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Ariose Singers Think Globally, Sing Locally

June 1, 2007
Aptos Times

By Catherine Pickerrell

More and more music lovers in this area are finding out that Santa Cruz County is home to a first-class vocal chamber ensemble called "Ariose Singers." This sixteen-voice mixed chamber choir, now under the directorship of Michael (Mickey) McGushin, has been in existence since 2001. Since that time, Ariose has been steadily growing in popularity and gaining a reputation for presenting unusual and rarely performed choral works from a variety of countries and cultures. On June 9th and 10th, Ariose Singers will present another such program in a concert at the Mission Chapel at Holy Cross. Performance times are 8:00 pm Saturday and 3:00 pm Sunday.

The singers will perform songs written in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and Latin. The program includes "Six Chansons," a collection of French songs by Paul Hindemith; "The Lamentations of Jeremiah" by English Renaissance composer, Thomas Tallis; a selection of poems set to music by German Romantic composer Robert Schumann; a set of Renaissance pieces by various Spanish composers; and contemporary works by two living British composers, William Hawley and Bernard Rands as well as two living American composers, Aaron Jay Kernis, and Eric Whitacre.

The concert's title, "...among the voices..." is taken from the title of one of the compositions on the program. This four-movement work by English contemporary composer, Bernard Rands, is considered by McGushin to be the centerpiece of the program. "Although I was familiar with some of the work of Bernard Rands, '...among the voices...' was a piece I first encountered this past winter through a recording," said McGushin. "On first hearing, I knew it was a piece I wanted to include on this program. It is an intelligent, moody and lyrical setting of a poem by Samuel Beckett for harp and chorus - a beautiful sonic contrast with the other pieces in the concert."

Harpist Jennifer Cass, will accompany the singers on this piece, and on one of the Kernis pieces, "Dorma Ador." According to McGushin, Cass is the most in-demand harpist in the area. She studied harp at U.C. San Diego, and went on to earn her masters degree in Harp Performance at the Eastman School of Music. Ms Cass performs regularly with UCSC faculty and ensembles, Santa Cruz New Music Works, Cabrillo Stage, and Santa Cruz Chamber Players. She has also appeared with the San Jose, Santa Cruz County and Fremont Symphonies.

The first half of the concert will be devoted to music from the Renaissance and Romantic eras, and will include "The Lamentations of Jeremiah" by Tallis. McGushin described this 16th century composition as, "a widely-acknowledged pinnacle of Renaissance music." The singers will also perform three short, exquisite pieces from the Spanish Renaissance by composers, Cristobal de Morales, Tomas Luis de Victoria, and Juan Vasquez.

Following the Spanish set, will be a selection of seven Romantic part-songs by Germany's Robert Schumann, one of the great composers of the 19th century and, according to McGushin, one of the most accomplished at deeply reading poetry and setting it to music.

The second half of the program will focus on music written in the 20th and 21st centuries, and will open with Hindemith's settings of six French poems by Rainer Maria Rilke. McGushin considers this collection one of the gems of 20th century repertoire. "This piece, coming from the late 1930's can hardly be considered 'contemporary' in the year 2007," he said, "so it was my desire to fill out the remainder of the program with newer pieces by living composers. The final set is made up of four short pieces in differing styles, by three composers born in the latter half of the 20th century; I consider each to be a small masterpiece."

Not the least of these "small masterpieces" is Aaron Jay Kernis' highly energetic, "I Cannot Dance, O Lord." This work's text is taken from "Ecstatic Meditations," one of many divine revelations penned by Mechthild of Magdeburg (1210-c.1285). Mechthild, a medieval mystic, began having visionary experiences at the age of 12. She became a Beguine and later, a Cistercian nun. Her writing is known to be exuberant and emotional: her descriptions of her visions, filled with passion. Her work was largely forgotten by the 15th century, but rediscovered in the late 19th century.

Because most of the repertoire performed by Ariose is written especially for small ensembles, their music is not your usual large choir fare. McGushin, who also serves as the group's artistic director, said that he puts a great deal of thought into planning each concert that the group presents. "I build programs out of music and text that I feel is of a very high quality or in some way deeply interesting; usually by selecting one or two key pieces that are the anchors of the concert and then building around them with pieces that provide contrast or complement, in the hope that the program will provide an enriching and enjoyable experience for performers and audience alike."

This concert will be performed in the Mission Chapel across from Holy Cross Church on Saturday, June 9th at 8:00 pm and Sunday, June 10th at 3:00 pm. Seating is very limited. Tickets are: General $15 at the door, $12 Advance Purchase; Senior/Student $12. Advance tickets may be purchased at Streetlight Records, 939 Pacific Ave. in downtown Santa Cruz, or at www.ariosesingers.org.