Concert to feature program based on works of female composers, poets
February 25, 2016
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Choral Union and Women's Choir will present "In Praise of Women" when the ensembles perform at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 8, in Cole Concert Hall in the Wright Music Building on the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University.The concert program is based on works by female composers and poets, and on female centered themes, according to Dr. Tod W. Fish, assistant professor and associate director of choral activities in the SFA School of Music.
"Female composers are grossly under-performed, in particular, those from earlier time periods," Fish said. "This concert will display the works of female composers and poets from five different historical periods."
The concert features a collaboration with SFA music faculty members Christina Guenther, flute; Staci Spring, bassoon; and Scott LaGraff, Chris Turner and Gennard Lombardozzi, voice. Graduate student violinists will also perform.
The Women's Choir will perform "The Snow" by Edward Elgar. "It is a mainstay in the treble repertoire," Fish said. "It features a virtuosic violin duet and the text by his wife, Alice, a poet and novelist.
The Choral Union will perform Domine ad adiuvandum by the early Baroque composer Isabella Leonarda, who Fish describes as "a fairly unknown composer to modern audiences."
"But she was quite popular during her lifetime," he said. "This piece shows influence of (Claudio) Monteverdi and is accompanied by two C instruments and basso continuo."
The Choral Union will also perform Lili Boulanger's "Pour les Funérailles d'un Soldat," a highly dramatic work that will feature LaGraff, Turner and Lombardozzi as soloists and in a vocal trio.
Graduate conducting students Elaina Nordin of Angleton will conduct the Women's Choir, and Andrew Trites of Overland Park, Kansas, and Robert Boren of Gun Barrel City will conduct the Choral Union men and women, respectively. The graduate conductors will each interpret three selections by contemporary female composers, Fish said.
The recital is a joint presentation of the SFA College of Fine Arts and School of Music. Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $3 for students and youth. For tickets or more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit http://www.finearts.sfasu.edu/.