Centenary Camerata presents fall concert November 16
SHREVEPORT, LA — Centenary’s Camerata will use its 2018 fall concert, Wonders, to explore concepts such as creation, love, peace, and light through a wide variety of musical styles. Centenary artist-in-residence Cindy Sadler will join Camerata for the concert in Anderson Atrium at Centenary’s Hurley School of Music on Friday, November 16 at 7:30 p.m. The concert is free and open to the public.
The Wonders theme encompasses music from Baroque to contemporary, accompanied (piano and violin) to a cappella, and English to nonsense language. Camerata director Dr. Cory Wikan, assistant professor of music and Acting Dean of the Hurley School of Music, says that Wonders has been “rewarding” to prepare, especially Aaron Copland’s In the Beginning, a vivid illumination of the Genesis creation story.
“The selections should appeal to a wide array of artistic sensibilities,” says Wikan. “In the Beginning, in particular, demonstrates a mastery of compositional styles and musical artistry in a very different way than his more well-known Americana. Moreover, it is devilishly challenging to sing. The piece is entirely a cappella, moving through a number of styles and musical modes in extremely short order. Camerata is facing these challenges with a high level of musical skill and artistic sophistication. We are also delighted that Cindy Sadler will be singing the solo portions of Copland’s work.”
Other pieces on the program include Joan Szymko’s All Works of Love and Thomas Lavoy’s setting of an Emily Dickinson poem, I Shall Not Live in Vain, exploring the wonders of love and peace. Additional works by Lavoy and Eric Whitacre touch on the wonders of sleep and dreams. Grace, light, and eternal life – all marvels of the universe – are woven through works by J.S. Bach, Dan Forrest, Alice Parker, and Rogers Ames.
Camerata, founded in 1983, is the select chamber choir from the Hurley School of Music. The composition of the group is primarily voice majors, though membership is open to all Centenary students by audition.