Douglas I. Smith, D.M.A., Artistic Director
Previous Programs: 1988 - 1989
November,
1989 - Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Requiem"
Presented in the Talbot County Auditorium in Easton and the Asbury
United Methodist Church in Salisbury, the 50-member choral group also features
Katherine Barlow (soprano), Michael Magiera (tenor), and Patrick Bergin
(boy soprano). This requiem was composed three years ago and presented
in this area for the first time. Webber focuses more on the musical than
the liturgical form in this work. Webber is renowned for his compositions,
"Jesus
Christ Superstar", "Evita", "Cats" and "Phantom of the Opera".
In this "Requiem" Webber combines all styles of music in the one-hour
work including, symphonic, operatic, pop and quasi-rock. There was a pre-concert
lecture for patrons given by Dr. Smith on the history and current form
of the Requiem Mass.
August,
1989 - "Broadway's Finest"
This concert is a choral review of the best-loved melodies from "The
Great White Way". Pianists were Anna Lee Trader and Ray Brokamp. Part One
of the program featured selections from "Oklahoma", "My Fair Lady" ("Ascot
Gavotte", "Wouldn't It Be Loverly"), "The Sound of Music" ("Climb Ev'ry
Mountain", "Nun's Chorus"), "1776" ("Mama, Look Sharp") and
"Phantom
of the Opera". Part two included selections from "Fiddler on the
Roof" ("Tradition"), "Lohengrin" ( Bridal Chorus"), "Cabaret" and
"Les
Miserables". ECAS members featured as soloists included Ed Nordby,
Barbara Roach, Patti Rubin, James Barnes, Theo Fitzpatrick, Rachel Clement,
Gwen Fink, Frances Cresswell and John Barber.
May,
1989 - "From Broadway to the Met"
This concert featured guest soloists, Katherine Turner, Robyn Shapiro,
Michael Magiera and Kent Smith. Ray Brokamp and Anna Lee Trader were pianists,
Tom Clark (percussion) and Douglas Smith, as conductor. The first half
of the program included "The Abduction from the Seraglio" by Mozart,
The "Bridal Chorus" from Lohengrin, Verdi's "Libiamo"
from La Traviata, "La Donna e Mobile" from Rigoletto
and "Flower Duet" and "Humming Chorus" from Madama
Butterfly. Gounod's included "Trio Finale" and "Apotheosis"
from Faust and Verdi's "Anvil Chorus" from Il
Trovatore. Following the intermission, there were numbers from
Oklahoma,
My
Fair Lady, the Sound of Music, Phantom of the
Opera, Fiddler on the Roof, The Mikado,
The
Pirates of Penzance and Les Miserables.
December,
1988 - "Messiah" by George Frederick Handel
This popular oratorio is performed in the baroque tradition with the
50-member vocal group and chamber orchestra. Soloists included Katherine
Turner (soprano), Theodora Hanslowe (alto), Daniel Brewer (tenor) and Max
H. Wittges (bass). This work, composed in 1742 was an instant success and
has continued to be performed every year for the last 250 years. The genius
of the work is believed to be in it's simplicity. It is the perfect marriage
of music and Biblical text and exemplifies among the finest choral and
solo writing of any age. Well known pieces include the "Hallelujah Chorus"
and "I Know that My Redeamer Liveth".
May,
1988 - "Carmina Burana" by Carl Orff
This concert joined four different musical organizations on the Eastern
Shore of Maryland for this special evening of music - The Easton Choral
Arts Society, The Salisbury Choral Society, The Salisbury State Concert
Choir and The Salisbury Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Dr. Ray
Ziegler with assistance from Dr. Douglas I. Smith and Dr. Thomas Elliott.
The music, "Carmina Burana" was composed by Carl Orff in 1936
and has been described by the composer as a "scenic cantata". It is based
on the texts of 25 13th century poems which speak of the joys of life.
Orff divided these poems into three sections, Springtime, The Tavern and
Courting & Love. The musical score alternates between the lyrical and
the boistrous. The 150 musicians were joined by a 35-member children's
chorus from Salisbury area schools. The music has been considered one of
the most popular musical works of the 20th century.
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Easton Choral Arts Society
P. O. Box 13
Easton, Maryland 21601