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April
1999 - Felix Mendelssohn's Elijah
This is considered one of the two Victorian choral repertoire giants
- the other being Handel's Messiah. While Messiah remained
a staple of 20th century choral music, Elijah fell from favor and
only recently has enjoyed a revival in popularity. In 1844 while in London,
Mendelssohn met the famed singer Jenny Lind, who had a profound influence
on him. Elijah was mostly composed at a time when Mendelssohn and
Lind were seeing each other daily and it was her voice that inspired most
of the soprano writing, including the main soprano aria "Hear Ye Israel".
endelssohn's major impact in Great Britain came as a result of the 1846
presentation of this oratorio (a sacred opera without the benefit of costumes,
scenery or acting). By his own account "no work of mine was ever met at
first performance with such enthusiasm . . . no fewer than four choruses
and four arias were encored." The piece spoke especially to Mendelssohn's
heart, drawing on the folklore of his forsaken Hebraic heritage.
 November,
1999 - "Brahms On Life"
Four Songs for Women’s Chorus, Two Horns and Harp (Opus 17)
is the epitome of romantic music. The ringing of the harp evokes the joys
of love. But falling teardrops say eternal happiness is found only in the
grave. The second song says no flowers should be strewn on the coffin.
The third song has the gardner, a hero, as he weaves flowers into boughs
of warm thoughts and the forth song speaks of the mysteries of ghosts that
roam the hills. The Alto Rhapsodie (Opus 53) was composed to the
words from a poem by Goethe, describing a winter meeting with a solitary
stranger who had withdrawn from society. The Lovesong Waltzes (Opus
52) are "Brahms On Life", exploring all manner of attitudes
on the subject of love. They are light and ethereal pieces, influenced
by Brahms relationship with Robert Schumann. M. Ken Takasawa accompanied
on piano, Jan Holland, harpist; Brent Benfield and Larry Williams, french
horns; Michael Strauss, violist; and Melore Love, mezzo soprano. Michael
Rubin was the rehearsal accompanist.
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