Introduction: Entering the Temple of the Classical Music
There is nothing like a musical experience; sinking into the delightful world of pure sounds and harmony, one can feel the reality slowly drifting away, giving room for completely new exotic sensations. One of the recent music experiences of mine, visiting the concert of the Pomona College Choir, left a huge impact and offered a lot of food for thoughts.
The performance took place on December, 2, 2012, at 3 p.m., in the Mabel Shaw Bridges Hall of Music. It was rather unusual that the concert was going to take place in the afternoon; starting at 3 p.m. meant that the show was not going to last long, which, in its turn, made it obvious that the impact would be quite weak. Much to my surprise and relief, I soon realized that I was completely wrong. Combining the new manner of performance with a quite ancient repertory, Donna M. di Grazia, the conductor, together with Namhee Han, the organist, and the choristers, managed to deliver a truly incredible result.
When the Music Wraps around the Audience: In the Rhythm with the Organ
The concert started with the composition titled I Was Glad, which is known as the creation of Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Perry. Written as a coronation anthem, the given piece of a musical artwork belongs to the era of the middle of XIX century, though the poem originated way back in the XVII century. Despite being considered a coronation anthem, it is used on a number of occasions nowadays. The performers managed to breathe new life into the song, making it fit the modern environment just as well as it fit the 1860ies; even though not a single note in the score of the song was changed, the powerful sound of the organ and the ringing voices of the performers did their job, and the song rose from the ashes.
Savoring the Second Dish: The Enchanting Sounds of the Requiem
Known as Requiem, the second part of the concert made even greater impression, shifting the performance into much gloomier minor fall. Inspiring a number of composers and spawning a range of artworks, the given liturgy is considered one of the oldest and the most famous relicts of the Catholic Church. Usually considered a composition of a Gregorian era, Requiem has not been defined as a product of a certain epoch; time no longer matters for a composition as great as the Requiem. One has to admit that the performance was top-notch and that both the orchestra and the choir managed to make Requiem sound as grand and impressive as it should.
Impressions and Ideas: Rethinking the Experience
There is no denial that the concert has left a huge impact with me. It is important to mention that I have never heard Requiem performed by a choir of children before – the previous times it was a choir of male voices performing. With the change of the pitch, the change of perception came, and I saw the song in a completely different light. While in the previous performances, I perceived this song as a repenting of a sinner, when listening to the Pomona College Choir, I realized that there was a touch of childlike innocence to it. Thus, a visit to a concert turned out to be a reinvention of my entire vision of these songs.