Volume 24 Issue 5 - February 2019

Beat by Beat | Choral Scene
Choral Fire in
Winter Snow
BRIAN CHANG
Two upcoming choral concerts promise to take some of the chill
out of winter. The Nathaniel Dett Chorale, joined by alumni,
premieres a new work, Hosea, to perform what artistic director
Brainerd Blyden-Taylor calls a concert of “wonderful, inspirational,
moving music.” This concert continues the Chorale’s 20th anniversary
season. And two of the finest chamber choirs in Canada join forces
to present a joint concert; the Vancouver Chamber Choir (VCC) is
hosted by the Elmer Iseler Singers on their 92nd and last tour with Jon
Washburn at the head of the VCC.
To Return, with Love: Hosea
The Nathaniel Dett Chorale takes the Koerner Hall stage to perform
a new work, Hosea. “This year we have a composer-in-residence,
Dr. Stephen Newby,” shares artistic director Blyden-Taylor. “He has
written a mini-oratorio based on the Old Testament Book of Hosea. It
is a fusion mashup of the classical, jazz and gospel genres.”
“When the Book of Hosea was written, it was a metaphor for
God’s relationship with the children of Israel,” shares Blyden-Taylor.
“Initially God tells Hosea he should marry a prostitute and take in
her children.” Figuratively, Hosea invokes wayward Israelites, who
have turned their backs on God, to turn back to God. “He calls them
to repentance with an open heart of forgiveness should they return to
him.” That path to repentance is one of inclusion, opening doors and
hearts to the denigrated and lowly.
The Book of Hosea is controversial, more so now, for its disparaging
depictions of “wanton women.” The metaphoric reading, though,
is more nuanced than the literal text taken at face value. For Blyden-
Taylor, “looking at it from our point of view today, it’s essentially the
theme of unconditional love, reconciliation, and compassion.”
Composer-in-residence Newby is professor of music at Seattle
Pacific University, a Christian college rooted in the Wesleyan
Methodist tradition. He conducts the University’s Gospel Choir and
teaches composition. Blyden-Taylor describes Hosea as “a combination
of Newby’s two passions: music and theology.”
Hosea will be performed by the current Chorale. The other half
of the concert will include alumni across the 20-year history of the
The Nathaniel Dett Chorale's composer-in-residence, Dr. Stephen Newby
in his role as national anthem singer for the Seattle Sounders FC.
ensemble. Blyden-Taylor says “there are about 18 to 20 alumni who are
coming back to sing with the current ensemble. We’re doing a series
of favourite spirituals in the other half of the concert. We’re doing
pieces by Nathaniel Dett and Moses Hogan.” Added to this, Blyden-
Taylor has programmed songs from young American composer,
Brandon Waddles, making three generations of composers spanning
100 years.
It is a banner year for the Chorale, celebrating its 20th anniversary.
It is also, Blyden Taylor shares, “a big year for Nathaniel Dett too. This
season marks the 75th anniversary of his death, and the 90th anniversary
of the school of music he founded in Hampton University,
Virginia. Dett was also one of the founding members of the National
Association of Negro Musicians in the US, and they’ll be celebrating
their 100th anniversary in Chicago in the summertime.”
The ongoing process of exploring Afrocentric music has become a
life’s work for Blyden-Taylor. “This ensemble is not just to commemorate
Nathaniel Dett, but also his belief in Afrocentric music in its
entirety,” he says. “It’s been a rich 20 years, and we’ve done a lot of
things over that time, always striving to provide wonderful, inspirational,
moving music.”
February 13, 8pm. The Nathaniel Dett Chorale presents Voices
thewholenote.com December 2018 / January 2019 | 27