Choirs in Concert review

Music department’s offering was impressively complex

By Analyn Cuarto, Photographer

I had an opportunity to see and hear the Choirs of Douglas College at Choirs in Concert, which was held by the Douglas College Music Department on November 26, in the Laura C. Muir Performing Arts Theatre, and conducted by Eric Hannan. The choirs performed baroque music by Bach, Buxtehude, Telemann, and Charpentier, Standoford’s “Beati quorum via,” Robinovitch’s “Noche de Llluvia,” an arrangement of jazz standards, and more. It was a beautiful concert, very relaxing and uplifting. It is classically elegant and sophisticated music.

I was extremely impressed by the talented choir members from Douglas College and community and their ability to sing such a varied range of songs. The concert started with the beautiful song, “Noche de Lluvia” by Sid Robinovitch, with both Choral and Chorus choir members singing alongside the piano accompaniment by Kylie Fonacier. It was followed by a piece called “Beati quorum via” by Charles Villiers Standford.

As I was standing there, taking pictures while listening to the different singers sing, I thought about how strong and amazing their voices are, and how the different voices combined and interacted with each other to have a balanced, clear, and soothing sound across the corner of the whole theatre. I liked how, when the choir was singing, different parts would stop and other parts would keep going, and then it would switch. I think that this gave the performance dimension, kept the audience’s mind moving, and gave them something to think about rather than just having the entire choir sing for the whole time.

The music I really enjoyed was a piece by Johann Sebastian Bach called “Gute Nacht, o Wesen.”However, I think my favourite was “Misty,” a jazz standard written in 1954 by the pianist Erroll Garner with lyrics by Johnny Burke.

The piece truly touched my heart, and I can really feel the strong emotions and feelings coming out from each and every word of the piece from how the singers delivered it. Also, the singers were able to express different emotions through the traditional carol song such as “In dulci jubilo” (In sweet rejoicing) by Dietrich Buxtehude. It was accompanied by violinists Angela Cavadas and Heilwig von Koegnigsloew, and Sue Round, who played cello.

The choir concert went very well, and I thought that the performers did a great job. It is clear they worked very hard to get where they are today. Both Douglas College Choral and Douglas College Chorus members delivered a jubilant and outstanding performance. I loved going to the concert and I would recommend it to anyone, especially those who like to hear music performed live.