Program:
"Sfogava Con Le Stelle"- Claudio Monteverdi
"Look Down, Fair Moon"*- Mari Esabel Valverde
"Y’susum Midbar"- Zehavi, arr. Alice Parker
"Searching"***- Stephen Bouma (poem by Hime Moore)
"I Am Not Alone"***- Stephen Bouma (poem by Norah Purcell)
"Dormi Jesu"- B.E. Boykin
"Voice on the Wind"- Sarah Quartel
"Butterfly"**- Ben Keast
*denotes commissioned piece
**denotes USA premiere
***denotes pieces composed for the 23-24 CHS Singers with poetry by singers
About the program:
Last year, we performed a piece in which the composer suggested that singers could recite original poetry during the introduction, and we decided to give it a try. I was impressed by the range, depth, and poignancy of the poetry the singers produced and intrigued by the idea of having our long-time accompanist and unofficial composer-in-residence, Stephen Bouma, compose original pieces setting texts written by the singers. The results of this effort: “Searching” and “I
Am Not Alone”, form the centerpiece of our program. One common theme emerged in many of the student-written poems: finding inspiration and comfort in nature. The other pieces in our program
resonate with this idea; we turn to the moon and stars for solace when we are lovesick and when we mourn. When life presents challenges, we hope that the wilderness will bloom. We find tranquility in the way a mother soothes her infant child, self-assuredness and joy in the summer wind, and joy and wonder in the
fluttering butterfly. This music explores how our relationship with nature soothes us, sparks us, nurtures us, and brings meaning to our lives.