Local music lovers will have the opportunity to hear the first public performance of “Spheres”, a choral cantata by Charles Kaufmann of Portland, Maine, on April 4-6. The piece will be performed by the Community Chorus at South Berwick.
The Community Chorus at South Berwick commissioned the Kaufmann work, which is based on poetry by the late Constance Hunting, University of Maine professor and poet, as the centerpiece of its spring concert series, “From a Poet’s Pen”, featuring choral music inspired by poetic texts of many ages and cultures. Other selections range from the Psalms to Thoreau and Whitman, with music from Brahms, Schubert, Washburn, Parker and many others.
Conductor and Music Director Dr. Harry Moon says that the chorus is “excited to be preparing for the premiere performance of this new work” with local roots. It is written in cantata format scored for chorus, alto and bass soloists, and piano. The piano part is rich, with many sounds and effects, including plucking of the strings inside the piano. The piece has a contemporary feel but is very accessible to the audience.
Mr. Kaufmann, is an award-winning composer and founding director of The Longfellow Chorus in Portland. He is an organist and one of the leading Baroque and classical bassoonists in North America, with degrees from the Eastman School of Music and the Yale University School of Music.
Constance Hunting was a noted poet, author, and publisher, the owner of a noted small press, founder of the state’s first literary magazine, and an inspiring teacher to countless students. She was an accomplished pianist herself and would no doubt be gratified to see her words put to music. Kaufmann describes “Spheres” as one of Hunting’s final minimalist series of poems, comprised of twelve short poems evoking images of the natural world through the poet’s wandering mind.
The Kaufmann commission is supported by a grant from Kennebunk Savings Bank of Kennebunk, Maine. The chorus includes 60 singers from twenty communities in Seacoast Maine and New Hampshire.
Performances will be April 4, 8:00 p.m. at Berwick Academy in South Berwick, Me.; April 5, 7:30 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Church in Dover, N.H.; and April 6, 3:00 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church in Portsmouth, N.H. More information is at the chorus’ website is www.CCSB-SING.org.
[...] “From a Poet’s Pen” A concert of choral music inspired by poetry and verses from throughout the centuries and around the globe, the program includes settings of contemporary texts, the Psalms, Native American writings, classical and folk text, Thoreau, Whitman and other American poets and more. Also included is music by Brahms and Mennin. For this concert, the Community Chorus at South Berwick commissioned Charles Kaufmann of Portland, Maine, for an original composition using text by a contemporary Maine poet. Mr. Kaufmann has chosen for his work “Spheres”, the poem by University of Maine professor, Constance Hunting (1932-2006). Read more about “Spheres.” [...]
CCSB is having a large “Spring Plant Sale” in Eilot on May 17th! I’d love to give you all the information. Is there a special way to do that?