (WA, OR, CA)
All People Clap Your Hands........... Thomas Weelkes
If Ye Love Me........... Thomas Tallis
Alleluia, I Heard a Voice........... Thomas Weelkes
O Domine........... Thomas Jennefelt
Ave Maria........... Brahms
Ave Maria........... Franz Biebl
Magnificat........... René Clausen
Choruses from ‘The Lark’........... Bernstein
3 British Folksongs........... Holst and Vaughan Williams
February—prepared Seattle Symphony Chorale for Faure Requiem and Bright Sheng Suite from Song of Majnun (premiere), Gerard Schwarz conducting
Mar. 13, 1993—guest conducted Seattle Pro Musica (20th Anniversary Program)
Jubilate Deo........... William Walton
Festival Te Deum........... Benjamin Britten
Drei Gesänge from Op. 104........... Brahms
Singet dem Herrn........... Bach
Saul........... Egil Hovland
Three Medieval Lyrics (Premiere)........... Karen Thomas
Three Scottish Folksongs........... arr. Mack Wilberg
March—prepared Seattle Symphony Chorale for Bloch America, Gerard Schwarz conducting (also recorded for Delos)
April—PLU Choral Union
Epistle Sonata, K. 328........... Mozart
Mass in G........... Schubert
Missa Brevis in F, K. 192........... Mozart
April—PLU Choir of the West & Northwest Chamber Orchestra
St. John Passion........... J.S. Bach (Christopher Cock, Evangelist)
May—prepared Seattle Symphony Chorale for Debussy Nocturnes, Gerard Schwarz conducting
May—Seattle Symphony Chorale
All-Night Vigil........... Rachmaninoff
June—prepared Seattle Symphony Chorale for Copland Canticle of Freedom (only done for a recording, Gerard Schwarz conducting)
June 11, 1993 – Anchorage Festival of Music, Anchorage, AK
Royal Fireworks Music........... Handel
Concerto for Oboe in C (Alex Klein, soloist)........... Vivaldi
Concerto for Oboe in E Minor C (Alex Klein, soloist)........... Telemann
Orchestral Suite No. 3........... Bach
June 18, 1993 – Anchorage Festival of Music
Handel Choruses (Zadok the Priest, Music Spread Thy Voice Around,
Draw the Tear, Let their Celestial Concerts All Unite)
Jauchzet Gott (Nancy Zylstra, soloist)........... Bach
Sing unto God (Jeffrey Thomas, soloist)........... Handel
1993-1994
October—All-Saints Chapel—PLU Choir of the West
Requiem........... Herbert Howells (4 rehearsals, perform Friday in Chapel)
October—prepared Seattle Symphony Chorale for Orff Carmina Burana with the Pacific NW Ballet, Stewart Kershaw conducting
This was a new production/choreography and 80 members of the Chorale sang for this. The choir was suspended on platforms hung above the stage (! the platforms were designed and built by Boeing engineers to be able to handle the weight). The choir wore Monk's cowls. Dancers could enter underneath the choir—it was quite a production!
December—PLU Choirs—Christmas concert, including
Cantata 191, Gloria in Excelsis Deo........... J.S. Bach
December—prepared SSO Chorale for Messiah, Gerard Schwarz conducting
December—conducted SSO Chorale in their own Christmas concert
With principal brass from the SSO
Various carols sung by the audience
Ding, Dong, Merrily on High......arr. Charles Wood
There is a Flower......arr. John Rutter
Birthday Carol......David Willcocks
In dulci jubilo.....Samuel Scheidt (by the brass)
Virga Jesse.......Anton Bruckner
Bogoroditse Devo.......Sergei Rachmaninoff
Slava..........Rachmaninoff (both from his All-Night Vigil)
Mary's Lullaby.........arr. Rutter
Infant Holy..........arr. Willcocks
Fum, Fum, Fum.............arr. Nan Beth Walton
(two more pieces by Scheidt by the brass)
Wassail............Ralph Vaughn Williams
Gloria............Rutter
We Wish You a Merry Christmas..........arr. Arthur Warrell
January 15 & 16, 1994—Choral Arts (Seattle)
Arma Lucis........... Jackson Berkey
Missa Papae Marcelli........... Palestrina
Hear my Prayer, O Lord........... Purcell/Sandström
Cantus Missae, Op. 109........... Josef Rheinberger
January—prepared SSO Chorale for Brahms Requiem, John Nelson conducting
January—PLU Choir of the West Tour (WA, ID, MT)
Beati quorum via........... C.V. Stanford
Sicut cervus........... Palestrina
Os Justi........... Bruckner
Agnus Dei........... Sven-David Sandström
Missa Brevis in F (K. 192)........... Mozart
Six Chansons........... Hindemith
3 Folksongs........... arr. R. Vaughan Williams
Three American Folksongs (premiere)........... arr. Richard Nance
February—prepared Seattle Symphony Chorale for David Diamond This Sacred Ground, Gerard Schwarz conducting (also recorded for Delos)
March—prepared Seattle Symphony Chorale for Beethoven 9 with George Cleve conducting
April—prepared Seattle Symphony Chorale for Beethoven Missa Solemnis and Strauss Taillefaire
This program was the proverbial straw that broke (okay, you know the cliche!) with the SSO. As most of you know, Beethoven Missa is one of THE most difficult pieces in the repertoire! Jerry Schwarz wanted to do the Strauss, and early piece for huge orchestra (they added members of the Seattle Youth Symphony for this) and Jerry invited a university choir (a non-auditioned one) to join in the Strauss after meeting the conductor at a luncheon. And all of this (adding another piece—including lots of high Bbs for sopranos and tenors—to Missa), without asking me . . . I found out when the season was announced. I'd been struggling to communicate that the time between programs had to be carefully controlled to get adequate rehearsal time, plus other challenges with scheduling (the SSO's subscription nights were Monday/Tuesday—they shared the Seattle Opera House with BOTH Seattle Opera AND the Pacific NW Ballet). For example, for Sunday afternoon concerts, he wanted the Chorale to do a rehearsal Sunday mornings (quite a challenge for those members with church jobs/choirs) and would occasionally schedule a dress rehearsal Monday morning ("We could do that in NY no problem"), even though we had choir members coming from all over the Puget Sound area and a good number of teachers. Anyway, all this made the decision for me that, as much as I loved the Chorale and working with the SSO, it just didn't make sense, so I resigned at the end of the year.
May—PLU Choirs prepared for University Symphony Orchestra, Jerry Kracht, cond.
Symphony No. 9........... Ludwig van Beethoven
May 6 & 8, 1994—Choral Arts (Seattle)
Singet dem Herrn........... Bach
Zigeunerlieder........... Brahms
Hymn to St. Cecilia........... Britten
I Gondolieri & La Passeggiata........... Rossini
May 22, 1994—guest conductor with Seattle Youth Symphony & Seattle Symphony Chorale (and NW Boychoir)
Symphony 2 in b Minor........... Alexander Borodin
Carmina Burana........... Carl Orff
June 12, 1994 – Anchorage Festival of Music, Anchorage, AK
Ich habe genug (Richard Zeller, soloist)........... Bach
Brandenburg Concerto 5........... Bach
Symphony # 88........... Haydn
Per questa bella mano (Richard Zeller)........... Mozart
Rivolgete a lui lo sguardo
June 17, 1994 – Anchorage Festival of Music, Anchorage, AK
Messiah........... Handel
1994-1995
October, 1994—PLU Choir of the West Fall Concert
Magnificat (Coll Reg)........... Herbert Howells
Bogoroditse devo........... Rachmaninoff
Faire is the Heaven........... William Harris
October 21 & 23, 1994—Choral Arts Baroque Music of Mourning and Consolation
Canticum Simeonis, from Musikalische Exequien........... Schütz
Du aber, Daniel........... Telemann
Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit........... Bach
Komm, Jesu, komm........... Bach
February, 1995—PLU Choirs and Orchestra (dedication of new concert hall)
Credo........... Arvo Pärt
February 12 & 14, 1995—Choral Arts (Seattle) Love & Lieder
Brigg Fair........... arr. Grainger
I Love My Love........... arr. Holst
The Turtle Dove........... arr. Vaughan Williams
Strawberry Fair........... arr. James
Ecco mormorar l’onde........... Monteverdi
Canzone 126 di Francesco Petrarca........... Lars Johan Werle
Il giardino di Affrodite........... Pizzetti
La Passegiata........... Rossini
Liebeslieder Walzer, Op. 52........... Brahms
March, 1995—PLU Choir of the West tour (Nevada, AZ, CA)
Ave Maris Stella........... Trond Kverno
Der Geisthilft unsrer Schwacheit auf........... J.S. Bach
Faire is the Heaven........... William Harris
3 Spirituals
Lorca Suite........... Einojuhani Rautavaara
Trois Chansons........... Ravel
O Day Full of Grace........... F. M. Christiansen
May 21, 1995—Choral Arts (Seattle) Peter Hallock—A Retrospective
Let My Prayer Come Up as the Incense........... Peter Hallock
Exsultate Deo
Song of Moses
Gloria
Phoenix
Ye Choirs of New Jerusalem
(CD Recording, Cathedral Anthems: Music of Peter Hallock,
on Loft Recordings, released the following fall)
1995-1996
Fall Concert—PLU Choir of the West
Mass in G Minor........... Vaughan Williams
October 21 & 22, 1995—Choral Arts (Seattle)—program shared with another ensemble
Choruses from ‘The Lark’........... Bernstein
Missa Brevis........... Palestrina
November 24, 25, & 26, 1995—Choral Arts (prepared for the Mark Morris Dance Company)
Dido and Aeneas........... Purcell
We were invited to be the chorus in the pit for this production, which Mark Morris not only choreographed, but danced Dido!
December—PLU Choir of the West—Christmas program, included
Ringeltänze........... Libby Larsen
December 22, 1995—Choral Arts (Seattle)
A Holiday Celebration—from Carols to Jazz (a shared concert with the Society Jazz Band, sponsored by the Puget Sound Music Society)
March 23 & 24, 1996—Choral Arts (part of the Arts West series in Seattle)
Musikalische Exequien........... Schütz (a smaller ensemble from the choir, with organ)
April, 1996—PLU Choir of the West (performances at PLU and St. James Cathedral in Seattle_
All Night Vigil (Vespers)........... Rachmaninoff
(CD recording made of this work)
May 17, 1996—Pro Coro Canada (Edmonton), guest conductor
Summer Music
Sumer is icumin in
Les Chansons des Roses........... Morten Lauridsen
Five Flower Songs........... Britten
La Passeggiata........... Rossini
I Gondolieri
The Bluebird........... C.V. Stanford
Among the Leaves So Green........... arr. John Byrt
As Torrents in Summer........... Elgar
Bobby Shaftoe........... arr. David Willcocks
Due Composizione Corali........... Ildebrando Pizzetti
Och jungfrun hon går i ringen........... Hugo Alfvén
Walkin’ on the Green Grass........... Michael Hennagin
Domardansen........... Bengt Hallberg
1996-1997 (on sabbatical from PLU this year, I finished work on dissertation, so no work at PLU)
July 20, 1996 – Veszprém Singing Week, Veszprém, Hungary
This was a "Singing Week," connected with Europa Cantat. I was one of a number of conductors each leading a different "atelier," with each program selected by either individuals or choirs to participate. My atelier included about half the Hugo Distler Chor from Berlin and a whole Spanish Youth Choir, plus individuals from all over Europe. This followed my wedding to Kathryn (we first flew to Prague, then trained to Budapest, where we were taken by van with some of the other conductors to Veszprém. Afterwards, we traveled to Budapest, Vienna, various places in Germany, Norway, and Sweden. Kathryn had to go back home in September (started teaching at PLU) and I stayed for about 6 weeks in Stockholm to update research for my dissertation. I have to say, we had a pretty marvelous honeymoon!
Simple Gifts........... arr. Rene Clausen
Obey the Spirit of the Lord........... arr. Robert DeCormier
Shut de Do........... arr. Mark Hayes
Chichester Psalms........... Bernstein
November 22 & 24, 1996—Choral Arts & Northwest Sinfonietta
Coronation Mass........... Mozart
(I conducted the Mass, and the NW Sinfonietta conductor led Mozart's Jupiter Symphony)
February 8 & 9, 1997—Choral Arts (Seattle) Passion of the Baroque
Ardo Avvampo........... Monteverdi
Hor ch’el ciel e la terra
Amor
Beatus Vir
Laudate Dominum
Vater Unser........... Schütz
Der zwölfjährige Jesus im Tempel
Die mit tränen säen
Selig sind die Toten
May 3 & 4, 1997—Choral Arts (Seattle) Romance, Fire and Fairytales
Richte mich, Gott........... Mendelssohn
Luci serene e chiare........... Gesualdo
“Fire Madrigals”........... Morten Lauridsen
As Torrents in Summer........... Elgar
The Blue Bird........... Stanford
Londonderry Air........... arr. Grainger
Fünf Gesänge, Op. 104........... Brahms
Regn og Rusk og Rosenbusk........... Bo Holten
Music for Awhile........... Purcell, arr. Gunnar Ericsson
June 28, 1997—Choral Arts (prepared for Seattle International Music Festival, Dimitri Sitkovetsky, conductor)
Acis and Galatea........... Handel
1997-1998
Fall concert—PLU Choir of the West (shared program with 3 other choirs)
Os Justi........... Bruckner
Magnificat in G........... C.V. Stanford
Agnus Dei........... Krzysztof Penderecki
October 18 & 19, 1997—Choral Arts (Seattle) Baroque & Beyond
Beatus Vir........... Monteverdi
Crucifixus........... Lotti
O vos omnes........... Joakim Unander
Saul, Saul, was verfolgst du mich?........... Schütz
Gloria a 7........... Monteverdi
Der zwölfjährige Jesus im Tempel........... Schütz
Tristis est anima mea........... Kuhnau
Fire Madrigals........... Lauridsen
Dixit Dominus........... Monteverdi
December—PLU Choir of the West Christmas program, with
Gloria........... Poulenc
December 20 & 21, 1997—Choral Arts (Seattle Christmas in Scandinavia
Program also recorded in sessions for the Loft CD, Christmas in Scandinavia
Det är en ros utsprungen........... Praetorius/Jan Sandström
Den yndigste rose........... Henrik Ødegaard
Deilig er den himmel blaa........... arr. Paul Christiansen
Ave maris stella........... Bror Samuelson
När det lider mot jul........... Ruben Lijefors
Jeg er så glad........... arr. Paul Christiansen
Ave maris stella........... Trond Kverno
O makalösa stjärna........... Sventelius, arr. Ola Eriksson
Sanctus........... Jan Sandström
Swedish Christmas Medley........... arr. Berith Ballard
Ave Maria........... Gottfrid Berg
Jul, jul, strålande jul!........... Gustaf Nordqvist
Ave maris stella........... Grieg
O Jul med din glede........... traditional Norwegian
February 20 & 22, 1998—Choral Arts (Seattle) A Rose in Winter
Der zweite Psalm........... Mendelssohn
Les Chansons des Roses........... Lauridsen
Ca’ the yowes........... arr. Vaughan Williams
The sailor and young Nancy........... arr. Moeran
The turtle-dove........... arr. Vaughan Williams
Hymn to St. Cecilia........... Britten
Villarosa sarialdi........... Thomas Jennefelt
Kung Liljekonvalje........... arr. David Wikander
Och jungfrun hon går i ringen........... Hugo Alfvén
April 21 & 22, 1998—Choral Arts & PLU Choir of the West — Music of Space, Time, & Infinity
Choral Arts:
Crucifixus........... Lotti
Warum ist das Licht gegeben........... Brahms
Lux Aeterna........... György Ligeti
Combined Choirs:
Totus tuus........... Henryk Górecki
…a riveder le stelle........... Ingvar Lidholm
Choir of the West:
O Domine........... Thomas Jennefelt
Ave Maria........... Mendelssohn
May—PLU Choir of the West
Works above, plus
Chichester Psalms........... Bernstein
Credo (premiere of this version)........... Richard Nance
(all recorded on Credo CD at PLU)
1998-1999
October, 3 & 4, 1998—Pro Coro Canada (Edmonton) Tour de France
This was my audition program with Pro Coro. The theme was already chosen, since they'd arranged for a Canadian Tour de France bicyclist to speak at the concert. I chose a program all in French language, although not all French composers:
Six Chansons........... Hindemith
(Renaissance chansons—Passereau, Lassus & Clemens—sung by
quartets from the choir)
Les Fleurs et Les Arbres........... Camille Saint-Saëns
Les Chansons des Roses........... Morten Lauridsen
(3 more renaissance chansons by Petit, Mouton & des Prez sung by
quartets from the choir)
Five Apollinaire Settings........... Lionel Daunais
October 17 & 18, 1998—Choral Arts (Seattle) The Glory of Russian Music
(all sung in Slavonic)
We Have No Other Help........... Chesnokov
The Angel Cried Out........... Tchaikovsky
Vespers (nos. 1-6)........... Rachmaninoff
Choir Concerto........... Alfred Schnittke — this was a work I'd been wanting to do for quite a while—amazing music!
Dec. 19 & 20, 1998—Choral Arts (Seattle) Christmas in Scandinavia
(Essentially a repeat of the program for Season V—most now on the Loft Recordings CD: Christmas in Scandinavia)
January Tour (Oregon, California, Arizona)—PLU Choir of the West
Ave Maris Stella........... Javier Busto
Ave Maria........... Bruckner
Ave Maris Stella........... Trond Kverno
Cantus Missae, Op. 109........... Josef Rheinberger
Madrigali........... Morten Lauridsen
Alleluia........... Randall Thompson
Due North........... Stephen Chatman
Feb. 19 & 20, 1999—Choral Arts (Seattle) A Rose in Winter
Psalm 100........... Cindy McTee
Die mit Tränen säen........... Schein
Tristis est anima mea........... Kuhnau
Madrigali........... Lauridsen
5 Poems by Apollonaire........... Lionel Daunais
Sechs Geistliche Lieder........... Hugo Wolf
March 19 & 26, 1999—Choral Arts (Seattle & Tacoma) Passio
Passio........... Arvo Pärt
(We did this both at PLU and St. James Cathedral in Seattle. At St. James, James Savage, Music Director, arranged to have the Rector and acolytes do the Stations of the Cross during the performance. A great experience!
April—10 men from the PLU Choir of the West prepared for a performance with the Northwest Chamber Orchestra, Adam Stern, conductor
L’Allegro........... Handel
May 21-27, 1999 — International Chamber Choir Competition, Marktoberdorf, Germany
With music chosen from the Rose in Winter program above, Choral Arts received a special prize for interpretation of romantic music for our performance of two of Wolf’s Sechs Geistliche Lieder. Besides the competition, the choir sang two independent concerts and sang for two church services.
1999-2000
October 2, 1999—Pro Coro Canada (Edmonton) Virtuoso Choral Music
Ejszaka & Reggel........... György Ligeti
Hymn to St. Cecilia........... Britten
Fünf Gesänge, Op. 104........... Brahms
Kung Liljekonvalje........... David Wikander
Gloria........... Lars Edlund
Salve Regina/Exsultate Deo........... Poulenc
A Medieval Bestiary........... R. Murray Schafer
Aftonen /O Jungfrun hon går I ringen........... Hugo Alfvén
November 6 & 7, 1999—Choral Arts (Seattle) — In Love with Shakespeare
Three Shakespeare Songs........... Donna Gartman Schultz
Songs of Ariel........... Frank Martin
Fancies I........... Sven-Eric Johansson
Three Shakespeare Songs........... Ralph Vaughan Williams
Music To Hear........... George Shearing
Two Songs from the ‘Liebeslieder Polkas’........... PDQ Bach
December—PLU Christmas concert—a variety of works plus,
Magnificat........... J.S. Bach
January 22, 2000—Pro Coro Canada (Edmonton) — Baroque & Beyond
Beatus Vir........... Monteverdi
Die mit Tränen säen........... Schütz
Madrigali........... Morten Lauridsen
Der Zwölfjährige Jesus im Tempel........... Schütz
Gloria a 7 voci concertata........... Monteverdi
Selig sind die Toten........... Schütz
Four Eulogies (world premiere)........... John Estacio
Dixit Secondo........... Monteverdi
February 26 & 27, 2000—Choral Arts (Seattle) — A Rose in Winter
O Domine........... Thomas Jennefelt
Mass........... Frank Martin
Lorca Suite........... Einojuhani Rautavaara
Five Poems of Guillaume Apollinaire........... Lionel Daunais
Four Arrangements........... Norman Luboff
March 5, 2000—PLU Choir of the West—NW ACDA Conference
Pater Noster........... Javier Busto
Pater Noster........... Jacob Handl
Agnus Dei........... Sven-David Sandström
O Nata Lux........... Morten Lauridsen
March 6, 2000—Choral Arts — NW ACDA Conference, Seattle
O Domine........... Thomas Jennefelt
Mass (all but Agnus Dei)........... Frank Martin
Five Poems of Guillaume Apollinaire........... Lionel Daunais
Four Arrangements........... Norman Luboff
April 21, 2000—Pro Coro Canada (Edmonton)
Messiah........... Handel
(members of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Henrietta Schellenberg, Catherine Robbin, Michiel Schrey, Paul Grindlay, soloists)
May, 2000—PLU Choir of the West
Mass for a New Millennium (world premiere)........... Richard Nance
May 6 & 7, 2000—Choral Arts (Seattle) — The Glory of the Cathedral
Chant Introit (men)
Cantus Missae (Kyrie & Gloria)........... Gabriel Rheinberger
Chant: Tota pulchra es, Maria (women)
Tota pulchra es, Maria........... Anton Bruckner
Cantus Missae (Credo)........... Rheinberger
Os Justi........... Bruckner
Cantus Missae (Sanctus & Benedictus)........... Rheinberger
Pater Noster........... Franz Liszt
Cantus Missae (Agnus Dei)........... Rheinberger
Ave Maria........... Bruckner
2000-2001
This was my last year at Pacific Lutheran University (emotional, to be sure). Since I'd taken on Pro Coro, having two outside ensembles was a big challenge, particularly since one was a flight away! PLU's Choir of the West is an all undergraduate ensemble. It's simply not possible to do such a group (and job) justice if you're leaving a lot of the time, so I was faced with a dilemma: what did I want my professional life to look like? I'd been at PLU for 18 years and done some wonderful things: many tours, big works like the Bach Mass in B Minor and St. John Passion; the Britten War Requiem, etc. Looking ahead, I thought if I wanted to push myself, I needed to try something different and look to the professional conducting side of my career, focusing on Pro Coro (I could now go to Edmonton for a complete rehearsal period) and Choral Arts NW, plus some guest conducting. It was an agonizing decision, but needed to be made. I certainly don't regret it! I was able to end the year with conducting the Verdi Requiem and then taking the Choir of the West on a tour of Norway and Sweden. Not a bad way to close out one of the most meaningful 18 years of my professional life.
September 30, 2000—Pro Coro Canada (Edmonton) — Gems and Masterworks
Singet dem Herrn........... Bach
I Will Lay Me Down in Peace........... Healy Willan
Behold, the Tabernacle of God
Rise Up, My Love, My Fair One
A Clear Midnight
Eulogies........... John Estacio
Zigeunerlieder........... Brahms
The Shower........... Edward Elgar
The Fountain
My Love Dwelt in a Northern Land
Music to Hear........... George Shearing
October 21 & 22, 2000—Choral Arts (Seattle) — In Love with Shakespeare
Three Shakespeare Songs........... Håkan Parkman
Orpheus with his Lute........... Lars Johan Werle
Songs of Ariel........... Frank Martin
Fancies I........... Sven-Erik Johanson
Three Shakespeare Songs........... Ralph Vaughan Williams
Music to Hear........... George Shearing
November 18, 2000—Pro Coro Canada (Edmonton)
Guest appearance by the Vancouver Chamber Choir on the Pro Coro series:
The two choirs combined for Brahms’ Fest- und Gedänksprüche, Op. 109, which I conducted, and Rise, Shine conducted by Jon Washburn
November, 2000—Guest conductor with the Pacific Lutheran University Symphony Orchestra (Jerry Kracht was on sabbatical)
Capriol Suite........... Peter Warlock
In terra pax........... Gerald Finzi
(Choir of the West and University Chorale)
Symphony 4 in E Minor........... Johannes Brahms
December 16 & 17, 2000—Choral Arts (Seattle) A Choral Arts Christmas
A variety of shorter carols, plus Lauridsen’s O Nata Lux and Richard Nance’s Magnificat.
December 22 & 23—Choral Arts on Seattle Symphony’s series:
Christmas Concert with the Watjen Organ
Some works from the above program, plus the Pinkham Christmas Cantata with SSO Brass players
January 20, 2001—Pro Coro Canada (Edmonton) — Ceremony & Celebration
Vinamintra elitavi........... Thomas Jennefelt
Lux aeterna........... Ligeti
Past Life Melodies........... Sarah Hopkins
Raua Needmine (Curse of Iron)........... Veljo Tormis
in pursuit of ephemera (Premiere)........... Laurie Radford
Pas de Danse........... Lionel Daunais
March 3 & 4, 2001—Choral Arts (Seattle) — A Rose in Winter
Three Part-songs........... Edward Elgar
Requiem........... Herbert Howells
Five Flower Songs........... Benjamin Britten
Un Soir de Neige........... Francis Poulenc
Due Corali........... Ildebrando Pizzetti
Les Chansons des Roses........... Morten Lauridsen
April 15, 2001 – Sunrise Celebration, Edmonton, Alberta
—Broadcast nationally by both CBC Radio and Television
—Pro Coro Canada, Madrigal Singers of the Univ. of Alberta and members of seven other choirs from Edmonton, plus a brass ensemble from the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. I conducted:
Behold, the Tabernacle of God........... Healy Willan
Rise Up, My Love, My Fair One........... Willan
I Will Sing unto the Lord........... Peter Hallock
Spaseniye Sodelal (Salvation is Created)........... Pavel Chesnokov
Shestopsalmiye (from the Vespers)........... Sergei Rachmaninoff
I’m Gonna Sing ‘til the Spirit Moves in My Heart........... Moses Hogan
plus hymns with brass and audience
April 18, 2001
Vespers of 1610—Pro Coro Canada (Edmonton)........... Monteverdi
(period-instrument band: strings and continuo from Vancouver, B.C.,
cornetti and sackbuts: The Whole Noyse Consort from the Bay area
Soloists include: Linda Perillo & Eva Bostrand, sopranos;
Paul Elliott & Colin Balzer, tenors; Paul Grindlay, bass)
May 3, 2001—PLU—Choir of the West Tour Program
(post-graduation, concerts given in Oslo, Trondheim, & Bergen, Norway; Stockholm & Uppsala in Sweden from May 31-June 9))
Spem in alium........... Thomas Tallis
Ave Maria........... Morten Lauridsen
Choruses from ‘The Lark’........... Leonard Bernstein
Psalm 90........... Charles Ives
Jauchzet dem Herrn........... Mendelssohn
Richte mich, Gott........... Mendelssohn
Three Spirituals........... arr. Moses Hogan
May 4 & 5, 2001—Choral Arts (Seattle) Lumen—Music of Light
Lumen (Candlemas chant)
Te lucis ante terminum........... Thomas Tallis
Bring us, O Lord God........... William Harris
Svyetye tihi........... Sergei Rachmaninoff
O coruscans lux stellarum........... Hildegard of Bingen
O Nata lux........... Thomas Tallis
Hymn to the Creator of Light........... John Rutter
Hail, gladdening Light........... Charles Wood
Svyetye tihi (Hail, gladdening Light)........... Alexander Gretchaninoff
Lux aeterna........... Edwind Fissinger
O Lux beata Trinitas........... William Byrd
Svyetye tihi........... P.I. Tchaikovsky
Lux aeterna........... György Ligeti
Lucis Creator Optime........... G. P. da Palestrina
Ninye otpushcahyeshi (Nunc dimittis)........... Sergei Rachmaninoff
May 15 & 16, 2001
PLU combined choirs and orchestra
Requiem........... Verdi
Comments