The
Oshkosh Chamber Singers
Concert
Season 2007-2008
The
Oshkosh Chamber Singers invites you to join us for our 21st
season of presenting the finest in choral repertoire.
Reflections
on Peace
October 27, 2007
7 pm
University
of Wisconsin Oshkosh Music Hall (Arts & Communication
Center), 926 Woodland Avenue, Oshkosh (map
& driving directions)
“Reflections
on Peace” Unites Dr. James Kinchen with Oshkosh Chamber Singers
When choosing
the music to include in a concert whose theme is Reflections on Peace,
Dr. Carl Chapman, director of Oshkosh Chamber Singers, had no problem
finding thematic material to include. His struggle was constructing
a program that lifted itself from a monochromatic setting to one
of dynamic contrasts in all facets of a choral concert: style, origin,
lyrics, voicing, rhythms, and instrumentation. What evolved is the
promise of a thoughtful and emotional journey where the meaning of
peace is explored with a combination of cross-cultural music and
narrative. Joining the Oshkosh Chamber Singers on Saturday, October
27 at 7 p.m. as guest narrator is Dr. James Kinchen, Director of
Choral activities at UW Parkside, Director of the Milwaukee Choristers
and current Director of Wisconsin Choral Director’s Association.
With the
realization that peace defies definition, taking on metaphysical
qualities, Dr. Chapman has taken an approach of presenting what it
is not. Therefore, the contemplative prayers for peace, “Et
in Terra Pax” by Vivadi and “Dona nobis Pacem” by
J.S. Bach are placed in contrast to the bold and dramatic verses
of Walt Whitman and the children of the Terezin Death Camp. Inspiration
is further sought through the varied writings of generals, philosophers,
and poets including Nobel Peace Prize recipient, Yitzhak Rabin, Maya
Angelou, Sara Teasdale, Kahlil Gibran, Langston Hughes and others.
Their ideas are presented in music and narrations that convey the
emotion of the lyrics: serenity, commotion, hopefulness, sadness,
bliss. John Rutter’s “Gloria”, in all its magnificence
and exuberance, crowns the evening with comfort and joy.
The music
varies in harmonies, rhythms and is supported by a diversity of accompaniment
including piano, percussion, string and brass instrumentation. The
singers are joined by Marianne Chaudoir, piano and organ, members
of UW Oshkosh Music Department Faculty and local musicians including:
Marty Robinson, Rob McWilliams, Charles Isaacson, David Dunning,
James Ninnemann, Heather McWilliams and Kristin Masarik-Harris on
brass; Klara Bahcall, David Cowley and Steve Schani on strings; and
Alison Shaw and Victoria Daniel on percussion.
A
Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
December 15, 2007
2 performances: 4:00 pm & 7:30 pm
Trinity Episcopal Church, 311 Division St., Oshkosh (map
& driving directions)
Accompanied
by pipe organ and brass ensemble, the Oshkosh Chamber Singers give
voice to the true spirit of Christmas. Interwoven with music that
tells the story of the advent and nativity are brief scripture passages
read by members of the community. The audience is invited to lift
their voices in the congregational singing of familiar carols.
Weaving
together scripture and song, this concert makes a truly magical progression
that will carry you from prophecy to fulfillment, from Old Testament
foretelling to a birthday celebration.
Make your
holidays shine with the concert that has been an Oshkosh tradition
for over 17 years. Community members say this annual concert starts
the Christmas season in a wonderful way, and they wouldn't miss it!
Come
out of the cold and join us for the warmth of songs & stories
celebrating the miracles of the season.
Mozart's Great
Mass in C Minor & Rutter's Mass of the Children
2 performances:
The Oshkosh
Chamber Singers will be joined by both the UW
Oshkosh Chamber Choir and the Badger State Girl
Choir.
Guest
soloists will be Susan Almjeld (soprano), Margaret Wendt (mezzo-soprano),
Todd Kaphaem (tenor), and Thomas Weis (baritone). Marianne Choudoir
is the choir’s accompanist
and concert organist.
Joining
OCS for Rutter’s Mass
of the Children is the Badger
State Girl Choir’s Vivace
ensemble, under the direction of Kevin Meidl. Vivace — the principal
performing group within the Badger State Girl Choir — is comprised
of girls in grades 5-6 from Neenah and neighboring communities in
the Fox Valley. This is the second season the Badger State Girl Choir
has been performing.
Joining
OCS for Mozart’s Great
Mass in C minor is the UW Oshkosh Chamber Choir. This choir
is UW Oshkosh Music Department’s advanced ensemble of student
voices. The Choir traveled through Italy in May 2007 on a triumphant
concert tour, performing in Rome, Florence, and Venice.
Wolfgang
Amadeus Mozart’s Great Mass in C minor is a splendid
series of monumental choruses, interspersed with the most enticing
soprano arias Mozart ever wrote. He composed the mass in 1782-83
to fulfill a vow he made to himself upon marrying his wife Constanze,
who was an accomplished soprano. Although the mass was never totally
completed (it lacks the majority of the Credo and the
entire Angus
Dei), it premiered in Salzburg in 1783. Audience members will
recognize the melodic lines of the Kyrie movement from
the soundtrack of the Oscar-winning film “Amadeus”.
John Rutter
is one of the most beloved of today’s choral music composers.
He wrote Mass
of the Children in the winter of 2002-03. Of it he says, "I
had always wanted to write a work combining children's choir with
adult performers, not only because I find the sound of children's
voices irresistible but also because I wanted to repay a debt. As
a boy soprano in my school choir I had been thrilled whenever our
choir took part in adult works with children's choir parts... and
wanted to write something that would give children a similar opportunity
to perform alongside adult professionals." The Mass was first
performed in February 2003 at Carnegie Hall in New York City. The
foundation of the work is the traditional messe breva, a mass without
the Credo movement. The Mass opens
and closes with morning and evening prayers, giving the whole work
the framework of a complete day, from waking to sleeping. Within the
Mass are other texts that appear like events in the day, or like landmarks
in a life. Most charming is the children’s rendition of the poem
"Little Lamb, Who Made Thee?" by William Blake. Like all of Rutter’s
works, the Mass of the Children explores contemporary & pleasing
melodies, rhythms, and harmonies.
All our
concert venues are barrier-free and handicapped accessible.
Click
here to see highlights from our past seasons.