Three Dissertation Recitals: Sacred Music for Choir, Strings, and Organ and Complementary Choral Works

Abstract

Three dissertation recitals were performed in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Musical Arts (Music: Conducting) in the University of Michigan. Sacred works for choir, strings, and organ formed the pillars of these programs surrounded by complementary and varied choral works.

The first recital was with the University of Michigan Arts Chorale on November 21, 2017, in Stamps Auditorium in the Walgreen Drama Center. The program was titled “Haydn, Fauré, and Music for St. Cecilia” and included Missa brevis Joannis de Deo by Joseph Hadyn and Cantique de Jean Racine by Gabriel Fauré (strings and organ version). A set of pieces on music and its meaning in honor of St. Cecilia’s Day included: I’m gonna sing ‘til the spirit moves in my heart by Moses Hogan, the traditional Zulu Gospel song Ukuthula, Lord of the Dance arranged by Larry Fleming, Modern Musick by William Billings, Salseo by Oscar Galián, and the Gospel hymn His Eye Is on the Sparrow followed by I sing because I’m happy adapted by Rollo Dilworth.

The second recital was performed by an assembled choir and orchestra of University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance students and community members on a program titled “The Very Thought of Thee.” The recital took place at Bethlehem United Church of Christ in Ann Arbor January 21, 2018. The program featured works by Lutheran composers from Schütz to Mendelssohn paired with unaccompanied twentieth-century works by composers from the British Isles. Works performed were O radiant dawn by James MacMillan; Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 61 by Johann Sebastian Bach; one movement from Bach’s Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, BWV 147; Unser Herr der Jesus Christus in der Nacht by Heinrich Schütz; Jesu, the very thought of Thee by Edward Bairstow; Jesu, meine Freude by Felix Mendelssohn; The Lamb by John Tavener; Christe, du Lamm Gottes by Felix Mendelssohn; The Hills by John Ireland; and Geistliches Lied by Johannes Brahms.

The third recital was a video compilation of various performances with University of Michigan choral ensembles. At Hill Auditorium on April 3, 2018, University Choir performed Regina caeli by Gregor Aichinger; A Hymn to the Virgin by Benjamin Britten; “Bogoroditsè Devo” from All-Night Vigil by Sergei Rachmaninoff; Regina coeli, K. 276 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; The Word Was God by Rosephanye Powell; Mayila arranged by Chen Yi; and Daniel, Daniel, Servant of the Lord arranged by Undine Smith Moore. The remaining performances in the compilation were with Orpheus Singers at Stamps Auditorium. Works performed were Ad genua from Membra Jesu nostri by Dieterich Buxtehude on February 20, 2018; Nyon Nyon by Jake Runestad on September 23, 2017; four movements from Magnificat RV 610a/611 by Antonio Vivaldi on December 5, 2017; and the fourth and fifth partsongs from V přírodě by Antonín Dvořák on October 22, 2017.