Press "Enter" to skip to content

Chorus and Chamber Singers to Perform

Last updated on Apr 14, 2017

By Caroline Ryan
co-Editor-in-Chief

The LIU Post chorus and chamber singers are performing in their last concert of the semester at the Interfaith Center on campus on April 14 at 8 p.m. The chorus will sing a number of pieces, starting with Six Nocturnes by W.A. Mozart. “This beautifully expressive cycle, sung in Italian, covers the gamut of interpersonal human emotion in typically Mozartian fashion,” Marc Shapiro, director of choral studies and associate professor of music, said.

Photo by Caroline Ryan Chorus and Chamber singers practicing.
Photo by Caroline Ryan
Chorus and Chamber singers practicing.

The chorus will also perform three German songs from the 19 century, Belsazar by Robert Schumann, Erlkonig by Carl Loewe, In der Nacht by Johannes Brahms. “The first two of these songs are “story songs,” meaning they are extremely dramatic, or frightening,” Shapiro said.

The first song, Belsazar tells the tale of a hubristic ruler whose overcon dence and greed lead to his downfall and death; Erlkonig is a famous German narrative involving a “child-catcher.” Brahms’s In der Nacht is a soulful nighttime meditation on life’s meaning and purpose.” The chorus will end with a spiritual Plenty Good Room. Shapiro decided to end with this piece [because] “this spiritual has such an inclusive and hopeful message, and musically it is a rouser!”

The Chamber Singers will sing excerpts from a cycle called “From an Unknown Past,” by the American composer Ned Rorem; and two groups of English “Glees,” which are the 18-19 century equivalents of community music-making,

“The Chorus is larger than the Chamber Singers, and its repertoire tends toward larger-scale works for chorus and instruments that enable them to collaborate with The Cecilia Chorus of New York at Carnegie Hall and The Tilles Center. The Chamber Singers have a different repertoire focus. Many students participate in both groups. They find the experience is important to their musical and personal growth,” Shapiro said.

The show will also present a number of “coffee house” acts. Individual students will present current work, including art songs by the Spanish composer Manuel de Falla, music for marimba, and a variety of contemporary pieces.

Veronica Nguyen, a junior vocal performance major, who participates in both groups has been practicing for the performance since the beginning of the semester. Nguyen is most excited for the “coffee house” performances because they show a variety of different acts that really showcase students work outside of singing. “I encourage students to attend because if you don’t know about this kind of music, it’s a good way to get exposed to it,” Nguyen added.

Tickets are $10, $8 for seniors. Admission is free for Post students with I.D. Both ensembles are open by audition to any member of the LIU Post Community: any student, faculty member, administrator, or other worker. Anyone who may be interested in joining can email director Marc Shapiro at mark.shapiro@liu.edu.

Be First to Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *