From Bologna to Bach to Burbank, with Love!

Coro Euridice, Bologna Italy

Thanks Jeremy, for touching upon the Bach Cantatas -- or Lieders, as I got to know them when I first started singing them, many moons ago.
I was still a teenager, in my hometown of Bologna, Italy, when I knocked on the door of the Coro Euridice's headquarters. I was invited to sit and listen to the rehearsal. After a nicely arranged version of Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, I remember the surge of emotion and the inner voice screaming: "I want to be part of this!", as the Coro Euridice shifted into a series of beautiful Bach Lieders. Christ lag in Todes Banden was one of them, and there were many more. Bach was my first introduction to choral music, and also a chance to shatter my preconceived notion that German was a "hard sounding" language. Far from it! I discovered melodious sweetness through Bach and was inspired to start learning it. I should mention that the Coro Euridice was established in 1880 and is still currently directed by the great Pier Paolo Scattolin. Maybe one day the choirs will sing together!

Silvia Pompei

Suzuki - a Must for Bach Choral Lovers

I wanted to turn on fellow choir members to the wonderful world of Masaaki Suzuki and the Bach Collegium Japan. Perhaps many of you have heard these performers; for some years they've been putting out excellent recordings of the complete Bach Cantatas. But in case you haven't....

For decades, the “period” performance movement has been dominated by English conductors and ensembles, such as John Eliot Gardiner who has also released an exceptional set of the cantatas. But Suzuki has moved into the very top ranks as a choral conductor, and also as an organist and harpsichordist. I am second to none in my admiration for Gardiner, and have many of his recordings. (John Tveit is also a Gardiner lover.) But Suzuki is great alternative. Gardiner may be unsurpassed in rhythm and panache, but Suzuki’s cantata and other choral performances of Bach have been rightly praised for their exceptional lyrical beauty and spirituality.

As a prime example, Suzuki has just released a truly beautiful recording of Bach’s B minor mass. It’s available on Amazon, of course, here, but his recordings are imports on the BIS label, and thus rather expensive. But if you join eMusic.com you can download them quite cheaply. A monthly subscription of $14.99 will get you a whole bunch of them (and then you can cancel if you like!)

For Bach lovers, getting to know Suzuki and his Bach Collegium Japan is a must!

Fauré Requiem is a Celebration of Life

The centerpiece for our Spring Concert is the Messe de Requiem by Gabriel Fauré. Written between 1887 and 1890, the Requiem reflects the composer's personal feelings and attitudes about death. Fauré said in 1902: "That's how I see death: as a joyful deliverance, an aspiration towards a happiness beyond the grave, rather than as a painful experience."

When one hears the Requiem, one can almost visualize Fauré's belief in this comforting, peaceful view of death. The final movement, In Paradisum, has an unearthly, ethereal quality, evoking choirs of angels leading the deceased to eternal rest in Paradise. "God's holy angels lead you to paradise; may saints in their glory receive you at your journey's end. May you, forever more, rest in peace."

Kyrian Corona

Madrigals by Morley

With the addition of another Thomas Morley madrigal to our Spring concert repertoire, we’re now singing three of his greatest hits. Not only are they great fun to sing, they’re by an interesting guy from an interesting time. Morely (1557?—1602) was one of the premier composers of Elizabethan madrigals and, of course, Shakespeare’s nearly exact contemporary. Given their shared milieu in music and theater, it is very likely that he and the Bard knew each other. Did they work together? Morley set “It was a Lover and his Lass” from As You Like It, apparently a rare surviving example of a contemporary setting of a Shakespeare lyric. So it’s at least possible that his music was used by Shakespeare himself.

Misha mentioned that we shouldn’t sing the madrigals as if they were motets. Indeed the madrigal arose in Italy—along with opera—specifically as an alternative to church music. In Morley’s day, William Byrd was the leading English composer of Masses. So the key is not making a Morley sound like a Byrd.

Itunes has Rutter performances of all three of our madrigals—“April is My Mistress’ Face,” “Now is the Month of Maying” and “My Bonnie Lass She Smileth”—available for download at 99 cents each. In the Itunes search box, try “Olde English Madrigals” and the Rutter album of that name should appear.

Introducing "Cyber Bass", a great resource

It's almost Tuesday again! I missed my first rehearsal, but thanks to a wonderful online resource "Cyber Bass", I can download my alto part (and any other parts) of the Fauré Requiem. Thank you to Laurel Fest for finding this great website and thank you, Cyber Bass! You will be getting a lot of hits from our members, as we prepare for our May 2008 Spring concert.
Get a taste of what it means to be part of our wonderful Chorale...check Kyrian Corona's photo album, documenting last year's Burbank Chorale's trip to New York, where we performed John Rutter's Gloria, conducted by the composer himself, at Carnegie Hall. See you all Tuesday!
Silvia

2008 Season Off to a Great Start

Last night we had our first rehearsal of 2008. It was wonderful to experience the enthusiasm of our returning members. We also offered a warm welcome to our new singers; I believe they will find the Burbank Chorale to be a source of musical inspiration and camaraderie. Misha has selected some gorgeous material for our Spring Concert. The Fauré Requiem is one of my favorites - it has an ethereal quality tempered by the noblesse...leave it to the French to meld the meditative with marche! We are also performing a sprightly selection of Elizabethan madrigals - a felicitous ode to Spring.

Reheasals Begin

On Tuesday January 15, 2008, the Burbank Chorale officially begins its Spring season. We are assembling for our first rehearsal at St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Burbank, a lovely space that we have been enjoying for several years. We welcome all new and returning singers, and are eagerly anticipating a vibrant and rewarding year.

Kyrian Corona

President

Welcome to our blog

2008 promises to be our best year ever! We are gearing up for our Spring Concert season with a challenging and engaging repertoire. Stay tuned for more news. In the meantime visit our website http://www.burbankchorale.org