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Programme
From the Underground, Dan Wiebe
Terre Neuve, Marie-Claire Saindon
Lunar Lullaby, Jacob Narverud
Paruparong Bukid, arr. George G. Hernandez (Solo: Alyssa Johnson)
Animal Crackers, Eric Whitacre (Trombone: Darren Fife)
How Can I Keep From Singing, Greg Gilpin (Solo: Braiden Rostek)
Collection in Support of FortWhyte Alive and Intermission
Chopin Nocturnes op9 no1 and 2
Kali Spencer, Piano
Daemon Irrepit Callidus, György Orbán
Northern Lights, Ola Gjielo
Light of a Clear Blue Morning, arr. Craig Hella Johnson (Solo: Jen Walld)
Voice Dance III, Greg Jasperse
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It has been such an exciting year for us directing Ecco. If you told us we would direct and perform a full season with three unique concerts, I don’t think either of us would have believed you with a pandemic constantly affecting our lives. It feels so nice to be back with this community of singers. Ecco is much more than a group of people who come together to sing. It is through the shared common goal of singing that a community develops, but that community sees us celebrating the life changes that happen, grieving losses, building friendships and helping each other out in different ways. One of the highlights of each week is seeing singers come together in the quiet moments of setting up rehearsal and greet each other, and see how the week has been.
This year could not have been possible without the help of a few important people. First, to Kim who has the ability to read the minds of every director she works with, knowing what needs to be played and when it needs to be done. Thank you as well to the Musaico board for fielding all of our questions and helping navigate the ins and outs of this wild season. We have also had to navigate new concerns related to masks, social distancing and hearing the choir. This concert season could not have been done without the help of Jay Sheldon, who took care of all things sound quality.
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This afternoon we will be taking you on a journey of all the wild things. In our daily lives we explore different elements of “wild things”, and often these themes are reflected in the music being sung. Much like Max in Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are, we want to tell you a story about adventure and imagination, that takes place in nature, and makes us feel some wild emotions.
Reflecting another aspect of the wild things, our collection today will be in support of Fort Whyte Alive.
Come and join us through this imaginative journey, exploring a vast range of emotions, and natures. Be prepared to dive into Where the Wild Things Are. We sure hope you had something to eat first though!
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Would someone you know be interested in becoming a sponsor for Ecco Singers? To learn more contact us at eccosingers.com or eccosingers@gmail.com.
Would you like to sing with Ecco Singers next year? Auditions will be held in June. If you are interested in singing with Ecco, you can sign up for an audition on our website. Be sure to follow us @eccosingers to keep up to date with the latest happenings in the choir.
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FortWhyte Alive is dedicated to providing programming, natural settings and facilities for environmental education, outdoor recreation and social enterprise. In doing so, FortWhyte promotes awareness and understanding of the natural world and actions leading to sustainable living.
Thank you for making a donation today. Your contribution is an investment in the future of environmental leadership.
It's people like you - who value clean air, diverse ecosystems, and stable climates - that make it possible to connect more people with nature. With your donation, future leaders will be inspired to become climate champions and mentors - supporting others as we rise to challenges with resilience and adaptability.
We would like to thank Ecco Singers for choosing FortWhyte Alive. Because of you, we can continue to make outdoor experiences at FortWhyte Alive accessible for all people to fall in love with nature, where the wild things are.
From the Underground, Dan Wiebe
This afternoon, our concert begins with “From the Underground”, by Manitoba composer, Dan Wiebe. Wiebe wrote the piece so that the performer and audience could decide what it meant for themselves. He stated, “The three interpretations that swam around in my mind as I wrote it were as follows: 1) that there is a literal supernatural menace about to wreak havoc, 2) that it is a metaphor for increasingly dire world events which seem on the precipice of becoming catastrophic, and 3) that it is about anxiety - specifically the feeling that you are alone in feeling deeply concerned and how that concern can feed on itself and become something much more menacing.”
Terre Neuve, Marie-Claire Saindon
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Terre |
Land |
Having performed this piece in Heimat earlier this season, we thought it fitting to bring back for this concert as the poetry and musical setting of this piece invites us to visualize and experience nature of our eastern coast. Imagine the forest that grew in Max’s room as you listen to everything mother nature has to offer.
Lunar Lullaby, Jacob Naverud
We think Lunar Lullaby would be the best soundtrack as Max sailed off through night and day in his private boat to a new land. As you listen to the choir, and the accompaniment, we invite you to drift off into whatever dreamland you could be carried to.
Paruparong Bukid (Filipino Folksong), Arr. George G. Hernandez
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Paruparong Bukid
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The Field Butterfly
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Animal Crackers Vol. 1, Text by Ogden Nash, Music By Eric Whitacre
The Panther
The panther is like a leopard
Except it hasn’t been peppered
If you behold a panther crouch
Prepare to say ouch
Better yet if called by a panther, don’t anther.The Cow
Moo
The cow is of the Bovine ilk
One end is Moo, the other milk.The Firefly
The Firefly’s flame is something for which science has no name
I can think of nothing eerier than flying around with an unidentified glow on a person’s posterior.
Who knows where wild adventures will take us. Eric Whitacre dreamt of composing choral music of depth and passion (which he did), but somehow he ended up also composing Animal Crackers. Of this song, composer Eric Whitacre states, “I’ve always dreamed of writing a substantial collection of choral works that might enter the standard choral repertoire… I wrote this instead.” Three unique animals with varying skills and talents, bring a little humour to our wild adventure.
How Can I Keep from Singing, Text adapted from traditional Quaker song, Music by Greg Gilpin
When a person thinks of wild emotions, more often than not the negative emotions are the ones that come to mind. However, in the moments where you are overcome with joy, or surprise, your emotions run wild, and where there is joy, there is often music and singing. Think of the moment you were most overcome with joy, did you graduate school, accomplish a big goal, learn a new skill? Or was it your wedding day, the day you met a child for the first time? Was there music in this moment, what song was being sung?
Daemon Irrepit Callidus By György Orbán
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Daemon irrepit calidus, |
The Demon sneaks expertly |
Northern Lights, Ola Gjielo
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Pulchra es, amica mea, |
Thou art beautiful, O my love, as Tirzah, |
Many Manitobans have had the experience of seeing the Northern Lights dance across the sky at least once in their lives. So often, when we think of that moment when we saw the lights we are struck with a feeling of utter awe. We are instantly transported back to where we were, when we were stopped in our tracks to just stop and watch. Similarly, when reflecting on this text, the text comes from the Song of Solomon. The book is of two people professing their love to each other, being stopped in their tracks by the awe inspiring beauty of another person.
Light of a Clear Blue Morning, Words and Music by Dolly Parton
Arr. Craig Hella Johnson
As I wrote these notes, the “blizzard of the decade” has just passed. The clouds have begun to pass, and the sun is shining a bright blue again. “Everything’s gonna be alright, it’s gonna be ok” immediately popped into my head. With a sigh of relief the wild emotions begin to subside, and a feeling of calmness returns, however the adventures continue onto the next moment.
Voice Dance III
By Greg Jasperse
This piece will close out the season for Ecco Singer’s this year. Voice Dance has no lyrics, no meaning. Our hope is that through this song you can create your own wild adventure, and wherever it takes you, we look forward to seeing you again next season!
2022/23 Concert Season Info
Be sure to save the dates for our 2022-2023 Concert Season
Sunday, November 27, 2022
Sunday, February 12, 2023
Saturday, April 29, 2023
ECCO SINGERS
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Jorrel Camuyong and Roberta Velarde, Artistic Directors
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Soprano
Jamie Dyck |
Alto
Alexis Chlopecki |
Tenor
Stephan Day |
Bass
Heath Feldman |