From Artsong Update, Issue 45

Schola Cantorum Spring Concert Series

      Congratulations to Schola Cantorum for another fine concert series. Dr. Lee Teply and the singers brought their unique repertory to Virginia Beach, Norfolk and Hampton in their "2005 Spring Concert Series A Capella IX: Over the Edge." Dr. Teply gave insightful introductions to each piece on an overall theme that these restless composers daringly pushed past the borders of their place and time to give us exciting, interesting choral music.

      Schola shared the concert with the Virginia Childrens Chorus conducted by Jeffrey Ward and with Michael Regan at the organ. The program began with a joint performance of Incipite Domino by Giovanni Croce (1558-1609) with Schola in the front of the Eastern Shore Chapel and the Children's Chorus in the balcony. The concert ended with both groups together upfront singing two songs by Randall Thompson (1899 -1984) from The Peaceable Kingdom in eight parts with unbelievable grandeur of sound as the text unfolded only to return to a simple harmonious conclusion. Between beginning and end there was a rich diversity including Solfeggio by Arvo Pärt (b.1935), a minimalist piece in C Major; J.S. Bach's (1685-1750) Fuga a 3 Soggetti from Art of the Fugue with vocal sounds but no words; the simplicity and rustic quality of America's first great composer William Billings' (1746 -1800) Wake Ev'ry Breath and ten other selections. It was quite a journey through unusual choral material and so very well sung.