Program
In Virtute Tua Veni Sancte Spiritus Grzegorz Gerwazy Gorczycki Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Wojciech Kocyan, piano Haven Watts '22, soprano; Carmen Venegas '21, alto Kenichiro Aiso, Violin I & Violin II; Clara Yang, Cello Jeremy Lee '22, tenor; Connor Langley '24, bass
Cantique de Jean Racine Pure Imagination arr. Matthew D. Nielsen Gabriel Fauré Neither Angels, Nor Demons, Nor Powers Ode to Thalassa Timothy C. Takach Olga Amelkina-Vera Martha Masters, co-director If Music Be the Food of Love LMU Guitar Ensemble; CSU-Fullerton Guitar Ensemble; LMU Consort Singers Sopranos/Altos arr. David C. Dickau Texts, Translations, & Program Notes
Grzegorz Gerwazy Gorczycki (1665-1734) In Virtute Tua Psalm 20: 2-3; Introit from the First Mass of a Martyr Not a Bishop
In Thy strength, O Lord, the just man shall rejoice; And in Thy salvation, he shall rejoice exceedingly. Thou hast given him his heart’s desire.
Grzegorz Gerwazy Gorczycki wrote mainly church music made up of unaccompanied compositions for choir, sometimes with basso continuo accompaniment in the stile antico (motets, masses, songs), as well as vocal-instrumental ones with basso continuo accompaniment in the stile moderno featuring rich concertato technique of multiple sections. Works such as In Virtute Tua are written in the Concertante style, composed for small ensemble and choir. Olga Amelkina-Vera Ode to Thalassa
A guitarist and composer, she grew up in Belarus and moved to the United States in 1997. Olga holds a Bachelor of Arts degree Summa Cum Laude from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, a Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in guitar performance from the University of North Texas, and a Master of Music degree in composition from Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Commissioned by Dr. Miroslav Lončar for Park View High School with grant funding from Wolf Trap Foundation for the Arts. Premiered in Sterling, VA at Park View High School on March 12, 2019 with the composer conducting.
In ancient Greek mythology, Thalassa is the primordial spirit of the sea. An ode (Greek ōidē, song) is a lyrical, stylistically elevated poem of praise, meant to be sung. This composition is both a celebration of the mystery, beauty, and power of our oceans, and a reflection on their dire current condition. The SSAA chorus is wordless throughout, because it is a symbolic representation of Thalassa and the mythical sea-dwelling sirens and other sea creatures. The guitars, being human constructions, may be thought to represent us and our activities.
In the spirit of supporting living composers, we engaged in an innovative collaboration of a new work entitled, Ode to Thalassa, which calls attention to the beauty of our oceans and a reflection of their dire current condition. With the steadfast leadership of my colleague, Martha Masters, we brought together guitarists and vocalists from LMU and Cal State Fullerton for this performance. (notes: Olga Amelkina-Vera) Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924) Cantique de Jean Racine Text: A paraphrase by Jean Racine (1639-1699) of the Ambrosian hymn for Tuesday Matins
Word, equal to the Almighty, our only hope, Eternal light of the earth and the Heavens; We break the peaceful night's silence, Divine Savior, cast your eyes upon us!
Spread the fire of your mighty grace upon us May the entire hell flee at the sound of your voice; Disperse from any slothful soul the drowsiness Which induces it to forget your laws!
Oh Christ, look with favor upon this faithful people Which has now gathered to bless you. Receive its singing, offered to your immortal glory, And may it leave with the gifts you have bestowed upon it!
Cantique de Jean Racine is a setting of words by the 17th century dramatist and poet Jean Racine. It was Fauré’s first significant composition, written in 1865 whilst he was in his final year at the École Niedermeyer, the ‘École de musique religieuse et classique’. He submitted the piece for the composition prize, and won, though it was only published eleven years later, with a full orchestral version following in 1906. Fauré went on to write a good deal of religious music – most notably the Requiem, written in 1888 – but of the shorter sacred pieces it is the Cantique that has particularly captured the affections of choirs and audiences. (notes: John Bawden) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) Veni Sancte Spiritus Text: Medieval Sequence taken from Missale Romanum
Come, Holy Spirit, send forth the heavenly radiance of your light. Come, father of the poor, come, Giver of gifts, come, light of the heart. Greatest comforter, sweet guest of the soul, sweet consolation. In labor, rest, in heat, temperance, in tears, solace. O most blessed light, fill the inmost heart of your faithful. Without your grace, there is nothing in us, nothing that is not harmful. Cleanse that which is unclean, Water that which is dry, heal that which is wounded. Bend that which is inflexible, fire that which is chilled, Correct what goes astray. Give to your faithful, those who trust in you, the sevenfold gifts. Grant the reward of virtue, grant the deliverance of salvation, grant eternal joy.
The two-part Veni Sancte Spiritus K. 47 was written at the age of 12 by Mozart for the dedication of a chapel on Rennweg and may have also served as a compositional exercise in preparation for the Missa Brevis in G (K. 49) follows the text of the antiphon “Ad invocandum Spiritum Sanctum” before giving way to an “Alleluia” in the second part. It bears the date 1786 and was thus undoubtedly written in Vienna. Mozart makes subtle use of the solo-tutti contrast, and the entrances in imitation testify to the young composer’s thorough training and emulation of the masters of Salzburg church music: Leopold Mozart, Eberlin, and Michael Haydn. (notes: Hellmut Federhofer) arr. Matthew D. Nielsen (b. 1984) Pure Imagination Words & music: Anthony Newley & Leslie Bricusse
Come with me and you'll be in a world of pure imagination, Take a look and you'll see into your imagination. We'll begin with a spin travelling in the world of my creation; What we'll see will defy explanation. If you want to view paradise simply look around and view it. Anything you want to, do it; want to change the world? There's nothing to it. There is no life I know to compare with pure imagination; Living there you'll be free if you truly wish to be.
Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse wrote the score for the 1971 film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. “Pure Imagination” was featured in the movie when Wonka and the children first enter the room entirely made of candy. The song conveys a message of discovering wonder and magic in our everyday lives. Our ordinary lives can be liberated from expectations and inhibitions through our choices. (notes: Matthew Nielsen) Timothy C. Takach (b. 1978) Neither Angels, Nor Demons, Nor Powers Text: Psalms 121:1 - Felicia Dorothea Hemans - Romans 8:38-39 - Revelation 7:17
And I believe. So I believe. I will lift my eyes to the hills. There, dost thou well believe, No storm should come to mar the stillness of that angel-home; There should thy slumbers be weighed down with honey-dew, serenely blessed. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, neither angels, nor demons, nor powers, neither things present nor things to come, neither height nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God. I do believe. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
"When I originally wrote this piece for the commissioning choir in Topeka, KS, I only had their context in mind – they wanted to commission a piece for a student of theirs that was killed in a car crash. I was able to customize the text to fit the sense of hope they wanted to convey, and I used parts of the student's eulogy to glue the text together ("And I believe, so I believe"). What has been rewarding about this piece, though, is that I've been able to see it live on in the voices of other choirs around the country, from the original premiere in Kansas to the National Lutheran Choir, and in Dublin with a new orchestration for strings and brass!"
-(notes: Timothy C. Takach) arr. David C. Dickau (b. 1953) If Music Be the Food of Love Text: Henry Heveningham (1651-1700)
If music be the food of love, sing on till I am fill'd with joy; For then my list'ning soul you move with pleasures that can never cloy, Your eyes, your mien, your tongue declare that you are music ev'rywhere.
Pleasures invade both eye and ear, so fierce the transports are, they wound, And all my senses feasted are, tho' yet the treat is only sound. Sure I must perish by your charms, unless you save me in your arms.
If Music Be the Food of Love is the well-known opening line from Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. Poet Henry Heveningham (1651-1700) used Shakespeare’s opening line as fodder for this lovely poem that was originally set three times by Henry Purcell as solo songs. Contemporary composer and choral musician David Dickau creates a rich choral setting of this poem as opposed to Purcell’s comparatively simpler solo settings. (notes: Jamie Spillane) LMU Consort Singers
Soprano I Alto I Meara Boughey ‘22 Clara Barnes-Horowitz '24 Bass I Kellie Hall ‘22 Carolyn Gerrior ‘22 Tenor I Frederick Behm ‘24 Jade Tinio ‘21 Allison Jeu ‘23 Zachary Birdsall ‘21 Stefan A. T. Goodreau * Haven Watts ‘22 Anna McCollum ‘22 Jeremy Lee ‘22 Thomas Christopher Benis ‘23 Lydia Zicker ‘22 Ashley Salisbury ‘23 Connor Langley ‘24
Tenor II Soprano II Alto II Matthew Ludovico ‘23 Bass II Natalie Kawasaki ‘23 Lillian McCarty ‘21 Samuel Tavares ‘24 Leoluca Cannuscio ‘23 Micaela Lamas ‘24 Gabrielle J. Poma ‘21 Nicholas Cortez ‘23 Samantha Katherine Stegemeyer * Carmen Venegas ‘21 Lindsay Nelsen ‘24 Aimee Chao ‘23 Camille Orozco ‘22 Michelle Pak ‘22 *Alumni LMU Concert Choir
Soprano I Alto II Tenor II Clementine Castro** Alto I Sara Bunge ‘24 Ryan Apolonio ‘21 Ashley Cornell+ Clara Barnes-Horowitz ‘24 Aimee Chao ‘23 Mnason Abrot ‘21 Rosalva Lara * Elaine Chi ‘24 Juanita Chauvin * Samuel Tavares ‘24 Victoria Lowe + Swati Gupta ‘21 Kalista Marandas ‘24 Lisa Reid ** Fran Hentz + Lauren McLane ‘23 Bass I
Joy Lee ‘23 Kathy Russell + Stefan A. T. Goodreau * Soprano II Mary Linden + Angie Samstag + John Sebastian ** Tina Brauneck** Ashley Salisbury ‘23 Courtney Claverie* Camilla Schemmel ‘24 Tenor I Bass II Gwendolyn Dreyer ** Claire Voilleque ‘24 Jiaao Li ‘21 Destin Christopher ‘22 Samantha Katherine Stegemeyer * Tony Lowe + John Fu * Lindsay Nelsen ‘21 Brian Rodas+ Nicole Torres * *Alumni **Faculty/Staff +Community Member Martha Masters
...first achieved international recognition in 2000 when she won first prize in the Guitar Foundation of America International Concert Artist Competition. That same year she also won the Andres Segovia International Competition in Linares, Spain, and was named a finalist in the Alexandre Tansman International Competition of Musical Personalities in Lodz, Poland.
Since then, Ms. Masters has been active as a solo recitalist, chamber musician and concerto soloist around the world. Recent seasons included appearances at festivals and on concert series through the United States, Europe, Russia, China and Australia.
Masters received both the Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the Peabody Conservatory, where she studied with Manuel Barrueco, and completed the Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Southern California as a student of Scott Tennant. . Ms. Masters is currently on the guitar faculty of Loyola Marymount University and California State University Fullerton, and is President of the Guitar Foundation of America. She has released seven recordings (Naxos, GSP and independent releases), and has published three books with Mel Bay Publications and Alfred Music. For more information, visit www.marthamasters.com. Wojciech Kocyan
...a laureate of several international piano competitions, including F. Busoni and Viotti, as well as a special prizes winner of the XI International Chopin Competition and a First Prize winner of the Paderewski Piano Competition.
He has performed in Europe, Japan, Australia, United States, Canada and Mexico. He has recorded for television, radio and film and his performances were broadcast in Europe, United States and Australia. His recordings can be found on DUX, NAXOS and Spotify.
In 2007 the Gramophone magazine, considered world’s most prestigious classical music journal, chose Mr. Kocyan’s recording of Prokofiev, Scriabin and Rachmaninoff as one of 50 best classical recordings ever made.
Mr. Kocyan is a Clinical Professor and Artist-in-Residence at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. He has conducted master classes in Hungary, Austria, Poland , France, Mexico and United States. He is active nationally and internationally as an adjudicator, lecturer and a scholar. Kenichiro Aiso
...Internationally acclaimed violinist/violist Ken Aiso has performed worldwide as soloist, chamber and orchestral musician. Mr. Aiso graduated from the Royal Academy of Music in London studying with Erich Gruenberg.
He has been invited to renowned music festivals in UK, France, Sweden, Switzerland, India, Georgia, Bolivia and Kazakhstan. Equally at home with modern and period instruments, Mr. Aiso has appeared as principal violinist with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, the London Philharmonic, the Hallé and the Scottish Chamber Orchestras.
Mr. Aiso is a laureate of Long-Thibaud International Competition in Paris and International Music Competition of Japan. He was elected Associate of Royal Academy of Music in London, and received Shimousa Kan-ichi Music Award in his native Japan. Mr. Aiso currently serves as Professor of Violin and Viola, Director of String Ensemble at Loyola Marymount University, Adjunct Faculty at La Sierra University and UC Irvine.
His belief in sound as healing medium has taken him to many outreaches in hospitals, schools, senior residences and institutions for children with special needs. Clara Yang
...began her cello studies at age 10, and made her concerto debut at age 12 with the Dong-A University Orchestra in South Korea under the baton of her grandfather Jong-Gu Bae. Since then, she has appeared as a soloist with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, the Concord Orchestra, and the Brockton Symphony, among others.
She gave her New York solo recital debut at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall in 2008 and has given other performances in venues such as Lincoln Center’s Avery Fischer Hall and Alice Tully Hall, Kaufman Center’s Merkin Hall, and the United Nations’ General Assembly Hall.
Ms. Yang currently teaches cello at the Colburn School’s Community School of Performing Arts. Frank Basile
...is the accompanist for the LMU choral ensembles, and an adjunct lecturer in the music department. He is a conductor, musical director, pianist, organist, harpsichordist, accompanist, singer, church musician, composer, arranger, orchestrator and teacher.
His career has brought him to Los Angeles recording studios, the choir lofts of churches throughout the United States and Europe, any number of small and large theaters in L.A., and the stages of Walt Disney Concert Hall and Carnegie Hall. Versatility has been the hallmark of his work, which has included teaching at the University of Southern California, Santa Monica College and Campbell Hall High School, directing community choruses, giving private lessons, composing, arranging and orchestrating for the musical theater stage, accompanying classical recitals and night club acts, creating concert series, performing piano, organ and harpsichord concertos, and many other forms of musical expression.
He studied at Yale University, Northwestern University, and the University of Southern California. T. J. Harper
...is Associate Professor of Music, Director of Choral Activities, and Interim Chair of the Music Department at Loyola Marymount University. He received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Southern California where he graduated with honors.
Choirs under Mr. Harper’s direction have performed at professional conferences of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) and the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) and international performances by invitation include Austria, Czech Republic, Spain and Italy. He has been the headlining clinician and conductor throughout the United States and internationally with engagements in Argentina, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, Germany, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, and Venezuela.
Mr. Harper’s research interests span the diverse choral music traditions of the international community and have led to funded research projects in multiple countries. His publications have appeared in the ACDA Choral Journal, the IFCM International Choral Bulletin, the NAfME Online Choral Forum, and the RIMEA Music Education Journal-RIMER. He is also a contributing author to Student Engagement in Higher Education: Theoretical Perspectives and Practical Approaches for Diverse Populations. (Routledge)
Mr. Harper is the Chair of the ACDA International Activities Committee, and the Director of the ACDA International Conductors Exchange Program. Acknowledgements
Loyola Marymount University Timothy Law Snyder, President Thomas Poon, Executive Vice President & Provost The University Public Relations Staff Office of Campus Ministry John Flaherty, Associate Director of Campus Ministry Chris DeSilva, Campus Minister Alexander Egger, ITS Technology Support Specialist
College of Communication and Fine Arts Bryant Keith Alexander, Dean Michele L. Hammers, Associate Dean Elaine Patricia Walker, Assistant Dean Kate Shirley, Associate Director, Academic Communications Acknowledgements Department of Music Music Faculty & Staff Tashi Cardinali Bateman ’05, Senior Administrative & Production Coordinator Martha Masters, director Wojciech Kocyan, piano Kenichiro Aiso, violin Clara Yang, cello Connor Martin, Martin Music Productions, virtual choir editor Renzo Rodriguez, Ode to Thalassa video editor Cesar Torres-Mendez, Ode to Thalassa video editor Jack Green, Ode to Thalassa audio editor
Chorus Benefactors Adams-Mastrovich Family Foundation Choral Endowment
Donors to The Paul Salamunovich & Nanette Salamunovich Goodman Choral Music Scholarship The Fr. Richard Trame, S. J. Memorial Scholarship The Chorus Alumni Fund The Chorus Travel Fund 2021/2022 LMU Choral Activities
Join the LMU Choruses ~ Vocal Placements ~ August 27-31, 2021
Fall Choral Concert ~ November 6, 2021 ~ 8pm
2021 Gala Christmas Concert ~ December 9 & 11, 2021 ~ 8pm
Join the LMU Choruses ~ Vocal Placements for Spring 2022 ~ January 6-11, 2022
LMU Choirs 2nd Annual Spring Cabaret ~ February 12, 2022 ~ 8pm
LMU High School Invitational Choral Festival ~ February 25
57th Spring Chorale ~ April 29, 2022 ~ 8pm
https://cfa.lmu.edu/programs/music/academics/choruses/