Heartland Voices, Fox Valley Concert band to perform new works
This weekend, Fox Valley music lovers are in for an unusual treat.
Both Heartland Voices and The Fox Valley Concert Band of St. Charles will perform newly commissioned works along with a variety of music at their respective concerts.
Heartland Voices
Heartland Voices will perform the commissioned "To Live Forever" composed by Timothy C. Takach, formerly of Barrington, at The First United Methodist Church in Elgin. The piece was inspired by Frances Hodges Burnett's "The Secret Garden" and will make its debut at the organization's Colombia to Canada-Eh concert.
"Heartland has never commissioned a work," said John Slawson, artistic director and conductor of the Heartland Voices. "I'm a firm believer of keeping choral music alive by doing old works, but you also make sure that there are newer works that are being written."
The composer of this new work is a former singer under Slawson's direction, who sang for him when he was 11 years old. When Slawson came across Takach performing as an adult, he re-introduced himself.
"He's this big tall bass," he said. "He was a boy soprano when I worked with him."
The adult Takach was also a composer and after hearing his work, Slawson decided to commission him on behalf of Heartland Voices.
The result is "To Live Forever," which will make its world premiere at this show. The concert will also showcase music from Colombia, Canada and the U.S.
"There's a lot of rich music in America and South America, so I wanted to do some things from South America," said Slawson.
Coincidentally, a new member of the chorus, Gary Rubio, is originally from Colombia and Slawson was able to make use of Rubio's musical knowledge of the area.
The pieces Rubio recommended are "Alma Llanera" by Pedro Gutierrez, "Canto a la Vida" by Modesta Bor and "Angelitos Negros" by Jose Rincon.
The U.S. is represented by the commissioned piece called "The Testament of Freedom" by Randall Thompson. It is an inspirational choral number with text taken from the writings of Thomas Jefferson.
David Sam, president of Elgin Community College, will read the words as an accompaniment to the piece. The American spirituals, "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" and "Ain't That Good News" will also represent the U.S.
Among the songs originating in Canada will be Eleanor Daley's "Life's Mirror," written in 2008. "The text is very reflective upon living," said Slawson. "Whatever you give it will come back to you."
Stephen Chatman's "There is Sweet Music Here" and a folk song arranged by Harry Somers, "Feller From Fortune," will round out the Canadian portion of the program.
"It's going to be a really fun concert from this hemisphere, both north and south," Slawson said.
Concert band
The Fox Valley Concert Band of St. Charles will perform the other newly commissioned work in the area, "Reconnected: Three Complete Curves."
Colin Holman will direct the music, which celebrates the band's 25th anniversary.
"We wanted to find a special way to celebrate our anniversary and to continue Illinois music, so we wanted to commission an Illinois composer," he said.
The composer chosen is Craig Andrew Fitzpatrick, who is on the faculty of Bradley University in Peoria.
Holman described him as an up-and-coming composer.
Fitzpatrick found inspiration very close to home for the 80-plus members of the concert band, according to Holman. "He solicited, from all the members of the band reasons why they played and why they were members of this particular ensemble."
Fitzpatrick sorted through the responses, selecting one of the most eloquent by Randy Beschorner.
"He was a player who quit playing for awhile and then picked his instrument up and started playing again," said Holman. "He realized when he came and joined this group that there were a number of people from the university that he graduated from and they had all studied with the same teacher. So the theme became reconnecting with things that happened in the past."
"There also a couple of very interesting elements of symbolism that the composer incorporated into the piece around our 25th anniversary," said Holman. "He uses the numbers two and five symbolically in the music as a way of connecting us with our celebration."
The band will perform eight other pieces mostly related to the themes of patriotism and celebration. "We have a piece that was written and inspired by the Star Spangled Banner," Holman said. "We're doing a Sousa march and Jubilee Overture, and other songs that the audience will enjoy hearing and the band will enjoy playing."
Although the band is centered in the Fox Valley, some musicians are traveling some distance to participate. "We focus on a high quality of music making, which is very important to attracting good quality players," said Holman. "We have a very strong social knit within the organization too," Holman said.
If you go
Heartland Voices
What: Heartland Voices Concert, Colombia to Canada-Eh
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: First United Methodist Church, 216 East Highland Ave. Elgin
Tickets: $18 for adults, $15 for seniors and groups of six or more, $10 for students with a valid ID. Tickets can be reserved by calling (847) 429-9486 or at www.heartlandvoices.org
2nd show: On June 1 at 7 p.m., the show will be performed at St. Marcelline Catholic Church, 822 S. Springinsguth Road, Schaumburg
Fox Valley Concert Band
What: The Fox Valley Concert Band of St. Charles concert When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday Where: Larkin High School, 1475 Larkin Ave, Elgin
Tickets: This concert is free.
Information: Call Danielle Pepa at (847) 695-7096 or visit www.FVCB.org.