Gathering Roses in Winter - Madison Youth Choirs

CANTABILEMichael Ross, conductorApril Kang, pianoUtopiaMoira SmileyIn the United States in the 19th century, singing schools, led by itinerant musicinstructors, concentrated on improving congregational singing. Instead of concentratingon European composers, these amateur musicians learned the music of earlyAmerican composers like Williams Billings, who used English parish church modelscombined with free counterpoint and loose harmonic rules.In the Southern United States, Sacred Harp (the title of a collection of these songs)singing found a permanent cultural home. Singers learned to read music by using afour-note system of shapes. This shape-note tradition continues today, with shapenotesinging groups still active throughout the country (including Madison!) andenjoyed a rediscovery as part of the Cold Mountain soundtrack. Utopia, is a newer composition(1994), written in the shape-note style by Moira Smiley, a member of theVermont ensemble Village Harmony.from Dreizehn Kanons (op. 113 Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)7. Wenn die Klänge nah’n12. Ich weiß nicht7. When the tones come near and then flee, in waves of sweet desire, ah, how often yearns theheart for deeper melodies!12. I know not why the dove coos in the grove. Does she lament, like my soul, waiting for thefriend who has strayed away from her?These two rounds are a testament to the compositional skills of Johannes Brahms.Each is a simple melody, reflecting the text expressively, and fitting together into awonderful three or four-part round.Five Hebrew Love Songs Eric Whitacre (b. 1970)Beth Larson, violinCaitlin Mead, Andrea Shaw, sopranos; Lauren Schell, mezzo-sopranoI. TemunáA picture is engraved in my heart;Moving between light and darkness:A sort of silence envelopes your body,And your hair falls upon your face just so.