The New Jersey Choral Consortium Newsletter

All are welcome: members, non-members and potential new members.
After a brief meeting to elect officers and let you know what we're up to, NJCC VP Sue Metz will share lessons learned in her 14 years as Monmouth Civic Chorus marketing manager. We'll also provide a short demo on how to use our Chorus Connection membership portal to enhance your NJCC membership, and ask for your ideas on improving our website.

Over 70 singers from throughout the state gathered at Stone Hill Church in Princeton on Saturday, November 2, 2019 to enjoy a full-day workshop on early music entitled Sing We and Chant It. The workshop was sponsored by the New Jersey Choral Consortium and presented by Dr. Jacqueline Horner-Kwiatek.
 
Dr. Kwiatek is well-known to many as a member of the world-renowned, award winning female vocal quartet Anonymous 4. The group specialized in early music and created a unified sound like no other ensemble. Dr. Kwiatek is currently a faculty member at Princeton, Juilliard, Fordham and NYU and is founder of the ensemble ModernMedieval Voices.

Dr. Kwiatek began with Hildegard von Bingen’s (1098-1179) sacred chant, Karitas Habundat. She explained theories on the notation, Hildegard’s word painting and rhapsodic style, and that Hildegard’s chants were used for worship. Next, she presented the two-voice Ecco la Primavera by the 16^th century composer Francesco Landini. This secular piece was based in dance music, utilizing syncopation (accents on off beats) to create a lively celebration of Spring. Rutgers Professor of Italian and workshop participant David Marsh enthusiastically helped the group pronounce the early Italian language used in this piece. Dr. Kwiatek emphasized that people of that time sang together often for fun.

Two English motets were somewhat more familiar to participants: Thomas Morley’s (1557-1602) Sing We and Chant It and Francis Pilkington’s (1562-1638) Rest, Sweet Nymphs. These motets were written in a more familiar four-part texture (SATB) on secular themes. Lastly, Dr. Kwiatek presented the double choir piece by Orlando di Lasso (1532-1594) entitled O la, o che bon echo! This playful piece is about an echo. It uses the second choir to imitate the first, creating the echo and simultaneously a thicker, richer texture.

Dr. Kwiatek emphasized that all the selections she presented were precursors to the music commonly sung by choirs today. With insightful instruction on context and style and diligent rehearsal by Dr. Kwiatek, participants were able to sing the pieces successfully.  Toward the end of the workshop, the group moved to the beautiful sanctuary of Stone Hill Church to enjoy performing the pieces again for themselves under Dr. Kwiatek’s direction. Participants appreciated learning how musical styles of singing changed over the early centuries and expressed their gratitude to Dr. Kwiatek with a round of applause. All went home enriched by the experience.

Do you know a talented young opera singer age 18-35? Renowned mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato presents a series of three master classes that focus on opera arias. Four singers will be selected to participate in this set of public events held in the Resnick Education Wing at Carnegie Hall and streamed live online. Additional sessions on breathing, movement, and career development complete the program. April 4–8, 2020. Application deadline Dec. 15. Details online.

CONCERT CALENDAR
For more concerts by NJCC members, visit our website.

Reminder to NJCC members: post your concerts and open sings on our website concert calendar so we can include them in our newsletter. You're welcome to post other events, too, such as auditions or special events (fundraisers, lectures, and workshops). Please use the applicable form for each kind of event.

New Jersey Choral Consortium is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting, supporting and strengthening the vibrant choral arts community in NJ. Visit our website to find out more.