Distinguished Concerts International New York (DCINY) presents A Breath of Fresh Air in Review
Distinguished Concerts International New York (DCINY) presents A Breath of Fresh Air Alice High School Honors Band, Arnold Garza, director; Del Mar Master Chorus and Concert Choir, Corpus Christi Chorale Dennis S. Richardson, Ross C. Bernhardt, directors Special Guest: Khorikos, Jesse Mark Peckham, director Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall; New York, NY May 23, 2014A program entitled A Breath of Fresh Air, featuring both band and choral ensembles, was presented by Distinguished Concerts International New York (DCINY) at Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall on May 23, 2014. As one who is quite familiar with the DCINY experience, I was looking forward to an evening of music from talented groups from all parts of the country.
As any regular reader of this journal would already know, the wind ensemble (‘band”) is a great favorite of this listener. I admit, though, to a large amount of skepticism in the quality of a prospective performance featuring High School players. The typical High School band usually has the following issues to deal with: An overabundance of core instruments ( i.e. trumpets, flutes, clarinets) with a corresponding shortage of other instruments ( i.e. tuba, bassoon, French horns, etc.), a wide variance in playing abilities within and between sections, and difficulties with ensemble intonation-YouTube is littered with countless examples of “intonation optional” performances. As the Alice High School Honors Band filed onto the stage, I could not help but smile as I watched a young lady stride confidently to her seat carrying her contrabass clarinet. My inner “band geek” was reawakened and I found myself eagerly anticipating the first notes.
Led by Arnold Garza, himself an alumnus, the Alice High School Honors Band boasts an impressive number of contest wins. Much like a successful sports program, an exceptional band program is one that feeds from earlier successes and attracts the most talented students. It was immediately obvious that my concerns above were unfounded as the young players launched into The Circus Bee, by Henry Fillmore (1881-1956) – it was delightful. This work, written in 1908, was a well-chosen opener – a crowd pleaser and hyper-energetic piece, which allows a young group to put the adrenaline rush of performing to good use.
Angels in the Architecture followed,by concert band composer par excellence Frank Ticheli (b. 1958). This highly complex work (The Texas Band State List rates this work as level 5, the most difficult) is a challenge usually beyond the abilities of a High School ensemble. It is a struggle between the forces of light and dark throughout and quotes some well-known melodies, most noticeably the traditional Hebrew melody “Hevenu Shalom Aleichem.” The work begins with an off-stage soprano singing the Shaker song “Angel of Light,” while members of the percussion section wave what are called “whirlies,” which are flexible, corrugated tubes of rubber or plastic that produce a tuned pitch depending on the velocity at which it is rotated. It was a visually interesting touch and paired with the far away voice singing from the highest balcony, it produced an effect that was quite haunting. The young players were up to the challenge in an outstanding performance that greatly impressed this listener. I would not have guessed this was a high school ensemble by the high standard of playing, both from the various soloists, and the ensemble as a whole. The final measures ended with the return of the soprano and the whirlies fading into silence, until one could have heard a pin drop. Credit is due to the soloists (Elizabeth Elizondo, Zachary Villareal, Michael Torres, Ruben Najera, Lauren Rodriguez, and Alexandra Chapa) and the fine work of Maestro Garza.
Salvation is Created, by Pavel Tschesnokoff (1877-1944) followed. Subtitled A Chorale Prelude, this work is not technically demanding, but it does require a delicately precise ensemble balance, or else the chorale effect is destroyed. A lesser group could play all the notes with little trouble but still deliver a substandard reading. There was no danger of that here in a performance that was a virtual clinic on the art of playing a chorale. Special mention goes to French horn soloist Jordan Gonzalez. To end their program, the Finale from the Tchaikovsky 4th Symphony was played with pure joy from start to finish. Oboist Courtney Schmidt played her solo with polish. The audience responded with a well-deserved ovation.
After a short break, the Del Mar Chorus and Concert Choir and the Corpus Christi Chorale joined sixteen players from the Alice High School band in performance of Canticles of Light, by Bob Chillcott (b. 1955). It is a three-movement work using ancient Latin hymns for the text. Drawing on his extensive singing experience, Mr. Chillcott has written a work that can be performed by all levels of singers while not sounding overly simplistic. Dennis S. Richardson led the combined forces with sensitivity. The close harmonies were sung with precision, and the band provided an extra dimension of weight in what was a fine performance.
After intermission, the Del Mar Chorus and Concert Choir and the Corpus Christi Chorale returned to the stage to give the World Premiere of In Memoriam by Ross C. Bernhardt, which Mr. Bernhardt also conducted. This three-movement work was originally a single movement work written by Mr. Bernhardt using a selected text from a winning bidder at a silent auction. The text was a poem titled Póstuma Ofrenda (Final Offering), the style of which reminds one of Pablo Neruda. Mr. Bernhardt then conceived the idea of a larger work and added two movements, In Paradisum, from the Latin Requiem Mass, and The Choir Invisible, using George Eliot’s verses of the same name. In Memoriam is a quietly powerful and moving work. Mezzo-soprano soloist Hope Fairchild Thacker’s voice was sublime throughout, but her singing in the second movement Póstuma Ofrenda was heartbreakingly poignant. The chorus behind her provided excellent balance, tight harmonies, and a fade to silence that was a perfect end to the movement. It was a fine performance of a fine work.
Khorikos, led by founder Jesse Mark Peckham, took the stage to close the night. Khorikos is an a cappella group that is one of New York’s elite choral ensembles. Indeed, to judge by the performance tonight, that reputation should include anywhere! This listener has heard many excellent a cappella groups, but Khorikos was truly a cut above in a performance that was stunning from start to finish. For the record, the works performed were No llores, paloma mía (Do Not Weep, My Dove), by Guillermo Martinez, Where Flames a Word, by Kile Smith, Miserere, by Frank La Rocca, and A Song of Joys, by Nick Omiccili. Mr. Smith and Mr. La Rocca were in attendance and took well-deserved bows for their fine works.
Congratulations to all for a great night of music.
