On February 15th, after our MUSC 326a midterm, my friends and I attended UBC Choirs: Stories performance. I had recently attended the UBC Chamber Choir’s “Evening Soundscapes” last semester, and have been obsessed with choir music since. I heard of the upcoming show (UBC Choirs: Stories) and made sure to bring my friends in order to introduce them to fine music. We attended a great show and my friends had a great time!
At this show, we had the opportunity to watch three choirs perform, the UBC Singers, the UBC Choral Union and the UBC Chamber Choir. What an indulgence! The show opening with the UBC Singers performing a piece entitled “Hosanna, to the Son of David”, by Thomas Weelkes. This piece was an exciting performance and a great opening act to the show. Starting out slow and homophonically it drew the audience in, only to switch up to polyphony that kept the listener engaged throughout. This polyphony also gave a very “powerful” feeling to the whole piece – it was a statement that we were in for a good show!
The choir played five additional songs (in addition to that mentioned above) and all were lovely in their own ways. A piece that stuck with me was the conductor’s (Graeme Langager’s) very own piece entitled “I Will Lift Mine Eyes”. This piece was very slow moving, sung mostly homorythmically with instances of imitative polyphony. I found with this piece, as lovely and emotionally captivating as it was, that it was a little slow and at some points I felt my mind wander. However, just as it wandered, I’d be drawn back into the show as the choir sang harmoniously homophonically. The harmonious parts were beautiful!
The Choral Union proceeded the University Singers singing “Five Hebrew Love Songs”, by Eric Whitacre. These five songs were a nice juxtaposition to the UBC Singers as the pieces were played homophonically (sang with instrumental accompaniment); the instruments used were a piano and a violin. I don’t know what it is, but the addition of the violin for these pieces created a feeling of mystery and tranquility that is unparalleled. I loved the violin! The singing and violin duo was exceptionally astounding during the second Hebrew love song, “Kala Kala”. From the sopranos to the basses, the different pairings with the violin created the most precious of sounds that conveyed depths of meaning. These pieces truly told a story (thus why the concert was called “Stories”)!
The final choir to play was the UBC Chamber Choir – and what a finale they put on! The songs five performed were well varied from different time periods, showcasing the technical abilities of the choir. My favorite piece was their last – “And So I Go On” by Jake Runestad. This piece was so great because it was sang with two choirs singing different, but linked verses back and forth between one another. One set of voices were that of a lover pleading for ones love back, and how without it they must persevere, while the other choir sang back at them explaining what they must do and why they must leave. Later on, the pieces intertwined and both choirs were singing the same lyrics to one another, showcasing the coming together and undoubting love between two parties. It was a great show and really got the audience to sit quiet and still the whole time, and ended off with much energy and then silence, leaving the most tranquil of feelings among the crowd. Goosebumps!
The UBC Choirs’ “Stories” was a great concert to attend and I am glad I got to bring my friend along to introduce them to choir music. They left with a newfound passion for it (although maybe not as heavy as my own) and I am confident they will want to go again. I look forward to going again too!