Distinguished Concerts International New York (DCINY) presents Once Upon a Morning in Review
Pepper Choplin and Joseph M. Martin, composers/conductors
Anne Moody, Brad Nix, Joshua Chai, pianists
Distinguished Concerts Singers International
Isaac Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY
May 2, 2022
A convocation of choral groups from across the nation gathered at Carnegie Hall on May 2nd to sing the works in the field of church music of two distinguished composer/conductors and Distinguished Concerts International New York (DCINY) favorites. In keeping with current norms of this season, the program ran with only a pause between its two halves, lasting a mere eighty minutes, but with a enough variety to serve as an engaging introduction to the world of contemporary liturgical composition.
In the first half, a cantata by composer Pepper Choplin (in his 9th appearance with DCINY) entitled Once Upon a Morning offered a refreshing alternative to the canon of existing Easter cantatas. The events, beginning with the death of Christ, and extending to Pentecost, were explored in a series of musical portraits based on New Testament scripture. Each section began with a narrator (noted for her clarity) and piano prelude (the excellent Anne Moody).
Mr. Choplin’s compositional style is appealing, rooted in soft jazz harmonies and Broadway-style anthems. He is adept at building sound through the gradual layering of canonic entrances. In the most exhilarating section of this nine-part work, Why Do You Seek The Living Among The Dead, syncopated accents and a propulsive rhythm illustrate the text vividly. The classic and enduring hymn, Christ The Lord Is Risen Today by Charles Wesley, was woven into the fabric of the song, this quotation serving both as an homage, and as a unifying motif, appearing again in the final selection of the cantata.
The overall effectiveness of the pacing was somewhat diminished by the similarity in tempo, meter and tone of the cycle. A whole stretch of material midway through the piece had a sameness that was overly predictable. However, Mr. Choplin’s precise leadership at the podium and the committed singing of the amassed choristers and two vocal soloists helped to make the performance a success.
After a brief pause, and a resetting of the stage, the concert continued with a new mix of singers, two pianists instead of one, and the estimable composer and conductor Joseph M. Martin (in his 10th appearance with DCINY). Though not connected by a narrative, these eight songs were thematically of a piece, celebrating music and the human voice as a testament to faith and optimism. The two piano arrangements, in their debut performance, added great variety and verve to the canticle, especially in the terrific hands of Brad Nix and Joshua Chai.
Standards of preparation and interpretation were remarkably high in this performance. The chorus’ sound was balanced beautifully, employing a broad range of finely tuned dynamics. Credit is due to Mr. Martin, first as a gifted composer, and then as a galvanizing force for his fellow musicians. I enjoyed the songs so much, it is difficult for me to single out my favorites, though I was particularly impressed by the finale, Sing To Me, with its exquisite piano prelude, and monumental finish. The composer has a talent for seamlessly weaving a variety of musical genres (folk song in The Lord Is My Light and symphonic repertoire in Sing Your Way Home) into his work. Most importantly, he is a natural musician, and a generous one, both with his colleagues and with us, the audience.
Those present were enthusiastic in their applause. The night’s program could not have been better as an introduction to this very special branch of the musical world.
