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May 11, 2024 "Requiem" by Mark Hayes
Odell Memorial Hall
815 West Market St
Greensboro, NC
7:30pm

The Spring 2024 concert for the Choral Society of Greensboro features the transcendent "Requiem" by the remarkably talented Mark Hayes. In this emotive composition, Hayes seamlessly blends classical choral tradition with contemporary flair, creating a musical tapestry that resonates with both depth and accessibility.

Mark Hayes, often celebrated for his versatility as a composer, conductor, and pianist, unveils his distinctive vision in the "Requiem." The piece navigates through the solemnity of a requiem mass, transforming traditional elements into a captivating and modern sonic journey. Hayes intertwines lush harmonies, stirring melodies, and poignant lyrics, inviting the listener to reflect on the universal themes of life, loss, and redemption. Hayes' ingenious use of orchestration and his gift for crafting melodies that linger in the heart make this "Requiem" a powerful and evocative experience.

 

November 29, 2023 "Messiah" by George Frideric Handel

Carolina Theatre
310 South Green Street
Greensboro, NC
7:00pm

If one "Googles" the phrase "Father of the Oratorio," the entry for George Frideric Handel is at the top of the list. Handel is one of the best-loved Baroque composers and was born in Germany, though he ultimately became a citizen of the United Kingdon and lived in London. He composed Messiah in 1741 and though it wasn't an immediate hit, it grew in popularity over time. It is now one of the quintessential Baroque works and is a mainstay of the often performed choral literature, making annual appearences around the world as the holiday season approaches. Audiences have been thrilled by this work and standing in unison for the Hallelujah chorus for nearly 270 years and will likely be doing so for another 270 and beyond.

October 28, 2023 Cantata 140 by Johann Sebastian Bach & Gloria (RV 589) by Antonio Vivaldi
Odell Memorial Hall
815 West Market St
Greensboro, NC
7:30pm

For Spring 2023, Choral Society of Greensboro is excited to perform two icons of the Baroque choral literature...Cantata 140 by Johann Sebastian Bach and Gloria by Antonio Vivaldi.

Cantata 140 is a chorale cantata, meaning that it is based on a Lutheran hymn. The hymn in this case is "Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme," which was written by Philipp Nicolai in 1599. The cantata opens with a powerful chorus that calls on the listener to wake up and prepare for the coming of Christ. The following recitative and aria explore the themes of faith and salvation. The second chorale then celebrates the joy of being united with Christ. The final recitative and aria reiterate the call to wake up and prepare for the coming of Christ.

The cantata is scored for a small ensemble of instruments, which allows the voices to be heard clearly. The music is rich and varied, and it reflects the different moods and emotions of the text. Bach uses a variety of musical techniques to create a sense of urgency and excitement in the opening chorus. The recitatives are accompanied by a continuo, which provides a solid foundation for the vocal lines. The arias are more lyrical and expressive, and they allow the singers to showcase their vocal talents. The final chorale is a joyful celebration of the coming of Christ.

Antonio Vivaldi's Gloria RV 589 is one of the most popular and beloved works of Baroque choral music. It is a setting of the Gloria, a hymn of praise to God, and it is full of joyful and exuberant music. The Gloria is divided into twelve movements, each of which is a different musical setting of a line from the hymn. The movements range from the joyful and festive "Gloria in excelsis Deo" to the more solemn and meditative "Qui tollis peccata mundi."

Vivaldi's Gloria is scored for a large orchestra and choir, and it makes full use of the resources of both. The orchestra is used to create a rich and varied soundscape, and the choir is used to sing the text with great beauty and power. The result is a work of music that is both joyful and moving, and it is sure to please audiences of all ages.

 

April 22, 2023 Lobgesang ("Song of Praise), A Symphony Cantata, Op. 52 by Felix Mendelssohn
Dana Auditorium
710 Levi Coffin Drive
Greensboro, NC
7:30pm

For Spring 2023, Choral Society of Greensboro is excited to collaborate with the Philharmonia of Greensboro to perform Mendelssohn's uplifting Lobgesang ("Song of Praise"), a symphony-cantata in B-flat major.

Mendelssohn composed Lobgesang in 1840 for the interesting purpose of celebrating the 400th anniversary of the development of the Gutenberg moveable type printing press. The three day festival culminated in the performance of Lobesang on June 25th, 1840. In light of the biblical text featured in Lobgesang, this world premiere performance would no doubt have been deeply moving to Mendelssohn, a devout Lutheran. When the piece was ultimately published in 1841, it featured a quotation by Martin Luther himself who wrote, "Rather I wished to see all the arts, especially music, serving Him who gave and created them."

It was only 16 years before the premiere of Lobgesang that Beethoven unveiled his ground-breaking Symphony No. 9. Consequently, there is no surprise that many see some structural similarity between the two works. Lobgesang starts with a three movement symphony followed by a nine movement cantata employing the orchestra, chorus, and vocal soloists. Regardless of how much direct inspiration Mendelssohn drew from Beethoven, it is clear that he considered this work not just a symphony, but hybrid of genres.

Robert Schumann, one of the greatest composers of the era, was in attendance at the premiere. After the performance, he wrote, "The form of the work could not be more happily chosen. The whole stimulated enthusiasm, and certainly the work, particularly at the choral movement, is to be accounted one of his freshest and most charming creations…" With this endorsement by one of the very best in history, it is easy to see why there is a high level of excitement for this joint performance of the Choral Society of Greensboro and the Philharmonia of Greensboro.

November 30, 2022 "Messiah" by George Frideric Handel

Carolina Theatre
310 South Green Street
Greensboro, NC
7:00pm

If one "Googles" the phrase "Father of the Oratorio," the entry for George Frideric Handel is at the top of the list. Handel is one of the best-loved Baroque composers and was born in Germany, though he ultimately became a citizen of the United Kingdon and lived in London. He composed Messiah in 1741 and though it wasn't an immediate hit, it grew in popularity over time. It is now one of the quintessential Baroque works and is a mainstay of the often performed choral literature, making annual appearences around the world as the holiday season approaches. Audiences have been thrilled by this work and standing in unison for the Hallelujah chorus for nearly 270 years and will likely be doing so for another 270 and beyond.

October 29, 2022 Selections from "The Book of Psalms" by Various Composers
Well-Spring Theatre
4100 Well Spring Dr
Greensboro, NC
7:30pm

The Fall 2022 concert will feature music set to lyrics from the book of Psalms. The Book of Psalms is generally acknowledged as one of the most familiar and often referenced books of the Bible. Many also consider The Book of Psalms to be some of the most accessible of the sacred texts and it has served as great inspiration for artists, musicians, and individuals for centuries.

For this concert, there will be a variety of composers represented including Felix Mendelssohn, John Rutter, Dan Forrest, John Ness Beck, and others. Additionally, we will perform two original compositions and an arrangement by our conductor, Jon Brotherton. Finally, this concert will also feature one of the very best high school choirs in Guilford County, The Weaver Chorale from Weaver Academy.

   
May 6, 2022 "Requiem in D Minor" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Christ United Methodist
410 N. Holden Rd
Greensboro, NC
7:30pm

A Requiem, or Requiem Mass, is the mass in Catholic liturgy dedicated to the repose of the souls of the dead, typically in the setting of a funeral. Musical arrangements of the typical elements of a Requiem Mass are also called Requiems and the term has ultimately become synonymous with other compositions dealing with death and mourning.

It is in this context that one might find it sadly apropos that Mozart received the commission to compose his Requiem in D Minor after he was already terminally ill himself. Indeed, he tragically died at the age of 35 before completing the work. There are 12 movements in the Requiem, but Mozart himself only fully completed the second movement (Kyrie.) Fortunately, he had progress on many other sections of the piece and ultimately, one of his students, Franz Sussmayr was able to complete the work in 1792.

As one might expect, Mozart's death during the composition of this work let to conflicting accounts and other drama surrounding it's completion and promotion. Suffice it to say that regardless of the veracity of the various post-composition claims, this piece retains the majesty and intent of the master himself and has become a beloved staple of the classical choral literature.

   
This concert is dedicated to the memory of Linda Jackson, a long time Choral Society member, who died in January, 2021. Linda loved the Choral Society, her Choral Society friends, and the European concert tours she made with the group. We were honored and touched to receive a generous bequest from her estate.
   
December 1, 2021 "Messiah" by George Frideric Handel

Carolina Theatre
310 South Green Street
Greensboro, NC
7:00pm

If one "Googles" the phrase "Father of the Oratorio," the entry for George Frideric Handel is at the top of the list. Handel is one of the best-loved Baroque composers and was born in Germany, though he ultimately became a citizen of the United Kingdon and lived in London. He composed Messiah in 1741 and though it wasn't an immediate hit, it grew in popularity over time. It is now one of the quintessential Baroque works and is a mainstay of the often performed choral literature, making annual appearences around the world as the holiday season approaches. Audiences have been thrilled by this work and standing in unison for the Hallelujah chorus for nearly 270 years and will likely be doing so for another 270 and beyond.

   
November 7, 2021 "Shakespearean Serenade"
Well-Spring Theatre
4100 Well Spring Dr
Greensboro, NC
7:30pm

The Choral Society of Greensboro's fall concert, "A Shakespearean Serenade", will incorporatie lyrics from Skakespeare's plays and sonnets and will include a wide variety of music. The concert will include composers such as Ralph Vaughan Williams, Benjamin Britten, George Shearing, Thomas Arne, Felix Mendelssohn, Joseph Haydn, John Rutter and others. Lyrics will include such titles as, "If Music Be the Food of Love", "It Was a Lover and His Lass", "Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer's Day", "Under the Greenwood Tree", "While You Here Do Snoring Lie", among many others. Come enjoy the beauty and genius of Shakespeare. 

   
November 8, 2019 "Messiah" by George Frideric Handel
First Baptist Church
1000 West Friendly Ave
Greensboro, NC
7:30pm
If one "Googles" the phrase "Father of the Oratorio," the entry for George Frideric Handel is at the top of the list. Handel is one of the best-loved Baroque composers and was born in Germany, though he ultimately became a citizen of the United Kingdon and lived in London. He composed Messiah in 1741 and though it wasn't an immediate hit, it grew in popularity over time. It is now one of the quintessential Baroque works and is a mainstay of the often performed choral literature, making annual appearences around the world as the holiday season approaches. Audiences have been thrilled by this work and standing in unison for the Hallelujah chorus for nearly 270 years and will likely be doing so for another 270 and beyond.
   
May 18, 2019 "Carmina Burana" by Carl Orff
Dana Auditorium
710 Levi Coffin Dr
Greensboro, NC
7:30pm
Carmina Burana is a scenic cantata composed by Carl Orff in 1935 and 1936, based on 24 poems from the medieval collection Carmina Burana. Its full Latin title is Carmina Burana: Cantiones profanæ cantoribus et choris cantandæ comitantibus instrumentis atque imaginibus magicis ("Songs of Beuern: Secular songs for singers and choruses to be sung together with instruments and magical images"). It is part of Trionfi, a musical triptych that includes Catulli Carmina and Trionfo di Afrodite. The first and last movements of the piece are called "Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi" ("Fortune, Empress of the World") and start with the very well known "O Fortuna".
   
November 11, 2018 "The Armed Man - A Mass for Peace" by Karl Jenkins
Christ United Methodist
410 N. Holden Rd
Greensboro, NC
3:00pm
The Armed Man is a Mass by Welsh composer Karl Jenkins, subtitled "A Mass for Peace". The piece was commissioned by the Royal Armouries Museum for the Millennium celebrations, to mark the museum's move from London to Leeds, and it was dedicated to victims of the Kosovo crisis. Like Benjamin Britten's War Requiem before it, it is essentially an anti-war piece and is based on the Catholic Mass, which Jenkins combines with other sources, principally the 15th-century folk song "L'homme armé" in the first and last movements. It was written for SATB chorus with soloists (soprano and muezzin) and a symphonic orchestra. Guy Wilson, then master of the museum, selected the texts for the mass.

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