Dear Friends,
I hope you can come to this concert of my choral work, River of Love, River of Light, performed by Voces Novae et Antiqua!
Friday, February 28 at 8 PM
Trinity Center for Urban Life, 2212 Spruce Street, Philadelphia
Sunday, March 2 at 4 PM
Fleisher Art Memorial, 709–21 Catharine Street, Philadelphia
All bests,
Tina Davidson
216 East Market Street, Marietta, PA 17547
T: ((717) 426-1309, F: (717) 426-2488,
E-mail:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Please visit Tina Davidson’s web site at http://members.bellatlantic.net/~tdavidsn/
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Voces Novae et Antiquae to present *A Celebration of Philadelphia Composers*
Voces Novae et Antiquae (VNA), Philadelphia's professional chorus devoted to
early and new music will perform *A Celebration of Philadelphia Composers* on
Friday, February 28 at 8 PM at Trinity Center for Urban Life, 2212 Spruce
Street, Philadelphia, and Sunday, March 2 at 4 PM a
t the Fleisher Art
Memorial, 709–21 Catharine Street, Philadelphia. Soprano Jody Karin
Applebaum, best known for her recordings of cabaret songs with her husband,
concert pianist Marc-Andre Hamelin, will be the featured soloist. Members of the
instrumental ensemble *Gypsophilia* (Scott Robinson, director) will also
participate in three of the pieces on the program.
The music presented by VNA and Gypsophilia draws on the wisdom of ancient
philosophy and religion, as Philadelphia composers Scott Robinson, Tina
Davidson, and Andrea Clearfield, lend their own 20th century musical language
to explore the many facets of internal and external light. Harrison Boyle's
music employs modern poetry to bring us a new voice to the ancient theme of
the changing of the seasons.
This concert will include:
*Heart of Singing Light* by Scott Robinson (WORLD PREMIERE)
Eastern University faculty member Scott Robinson's *Heart of Singing Light,*
for choir, soprano solo and instrumental ensemble, is a five-movement cantata
featuring texts by Philadelphia poet Shannon Coulter and the 13th-century
Persian poet Jelaluddin Rumi. Robinson, recipient of a Meet the Composer
grant for his participation, will perform the percussion part (including
Middle Easte
rn hand drum) and answer audience questions after the concert
along with director Robert Ross and the other composers.
*River of Love, River of Light* by Tina Davidson
Commissioned by the Fleisher Art Memorial and premiered by Voces Novae et
Antiquae in 1998, this cantata is a seven-part meditation on the Virgin Mary,
and was initially inspired by Tina Davidson’s study about the Virgin of
Guadaloupe and of poetry by women mystics including Hildegard of Bingen and
Sor Juana, along with 16th century Aztec texts and a poem of Gerard Manley
Hopkins. Daniel Webster wrote in the Philadelphia Inquirer of the premiere
performance: "A s
hort text by Sor Juana, with marimba, tumbled happily with
what seemed like a Latin beat, while a meditation by Hildegard echoed with
the open intervals of medieval chant. Davidson’s spare use of instruments
added weight to her ideas. The harplike marimba writing in 'Hear Me, Hear
Me,' the dance rhythms in 'Tla Ya,' and the English horn solo in the final
section intensified and clarified the mood of each…"
*Nes Gadol Hayah Sham* by Andrea Clearfield
Hebrew for "a great miracle hapened there," Andrea Clearfield’s piece is a
setting for soprano and baritone soli, choir, cello and piano of late
Philade
lphia poet Daniel Keiner's text of the same title, and commemorates
the holiday of Hanukkah, the festival of lights. The piece explores various
textures, harmonies and colors illustrating the many facets of internal and
external light. Voces Novae et Antiquae premiered this work in 1992 during
its first season.
Two Madrigals from *Equinoxes,* Op. 17 by Harrison Boyle
Harrison Boyle's settings use the poetry of Philip Larkin and Sheldon Flory
to invoke the changing seasons. The complete work features a pair of
contrasting settings for each season of the year. Boyle is the first composer
to set Philip Larkin’s poetry to music.
<
/big>Ticket prices are $15 general admission, $10 for senior citizens, and $5 for
students with ID. Special subscription discounts and group rates are also
available. Visa, Mastercard, and AMEX are accepted. For more information or
to place ticket orders, call 215-842-9687 or e-mail <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
