The Cal Poly Choirs Winter Concert, titled “Imperial Echoes: Music for Royal Occasions,” will feature music inspired by, and written for, royalty.
PolyPhonics, in advance of its Carnegie Hall concert in April, will perform two of George Frederic Handel’s coronation anthems which were composed for King George II in 1727, and have been used for British coronations ever since. Titled “Zadok the Priest” and “The King Shall Rejoice,” the anthems will be performed with brass ensemble, organ and percussion. The group will perform other works inspired by British royal events including Paul Mealor’s “Ubi Caritas,” written for the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton; and “Coronation Agnus Dei,” by Tarik O’Regan for the coronation of the current monarch, King Charles III.
Chamber Choir will present two works from very different eras: Claudio Monteverdi’s “Dixit Dominus secondo,” and Benjamin Britten’s “Choral Dances from the Opera Gloriana.” The Monteverdi piece was dedicated to Eleonora Gonzaga, the Holy Roman Empress from a famous Italian Renaissance family. Cal Poly faculty will perform on the piece including violinists Grace Seng and Emily Lanzone, cellist Megan Chartier and David Arrivée on harpsichord. Britten’s opera was written for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
Cantabile, the university’s advanced treble ensemble, will diversify the program with music of a wide range of cultures and traditions. “Arirang” arranged by Hyo-Won Woo is one of the most well-known Korean folk songs with roots in ancient royal folklore. “Aia iā 'o Pele i Hawai'i” by Jace Kaholokula Saplan will be performed in the Hawaiian language and tells of the traditional goddess of fire, Pele. The choir will also sing 17th-century royal court composer Jean-Baptiste Lully’s setting of “Regina coeli” (“Queen of Heaven”).
University Singers, under the direction of John Knutson this winter, will perform several gospel selections, including “Reach Down, Lord” by Kyle Pederson, and “I Sing Because I’m Happy” by Rollo Dilworth.
Cantabile and Chamber Choir will present a set of music inspired by William Shakespeare, with Chamber Choir singing Ralph Vaughan Williams’ glorious “Serenade to Music,” with solos by every member of the choir; and Cantabile will perform incidental music from “Midsummer Night’s Dream” by Felix Mendelssohn, complete with costumes and some humorous moments.
The concert will conclude with all the choirs singing the famous coronation piece “I Was Glad” by Charles Hubert Parry. It is special arrangement for brass, organ and percussion by Paul Woodring, Cal Poly university organist and accompanist.
Glysson will conduct the Chamber Choir and PolyPhonics, and Woodring will accompany the choirs on piano and organ.
The event is sponsored by Cal Poly’s Music Department, College of Liberal Arts and Instructionally Related Activities program.
