6/8/24

Bonds: Credo

Benjamin Britten's Five Flower Songs is a charming and varied set of choral works that celebrates the beauty of nature. Each song paints a vivid picture of different flowers and the seasons.

Benjamin Britten's Hymn to St. Cecilia is a beautiful choral piece honoring the patron saint of music. Written in 1942 during World War II, it uses the poetry of W.H. Auden to tell the story of St. Cecilia and her divine gift of music. The piece is divided into three sections, each capturing different aspects of her life and the inspiration she brings.

Sydney Guillaume's This, Too, Shall Pass is an uplifting piece that blends contemporary choral techniques with rich harmonies and rhythmic vitality. The piece delivers a powerful message of resilience and optimism in the face of challenges.

Moore’s We Shall Walk Through the Valley is an arrangement of a traditional spiritual that offers a soulful message of hope and perseverance.

American composer Margaret Bonds sets W.E.B. Du Bois' 1904 essay of the same title into a blend of Western classical and spiritual traditions. The powerful and thought-provoking essay is one of the most iconic civil rights writings and lays out Du Bois' beliefs about the nature of humanity and the role of the individual in society. Bonds' masterpiece celebrates the intersections of faith, culture, and history.

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Monteverdi: Vespers of 1610 (Boston Choral Festival)

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Sven-David Sandström: Messiah