Hartford Chorale to Participate In American Premiere

Sara Terrell, Chorale Notes editor

The Hartford Chorale is joining forces with CONCORA, the Connecticut Children's Chorus and the Hartford Symphony Orchestra to perform Stephen Montague's Requiem at Maestro Edward Cumming's farewell concert on June 4. Mr. Montague was commissioned to write the Requiem in 2009 to commemorate the 65^th anniversary of the D-Day landings, and the Hartford Chorale is extremely honored to be asked to participate in the American premiere of this thrilling piece.

The Requiem, subtitled The Trumpets Sounded, Calling Them to the Other Side, vividly portrays the horrors of war and the heroism of those that serve their country by juxtaposing the gentle folk melody “Johnny's Gone for a Soldier” with a chilling setting of the Latin chant Dies Irae. As the piece opens, the audience hears drums and trumpets calling young men to war. The soloist, women and men then trade verses of “Johnny's Gone for a Soldier,” illustrating the heartbreak of both those who must send loved ones to fight, and those who must leave family behind to the uncertain times of war. As the last notes of the folk tune fade away the drums of war begin and the first statement of the Dies Irae is heard. Dies Irae, which translates to “day of wrath,” is a medieval hymn describing the biblical account of the day of judgement when the righteous are saved and the wicked are punished. Moving through the text of the Dies Irae, choir and orchestra gradually become more fractured and discordant as the sounds of battle punctuate the music. After a stirring climax, the soloist echoes back the folk melody and the choir sings dona eis requiem – grant them peace.

The effectiveness of the Requiem is in part due to the unique sonic language that Stephen Montague employs. The use of close harmonic intervals to create dissonance certainly help to heighten the tension and somber mood of the piece, but less traditional methods are also put to use. As a composer who enjoys playing with the audience's sensibilities of conventional orchestral music, Mr. Montague incorporates unusual sounds such as whispering chorus, tuned wineglasses, bowed cymbals and other “surprise” instruments in the Requiem. Says Maestro Cumming, “Stephen Montague's music is new and fresh. You've never heard anything like it.” Stephen Montague will be in attendance for the American premiere of his work and will also give a pre-concert talk with Maestro Cumming.

The combined choruses will again join for the second half of the program to perform Hector Berlioz' Te Deum, a work of appropriate scale and majesty to bid farewell to Maestro Cumming and celebrate his years of service to the Hartford Symphony. Concert tickets are available by calling HSO Ticket Services at 860-224-2999 or by visiting the HSO website at www.hartfordsymphony.org