A meeting of musical forces
Andrew Lewis, music director of the Elgin Choral Union, has what may come as a surprise to classical fans: a little-known piece by Beethoven, "Elegischer Gessang" (Elegiac Song).
"The Beethoven piece is very rarely performed," said Lewis, who is completing his fourth season with the organization.
"Some people don't even know about it. It's a perfect complementary piece to the other two pieces on the program."
Music lovers will have a chance to hear the Beethoven piece and more when the Elgin Choral Union is joined by the Elgin Symphony Orchestra for a spring concert Saturday.
The other pieces performed by the chorus and the orchestra are also by Viennese composers: Franz Schubert's "Mass in G Minor" and Franz Joseph Haydn's "Lord Nelson Mass" and are more well known, according to Lewis.
"Both of them are staples for the repertoire," he said.
"Most choral organizations, like ours, tend to go for pieces that are well known, the pieces that will draw big audiences."
The Schubert piece will be very recognizable, according to Lewis.
"The Schubert Mass is a gorgeous piece of music. It's also very accessible, but it's also a master work."
The Beethoven piece provides balance to the readily recognizable pieces, he said.
"The reason I would like to include the Beethoven is because it's just that extra variety," Lewis said. "It's just a gem of a piece and people will be delighted to hear it."
"They'll probably come in expecting to enjoy the concert because of the 'Lord Nelson Mass' and the Schubert and then they'll find this gorgeous, gorgeous piece from Beethoven and fall in love with it," he said.
"It has an elegy from an unknown poet about a woman who dies in childbirth," Lewis continued.
"You wouldn't know it from the poem itself. It's just a lovely poem about passing on to the afterlife."
Patty Dowd Schmitz of Barrington has been a choral member for three years and is very enthusiastic about the Beethoven piece.
"It's a very quiet piece," she said. "To me it has echoes of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony where the chorus gets very quiet. It's a beautiful serene piece."
Choosing the material to be presented is a source of fun to Lewis. He and the Choral Union's Artistic Advisory Committee, a group of members who volunteer their time, start with a mass brainstorm.
"We talk about anything we want to do, wild dreams sort of thinking," Lewis said. "And then we narrow it down."
Budget is considered, as is balance, and a theme emerges.
"We have a diverse range of opinions on the committee," Lewis said. "We look at popular works, or movie music or Broadway, and then we balance our season."
The 61-year-old Elgin Choral Union boasts members from far beyond the Fox Valley, including two members who make their way from Indiana and Wisconsin.
The 115 volunteer members are drawn from 22 regional communities as well.
"It's the premier chorus in the area," said Lewis.
"Because of its artistic excellence and because they are a really fantastic group of people, they're a big draw." Dowd Schmitz agrees.
"The Elgin Choral Union is probably the most professional group that I've sung with," she said. This has been the most rewarding experience I've had as a choral member.
"The group is very dedicated to each other and making wonderful music.
"We're just a phenomenally talented group of people who do a magnificent job of singing some of the most difficult works."
If you go
What: The Elgin Choral Union accompanied by the Elgin Symphony Orchestra
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: Elgin Community College, Blizzard Theatre, 1700 Spartan Drive
Tickets: $23 for adults, $18 for seniors, $15 for students, $5 for children 10 and younger
Info: For tickets, call (847) 622-0300; for information about the Elgin Choral Union, call (847) 214-7513
Elgin Choral Union singers
Algonquin: Martha Baran, Robert Donehey, John Hein, Lolita McAfee, Sean McAfee, Marguerite Van Ness
Aurora: Byron Cunnigham, Ann Schaub
Barrington: Patty Dowd Schmitz
Bartlett: Donna Cozzi, Diane Hannibal, Wes Hannibal, Carolyn Raber
Batavia: Kristen Balisi, Bill Beyeri, Rita De Pedro, Linda Erickson, Catherine Ernzen, Kathy Heikkinen, Chris Johnson, Ken Smith
Carpentersville: Cynthia, Cwynar, Diane Schael
Crystal Lake: Kurt Kuenert, Mary Kuenert
Dundee: Jan Andresen, Christine Dalphy, Arnold Klehm, Roy Olson, Page Schaschwarv, Louise Tiemann
Elgin: Robert Acker, Debbie Anderson, Paul Anderson, Janet Andrew, Lois Bauer, Vanessa Bettcher, Alison Bleick Anthony Dean, John R. Diehl, Chuck Dittman, John Gilbert, Patricia Gilbert, Lorraine Gornick, Richard Grieger, Bethany Harrington, Karen Holtquist, Donna Hopp, Marilyn House, Diana Jagiello, Marcelyn Kropp, Marilyn Kunard, Linda Mueller, Lori Polzak, Thomas Powell, Ken Prazak, Judy Pullen, Bill Schnell, Fred Steffen, Al Taenzer, Rachel Trautwein
Geneva: Patricia Aurand, Alice Biggers, Richard Hattan, Joe Labutka, Ed Schalk, Crae Tate
Glen Ellyn: Marilyn Hoglund
Glenview: Joel Smith
Hampshire: Melissa Awe, Harry Pfingsten
Hanover Park: Kathryn Petricca
Hoffman Estates: Jolie Bibulovic, Eve Dodohara, Nancy Maraat, John St. Louis
Huntley: Nancy Hubbs, Sandra Magana
Lake in the Hills: Christopher Lozier
Montgomery: Joy Bozzelli, Sheryl Lucka
Palatine: Noel Zak
Roselle: Christine Dawson
Schaumburg: Anu Bamzai
Sleepy Hollow: JoAnne Dowdell, Joe Dowdell, Larry Klemm, Chic Sweeney
South Elgin: Ron Brown, Julie Frankowski, Bev Hoffman, Melissa Pagano, Brian Szady
St. Charles: Stu Ainsworth, Phyllis Andrew, Valerie Bouagnon, Aniat Clay, Lorry Cook, Julie Deines, Allan Dempsey, Ben Gaddis, John Hrivnak, Marilyn Keblusek, William Kelly, Caryn Kingseed, Deborah Long, Linds McCullagh, Susan Newman, Scott Powell, Krista Ravenscraft, Christine Ross, Robert van Dusen, Lisa Wright
Sycamore: Samantha Heap, Sarah Mendehall
Waucanda: Bernie Schofield
Wheaton: Herb Anderson
Wilmette: Marti Pechnyo
Rensselaer, Ind.: Don Eaton
Racine, Wis.: Philip Schaub