Yesterday, Michael and I attended the West Shore Chorale concert at the UW Green Bay Marinette Campus on a lovely Sunday afternoon.
The theme for the concert, “We Are Met Together Songs of Peace and Unity,” was led by Jane Wells, the director. She introduced each song and composer, explaining the meaning and her selection process, creating a sense of solidarity in today’s world. Director Wells provided information about the composers and explained why she chose the songs they performed.
They performed nine international songs by composers from around the world, inspired by the healing power of music, whether from their personal experiences or from particular current events they wrote for. West Shore Chorale sang in five languages, representing the concert's theme: unity across cultures.
They performed cappella selections, with a few accompanied by instruments; especially powerful was the percussion sound of the African drum, djembe. When the percussionist played, the location of her hands created a range of sounds on the edge, in the center, or when her palm slapped the surface, producing a soft tone.
We were unfamiliar with most of the composers featured and only knew of the Welsh composer, Karl Jenkins. They performed his music “Healing Light.”
Frank Ticheli composed the music “Earth Song” as a cry for peace and believed that the power of music brings people together and serves as a refuge. This was evident as I looked around the theatre at the audience; the community joined to liste.
One of our favorite pieces was written by a young South African composer, Mubuso Ndlovu, when the chorale sang “Ngothando,” Zulu for “through love we conquer.”
Another selection was by the French composer Maurice Duruflé, “Ubi Caritas,” sung in French, translated: where charity and love are, there God is.
A Hebrew Folk tune, “Hiney Mah Tov,” arranged by Iris Levine, says, " Behold how good and how pleasant it is for people to dwell together in unity. Psalm 133:1
“I will Sing,” composed by Rosephanye Powell, was the last song of the concert. There was so much joy in the harmony of their voices.
Music is another form of art; it shares emotions through dedication to its craftsmanship, and the choral ensemble of voices, when a group of sopranos, altos, tenors, and basses sing as one.
Not just the chorale performance, but the director, Jane Wells, as performers’ eyes were focused on her, their voices responded to her gestures. Her motions reminded me of a dance of sign language to raise and lower their volume from soft to loud, to pick up the beat, when to breathe, their expressions, and the magic of beginning a song to the abruptness of the final word, when their mouths closed all at once…in unity.
The message of the concert was appropriate for the time, but isn’t it always? How wonderful for someone to have the vision to create the music, select it to share with the community, and perform it for those eager to hear it and find refuge in their art.
Have you enjoyed a community choral group, and what was your experience? Please feel free to leave your comments below.
