NEWS FROM THE ITHACA COMMUNITY CHORUS
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Send mail to the ICC Board ( icc@ithacacommunitychoruses.org)
FROM THE DIRECTOR
Deepest thanks to all of you who sang in our performance of Karl Jenkins' The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace. You sang wonderfully, with great expression, clarity, and passion. The ovation we received from the large audience was the longest and most enthusiastic I remember. This work means a great deal to me, and many of our audience were deeply moved.
Our repertoire for the spring is from a different world, but of the same spirit. Ernest Bloch's Avodath Hakodesh (Sacred Service) is the greatest large-scale setting of the Jewish service ever written. Born in Switzerland, the precocious nine year-old Bloch knew exactly what he wanted to do in life: "I would compose music that would bring peace and happiness to mankind." Completing the work in 1933, he wrote "it far surpasses a Hebrew Service now. It has become a cosmic poem, a glorification of the Laws of the Universe." It is a masterpiece filled with passion, power, longing, and joy. Bloch also said that his "ultimate faith and belief is in the unity of mankind," and it is in that spirit that we will present it. Please join us!
Gerald
REGISTRATION FOR NEXT SEMESTER
It's time to register for the ICC&CS Spring semester! This semester, we will be singing Ernest Bloch's Sacred Service. The first rehearsal will be Wednesday, January 25. Registration will start at 6:15. Here is the information you need to be in the right place at the right time to start the semester with us.
Our online registration form is up and ready on our website! Please register online and reserve your music at www.ithacacommunitychoruses.org. You may pay by credit card or bring a check made out to ICC to the first rehearsal. Online registration has made the registration process much more efficient, and has really helped us streamline our record-keeping. We do hope that as many people as possible use the online registration; however, if you choose not to, you can complete a paper registration form at registration before the first rehearsal on January 25 and submit it with your check. Rehearsals are held at St. Paul's United Methodist Church at 402 N. Aurora Street in Ithaca.
I hope to see you on January 25! Please arrive at St. Paul's at 6:15 to complete registration and pick up your score.
mary
CDS OF OUR WINTER CONCERT
CDs of our performance of L'Homme Armé will be available for $10 ( plus $3 for mailing if you want it mailed). You can give Joyce Morgenroth your completed form and money (cash or check made out to ICC) the week of performance or mail it to her at 474 Snyder Hill Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850. The order form is attached.
RECORDING OF BLOCH'S SACRED SERVICE
The Chandos recording (suggested by Gerald) of Bloch's Sacred Service is available from Amazon for $13-13.50. Here is information:
- Performer: Louis Berkman, Jacqueline Bransom-Jones, Graham Godfrey
- Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor: Geoffrey Simon
- Composer: Ernest Bloch
- Audio CD (March 22, 2005)
- SPARS Code: DDD
- Number of Discs: 1
- Label: Chandos
- ASIN: B0007KIGGS
The link is here:
http://www.amazon.com/Ernest-Bloch-Service-Louis-Berkman/dp/B0007KIGGS/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1327003210&sr=1-1
COMMENTS ABOUT OUR ARMED MAN CONCERT
It was a truly memorable concert! What an amazing group of musicians. -- Siu-ling
I can't tell you how thrilled I was with the concert. A big thanks to you and all the other people who worked so hard to put all the pieces together. I'm sure the wonderful advertising that we had played a major role in getting people out to hear it. And the orchestra--it was beyond all expectations. In my 36 years of singing with this group, I can't thing of anything that surpasses what we did this time. -- Loyd Powell
Wasn't it just wonderful? I'm still filled with it! -- Mihal
The concert was superb! -- Marty
This concert was so moving, so extraordinary…and one of the things that really impressed me the most was the amazing performances of our own members as soloists! They were all so professional sounding and talented…what wonderful, heartfelt work. The stamina of the chorus members – to get through such emotional music with such a wonderful sound – right to the end…whew! They must have worked so hard! And Gerald’s conducting - he seemed to pull every last ounce of emotion and beauty from you all and the orchestra…which also sounded great…it was truly an amazing concert! Very nice work, every one. Thank you for a very memorable evening! -- Kelly Doolittle
SPRING REHEARSAL SCHEDULE
All rehearsals are from 7-9 PM in the Dining Room at St. Paul’s Methodist Church unless otherwise noted.
January 25 6:15 to register and pick up scores
February 1, 8, 15, 22 (at Kendal), 29
March 7, 14, 21, 28
April 4, 11, 18
Dress rehearsals: April 25 and April 27 (6-10 PM in the Sanctuary)
Concerts: April 28, 8:00 pm, in the Sanctuary, and April 29, 3:00 pm, at Temple Beth-El
OTHER COMMUNITY EVENTS
Cayuga Vocal Ensemble Family-Friendly Concert on January 21
"Sing Me A Story!" -- The Cayuga Vocal Ensemble, directed by Carl Johengen, presents a family-friendly concert featuring John Rutter's The Reluctant Dragon and other favorites on Saturday, January 21, at 10:30 am at First Presbyterian Church, 315 N Cayuga St, Ithaca.
This program is partnered with the Family Reading Partnership. Please bring a gently used book to share -- look for the red book crates!
Tickets: Adults $15 at The Ticket Center 607-273-4497, www.IthacaEvents.com, and at the door. Kids & students (18 and under) free. Visit www.cayuga-vocal.org for more details.
CARMINA BURANA Sing-a-long on January 28
On Saturday, January 28, Syracuse Opera is hosting the NewYork State CARMINA BURANA Sing-a-long. Somewhat modeled on the idea of the traditional ‘MESSIAH Sing-a-long’ concept, we intend to enhance the singing experience by a bit of in-depth discussion of the work’s challenges, and Orff and his intentions for the piece from our perspective. I will be leading the musical elements of the event, and Stephen Meyer, a musicologist on the faculty of Syracuse University will share insights into Orff, and place in context his interest in this neo-medievalism. Scheduled from 1-4p, the goal of the event is to have as many singers as possible revel in this work, the first two topics listed below are meant to provide context to doing so as simply and efficiently as possible:
*An introduction to Carl Orff
-Being a composer in Germany in the early 20th Century;
-His interest in regional music;
-Music as a primary means of education.
*Vocal challenges of CARMINA
-Orff’s intentions for the languages used in the work, including dialects;
-Choral and vocal techniques applied specifically to this piece.
*Sing-through the major choral sections of CARMINA
Any and all singers are welcome to participate. Singers must provide their own scores, which are available through a number of online music sites, including Amazon. In order to pay for the expenses of the event we’re charging $10 per person or a group rate of $200 for any group over 20. Interested singers may request a reservation by calling Syracuse Opera 315/476-7372, or purchasing a ticket through www.syracuseopera.com. Seating is limited, so a reservation is required to guarantee a seat.
Please spread the word to your choral colleagues. Imagine what this event could be if as many New Yorkers as possible participate. It’s not our intention to suggest we have all the answers when it comes to this work, or any other for that matter. We extend this invitation because we’re interested in how the group’s collective interest and study of the work could make for a thrilling afternoon.
Come join us!
Douglas Kinney Frost
Director of Music,
SYRACUSE OPERA
DATES TO REMEMBER
Saturday, March 3, 2012 Ithaca Gay Men's Chorus Concert
Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 8:00 pm at St. Paul's ICC&CS Spring Concert
Thursday, May 17, 2012 Voices Concert Tribute to Broadway