MATTHEW GREER , ART I S T I C D I R ECTOR

CHORAL OLIO

SATURDAYMAY 17 5pm

Immanuel Presbyterian Church114 Carlisle Blvd SE

SUNDAYMAY 18 3pm

St. John’s United Methodist Church2626 Arizona NE

A mixed bag. A hodgepodge.A potpourri. A mashup.

We take a break from the tyranny of thematic programming, and present an eclectic assortment

of music from as many differentstyles as we can fit on one concert.

Featuring music of Morten Lauridsen, Matthew Harris, Franz Biebl (by

audience request), Eric Whitacre, P.D.Q. Bach, and others.

Tickets: $5 Student, $10 Senior, $15 Regular • At the door or: www.quintessence-abq.com Phone: 1-505-672-TUNE (8863) • E-mail: info@quintessence-abq.com • Free childcare is provided.

Like us on Facebook! Connect on Twitter or LinkedIn!

Quintessence is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization

QUINTESSENCE: CHORAL ARTISTS OF THE SOUTHWEST

ABOUT THE MUSIC

As with many choruses, the programming for Quintessence tends to be thematic. A survey of recent seasons finds concerts about food, love, death, and everything in between.

We pride ourselves on being able to perform music from a variety of times and places, and I like to think our audience likes hearing an eclectic program that is unified by a single thematic idea. But it’s hard. I’m here to tell you. It can easily result in the Artistic Director pestering friends and colleagues with desperate emails that say something like “Do you know of a nice 18th century French piece about flowers?” Or, “I need a great concert opener. Has to use the word ‘chartreuse.’ Any ideas?”

And so, it was lovely to think about planning a concert for which the theme need not be any more complicated than “Songs Composed on the Planet Earth.” The only criteria for this music is that I love it and want to do it with this superb choir.

Our concert begins with Americana: three arrangements of American hymns by Alice Parker, an arrangement of an American folk song by Carol Barnett, and an arrangement of a Stephen Foster song by André Bellefeuille.

Camille Saint-Saëns’ “Calme des nuits” is a gorgeous a cappella chorus that the composer wrote in 1862 and dedicated to Charles Gounod. I’ve just always wanted to do it, and never had the excuse.

Franz Biebl’s sublime “Ave Maria” was the piece selected for this concert by our audience in an online vote (although we still wonder how many of our younger fans voted for it because they mistook the composer for Justin Bieber). Undeniably one of the best-loved pieces of choral music of that last quarter century, the piece was written by a relatively obscure Bavarian composer, discovered by the director of the Cornell Glee Club in 1970, and made famous by Chanticleer. We’re happy it won; it is so satisfying to sing.

Matthew Harris is a marvelous contemporary American composer who has written extensively for choirs. His group called Three Plums sets three familiar William Carlos Williams poems for a cappella chorus. The first, “So Much Depends,” has the chorus chanting bits of text like mantras. “This Is Just to Say” is a mundane apology, and the composer somehow manages to find both the poignancy and the sweetness in it. And finally, “The Great Figure” is a musical depiction of a fire truck racing through city streets. We shall count ourselves lucky to arrive together at the double bar, unscathed. (Three Plums hasn’t yet been published, and we’re very grateful to Matthew Harris for allowing us to perform the set.)

One of the other pieces was up for vote in our online poll were Brahms’ great Liebeslieder Waltzes, for chorus and piano four hands. Because that didn’t win, we’ve instead programmed a few of PDQ Bach’s Liebeslieder Polkas, for chorus and piano five hands. ‘Nuff said.

The rest of the program is given over to unabashedly romantic fare, but all of it by contemporary American composers. Eric Whitacre’s “The Seal Lullaby” was the blonde composer’s attempt to write a Disney song. Bob Chilcott’s arrangement of Billy Joel’s “And So It Goes” is simple and lovely. Morten Lauridsen’s “Dirait-on” is the last of a set of five pieces he wrote on French poems of Rainer Maria Rilke, and is deservedly beloved. And David Dickau’s “If Music Be the Food of Love” allows us to cover three of our favorite themes in one title.

Next season we’ll be back to our old tricks, beginning with a concert that’s all about Shakespeare. Speaking of which, if any of you know of a not-too-difficult setting of Macbeth’s speech on hearing of the death of his wife, I’d love to know about it. We need a rousing closer.

MATTHEW GREER

PROGRAM

Three American Folk Hymns arr. Alice Parker (b. 1925) Hark, I Hear the Harps Eternal Come Away to the Skies I Got Shoes Cindy American Folk Song, arr. Carol Barnett (b. 1949) Hard Times Come Again No More Stephen Foster, arr. Andre Bellefeuille

Laurel Deming, soloist

Calme des nuits, Op. 68 No. 1 Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921) Ave Maria (1964) Franz Biebl (1906-2001)

Rebecca Craig, Julia Manganaro, Lucien Daigle, Alfredo Beltrán, soloists

Three Plums (2008) Matthew Harris (b. 1956) I. The Red Wheelbarrow II This Is Just to Say III. The Great Figure

INTERMISSION

from Liebeslieder Polkas, S. 2/4 P.D.Q. Bach (1807-1742)?

It Was a Lover and His Lass Song to Celia The Passionate Shepherd To His Love

Amy Greer and Juiling Hsu, hands one through four Julia Manganaro, fifth hand

The Seal Lullaby Eric Whitacre (b. 1970) And So It Goes Billy Joel, arr. Bob Chilcott (b. 1955)

Tyler Wilson, soloist

Dirait-on Morten Lauridsen (b. 1943) from Les chansons des roses If Music Be the Food of Love David Dickau (b. 1953)

If your cell phone rings during the performance, you will be required to come onstage and sightread Schoenberg songs.

THE SINGERS OF QUINTESSENCE

Anita Amstutz, soprano, enjoys a choralolio kind of life with a little of this and a little of that, from beekeeping to pastoring, reading, hiking with her hubby to as much music as she can squeeze in. Alto Jane Belcher teaches elementary school in Santa Fe, and when her mind is not full of kids songs and silly dance moves, she thoroughly enjoys singing beautiful music with Q. Baritone Alfredo Beltrán is honored to sing one last time with Quintessence, as he will attend the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri at Kansas City in the fall. Tenor section leader Bryan Butler works as a staff astronomer (working on solar system bodies) and software manager at the Very Large Array; he has sung or is singing with the groups Cantores Atri Mortis, Quodlibet, Polyphony, & Quintessence. Barbi Cappel, soprano, is very pleased to be singing this beautiful set of seemingly random pieces, as it speaks directly to her occasional lack of focus and love of spontaneity. Bass David Cappel does financial planning and is a lifelong musical hobbyist who hails from the home of 'The Music Man,” plays trumpet & has a mean pool game (...we got trouble!). Soprano Rebecca Craig struggles with word limits; only experienced "tweeters" like my husband (Love you!) can effectively communicate the vast metaphysical nature and emotional kaleidoscope of the human experience in thirty-five words or less! Tenor Lucien Daigle is a professional video gamer and a graduate student at UNM, studying Vocal Performance and Choral Conducting...in his free time. Laurel Deming, alto, has been singing with choirs since she was two swinging on the altar rail and has enjoyed singing with Quintessence for many years- all for the love & joy of music with a glimmer of mischief. Martin Doviak’s olio of activities and interests include mathematics, grammars of various languages, singing bass with as many choruses as possible, listening to great live music, getting wet, playing tennis, skiing, & running with dogs. Suzi Dressler, retired from the structure and tedium of full time employment, enjoys an eclectic existence combining music (long-time Quintessence alto, lifelong church musician), agility dog training (handler and instructor), & outings with husband and canine friends to the mountains for relaxation and renewal. Lars Fabricius-Olsen, bass, is an undergraduate physics student at UNM who enjoys choir singing and banjo playing. A proud member of Quintessence's awesome bass section, James Graham, a recovering tenor, is blessed with an incredible, loving family, starting with his beautiful mother Donna from whom he received everything except his singing voice. Soprano Liz Hartwell is a family law attorney, wife to Seth, mama to Anna (5) and Jacob (1), & can sing the entire Frozen soundtrack in her sleep. Pauleta Hendrickson, soprano section leader, is occupied with family, needlework, cooking, yoga, long walks, various musical pursuits, the quest of a library bookshelf big enough to hold, well... a library, and much prefers butter to Oleo. Trish Henning, alto section leader, studies voice with Jacqueline Zander-Wall, & has performed with various choirs in town including Polyphony: Voices of New Mexico, Quodlibet, and UNM's Concert Choir and Las Cantantes. Julia Church Hoffman believes that singing in community with others is THE best way to make the world a better place, and so she is unbelievably happy to be back singing soprano with Matt and Amy and the other amazing humans who sing with Quintessence. Bass Jonathan Ice, a recent arrival from Cedar Rapids, IA, makes a living “teaching blind people how to be [successfully] blind,” but also loves hiking, singing, traveling, and eating strange foods (e.g., lutefisk). Loren Sapphire Kelly, a soprano, is very happy to sing this delightful mixture of songs with Quintessence; and is also a nurse and faculty at UNM College of Nursing where she teaches community health nursing and health policy. Dr. Daryl Lee, bass section leader, leads a crazy mixed-up mashup olio of a life as a full-time engineering lecturer at UNM, part-time student at UNM, full-time husband/father/grandfather, sometime golfer, & newbie francophile, but he'll never be the kind of doctor who can do you any good. Alto Darci Lobdell makes her life a musical every day, and has been doing so since before she could talk. It only made sense for her to get a degree in vocal performance and then go on to teach her passion through voice lessons. She now performs regionally and studies Alexander Technique and voice all around the world so she can keep exploring the endless magic within singing and music. Alto Julia Manganaro just graduated with her Masters in Conducting and scored her first high school choir job, & looks forward to the day when people will call her "ma'am" without adding "you're causing a scene.” Joseph Mitchell, bass, a performer at heart, has been turning innocent bystanders into audience members from a very young age and is pleased that nobody was coerced into attending this concert. Soprano Ashley Morgan is from the Land of Impatience, known as the East Coast, and graduates THIS WEEKEND; she will be boasting as she sings. For bass Dwayne Moseley, singing with Quintessence for two years has been a unique musical experience of sharing beautiful music with both singers & listeners, often bordering upon the realms of joyfulness. Kelsey O'Herron studies at UNM & is singing alto in her first season with Quintessence. Checky Okun, soprano, finds balance in her life by singing, especially with Quintessence. Megan Rader enjoys bringing laughter and fun wherever she goes; while she's teaching high schoolers how to sing and act, or while kicking it at home watching amazing, highly rated, T.V. programming with her husband Matt, Lucky the dog, & Diva the cat. John Sitler, bass, is daily energized by teaching – and being taught – religious studies & philosophy at Menaul School & grateful to have re-found his voice making music with Q. Tyler Wilson, tenor, teaches gardening & nutrition as a FoodCorps Service Member at Kirtland Elementary - Go Eagles!

Matthew Greer was appointed Artistic Director of Quintessence in 2009. He also serves as Director of Music and Worship Arts at St. John’s United Methodist Church, where he directs several choirs and oversees a comprehensive music program. At St. John’s, he founded the “Music at St. John’s” concert series, and “Thursday Evening Musicales,” an annual series of benefit concerts for Albuquerque Healthcare for the Homeless. In recent years, he has conducted performances of Beethoven's Choral Fantasy, Bach's Magnificat, Beethoven's Mass in C Major, Mozart’s Requiem, Handel’s Messiah, and Karl Jenkins’ The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace. In 2012, he was among the recipients of Creative Albuquerque’s Bravos! Awards, honoring artistic innovation, entrepreneurship, and community impact. He has recently served as a guest conductor for the New Mexico Philharmonic and for the UNM Concert Choir. A native of Kansas City, he has degrees in music education and theology from Trinity University and Boston University. On Tuesday, he is taking his wife to England and Scotland in celebration of their 20th wedding anniversary. Please don’t tell her; it’s a surprise.

Amy Greer is an active performer, both as a soloist and in collaboration with singers and instrumentalists. Recognized for her creative approach to traditional piano lessons, she has maintained successful piano studios in New Mexico, Massachusetts, Texas, and Missouri and regularly gives workshops that focus on the psychology of learning through a musician’s lens. A writer and frequent contributor to music journals, she has been a columnist for American Music Teacher magazine. She has performed with the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, the Santa Fe Symphony, and the New Mexico Philharmonic. She holds a Master of Music in piano performance from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, a Master of Arts in educational psychology from the University of New Mexico, and a MRS degree from Trinity University. Amy keeps a house and tends a garden for one man, two cats and three feisty betta fish. Quintessence: Choral Artists of the Southwest Staff

Matthew Greer, Artistic Director

April Ueland, Executive Director

Quintessence Board of Directors

President: Dominic Kollasch

Vice President: Dwayne L. Knirk

Secretary: Elizabeth Drotning Hartwell

Treasurer: Jerry Spurlin

Choir President: Martin Doviak

Members: Tom Crow, Allison Davis, Kristine Purrington

The Board of Directors would like to recognize the singers of Quintessence for their financial & personal contributions to the organization.

In the past year, the singers have made financial pledges or donations totaling more than $5,600. Bravi!

Quintessence is an Ensemble-in-Residence of St. John’s United Methodist Church

Special thanks to: Claudia Giese, Rev. Craig Cockrell, Rev. John Schwarting, and the New MexiChords.

Quintessence is grateful for these partners:

Ads and design by Studio 9 Graphic Design: marylambert.com

Programs printed by One Stop Business Shop/Printmart: printmartnm.com

Website by The Web Angel: thewebangel.com

Música Antigua de Albuquerque performs

Music from the Middle Ages & Renaissance

Information coming soon about our 2014-2015

season concerts

Check our website at

http://www.musica-antigua.org

Director’s Circle: $1000 and up Anonymous 2013 Choral Festival Attendees 2013 Messiah Sing Attendees Crow Financial Advisors- Tom &

Vicki Crow** Sean & Pauleta Hendrickson** Dr. Dale Lange & Dr. Estella M.

Gahala-Lange Dwayne and Beverly Knirk John and Kristine Stichman** Benefactors: $500-$999 Elixir Boutique Chocolates Pamela Hodge-Miller James and Suzanne Dressler - In

loving memory of Kennard W. & Elizabeth S. Gephart

Bob and Frances Fosnaugh Rita Leard Linda Lewis Arnel Oczon & Amy Tarnower – In memory of Gerald Tarnower &

Jane Snow Jerry & Marjorie Spurlin Sponsors: $250-$499 Robert Beardsell Jan Bowers Carlton and Mary-Ellin Brooks** Douglas Brown** Susan Corley Dr. Nancy Croker & Dr. Joseph Gorvetzian Allison Davis Matthew & Amy Greer – In honor of

the singers of Quintessence Dominic & Karla Kollasch Glinda Lobdell Dwayne Moseley & Barry Simon Richard & Susan Perry

Beverly Rogoff – In honor of Mary-Ellin Brooks Justin & April Ueland Scott Wilkinson Trust Linda Wolcott Daniel & Jane Wright Patrons: $100-$249 Pam & Jerry Algood Richard Andes Anonymous Kathleen Austin Thomas Baumgartel Susan Boswell Susan Brannan Steve & Renee Brodeur Sandra and John Brown David and Barbara Cappel Frederick and Lorraine Clark William D. Cox Rebecca R. Craig Beatrice & John Daniel Dr. Jerone & Wona Deverman Carol & Dan Dolan Martin Doviak William & Christine Drotning Peter Eller Patricia Henning & Anthony Lazzaro Alf Houkom Steve & Julie Kongs Dr. Daryl Lee Kay McMann Emily Moore George & Mary Novotny, Jr. Tina Petersen Robert Rosenak Leslie Nelson Shultis John Sitler** Carol Tucker Trelease Karin Urban Betty Vortman

Donors: $50-$99 Shane Baker Carla Beauchamp Merrie Courtright Ralph Cover Boris DeDenko Josephine Drummond Edward Francovic** Mary Glazier James Graham Stan & Karen Hewitson Elizabeth Hurtz-Waitz Loren Kelly Larry & Julianne Littlefield Ray Orley Corey & Mika Proctor Joe Stroud D.E. & B.G. Tooley Christopher & Joan Ueland John Vittal & Deborah Ham Robert & Michaeline Vonblomberg Arthur & Carole Wintheiser Friends $1-$49 Anonymous Dale & Nancy Amend Jane Belcher Randall & Esther Mae Moses Bergh Camille Carstens James Creason Fred & Linda Downum Don and Edith Farmer Michael & Edwina Francis Anne French Tom & Gail Hartman James Higgins Nicki Jimenez Alex Klebenow William & Marlene Kline

Acknowledgements

The Board of Directors and Singers of Quintessence would like to offer their sincerest appreciation for financial support from all the people listed below. We could not exist without your help. If you don’t see your name listed below, please visit our website to make your tax-deductible contribution, or drop in a basket on your way out. Please join the Quintessence family and help us share the joy of great music for years to come.

Quintessence Annual Fund From January 2013 to May 6, 2014

You may give to Quintessence through the Smith’s Community Rewards Program via your Rewards Card. Visit smithsfoodanddrug.com or speak to our Executive Director for more information.

** Denotes contributions made via United Way – Designate “Quintessence Choral Artists of the SW”

Friends Continued Matthew & Kelly Jo Kuchar Judith McDowell Ray & Karen Oligher Dorothy Pierson Megan Rader Lucy Robertson Karen Schmeige & Patricia Catlett Stephen & Stacey Snowden, Jr. Theodor Spannagel Sherril Walters Francis Wright & Janet Robertson Mary Jane Zimmerman

Quintessence Endowment Fund

Director’s Circle - $1000 & Above: Dr. & Mrs. Michael Hopkins, Roy & Elizabeth Morgan

Benefactors - $500 to $999: Dr. and Mrs. Jerone N. Deverman* Patrons - $100 to $250: In Loving Memory of Jean J. Sherlin*,

Tessa Mae Chavez, Mr. & Mrs. K.W. Gephart

The Quintessence Endowment Fund (established 2000) was created to help ensure a future for Quintessence, and for fine

choral arts everywhere. *Foundational Contributors

Quintessence Choral Artists of the Southwest, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization and gratefully accept gifts of cash,

stocks, bonds, mutual fund shares, real estate or other tangible personal property. Quintessence may also be named the

beneficiary of a life insurance policy or charitable trust. All or part of your donation may be tax-deductible. Please contact Tom Crow at 505.243.2281 or tom@crowfa.com for further

information.

Ave Maria The angel of God visited Maria and she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary, Full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus, Jesus.

Maria said: See the servant of the Lord. May it happen to me according to your word.

Hail Mary, Full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus, Jesus.

And the Word became flesh and lived among us.

Hail Mary, Full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, Holy Mary, pray for us now and in the hour of our death. Amen. Amen. Amen.

Translations Calme des nuits Calm of nights, cool of evenings vast twinkling of starry worlds, great silence of black caverns, you charm deep souls. The brilliance of the sun, gaiety, and noise please the most frivolous; only the poet is haunted by the love of quiet things. Flowers and trees, things of bronze, marble, gold and enamel, the sea, springs, hills and plains alleviate our ills. Eternal nature, you seem more beautiful in the midst of pains, and art is our master; its flame illumines laughter and tears.

Dirait-on Abandon surrounding abandon, Tenderness touching tenderness... Your oneness endlessly Caresses itself, so they say; Self-caressing Through its own clear reflection. Thus you invent the theme of Narcissus fulfilled. -Rainer Maria Rilke

Available at Keller’s Farm Store

Join Quintessence for our second annual Summer Choral Festival!

Performance: Sunday, July 27 3pm V. Sue Cleveland High School, Rio Rancho

Admission is free

Join the members of Quintessence and singers of all ages from all over Albuquerque as we prepare and

sing Haydn’s “Lord Nelson” Mass. Interested in singing? Rehearsals begin July 19th.

For more information and to sign up to sing, visit our

website at www.quintessence-abq.com