John Nelson Conducts Brahms, Bernstein and Bannister Premiere at Calvin College
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Conductor John Nelson
During the first week of May 2011, Soli Deo Gloria will have a major presence on the campus of Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. SDG's Artistic Director, John Nelson, paves the way with a two-week residency on campus, working with the Calvin College Orchestra, Capella and Campus Choir in preparation for the closing concert on May 7th.
During Maestro Nelson's residency, he is conducting masterclasses, rehearsing with the choirs and orchestra, and meeting with students for discussion. Professor Robert Nordling, conductor of the Calvin College Orchestra, comments on the impact of Nelson's visit:
“How grateful I am for what has already been going on in this week of intense preparation. Having worked with Maestro Nelson many years ago as a young student conductor, it has been so personally rewarding (and challenging!) to have the chance to host him at Calvin College. Maestro Nelson consistently demonstrates and models so clearly for our students what it really costs to pursue excellence—musically, physically, spiritually, emotionally. He demands much of all the musicians, from soloists to choirs to orchestra, but only does so in as much as he places the same demands on himself. What a week it has been! A week of great challenges—musical, physical, spiritual, emotional. And of great rewards, as well—musical, physical, spiritual, emotional. I know this will be a powerful experience for all involved.”
On the eve of the main concert, Friday, May 6th, Calvin is hosting a free student preview concert for area middle school and high school musicians, with guest composer Peter Bannister giving a pre-concert talk. (Arrangements for free tickets must be made in advance, via This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Excerpt from Peter Bannister's score for Psalm 96
The program for the Saturday May 7th concert includes Brahms' Requiem, Bernstein's Chichester Pslams and the premiere of Peter Bannister's Psalm 96, a work for chorus, organ and orchestra commissioned by Soli Deo Gloria as part of the Psalms Project. This Psalm was commissioned in honor of Elsbeth Shannon, who worked in the Congo translating and notating African hymns (see sidebar).
The Saturday concert, which is the season finale for Calvin College's Artist Series, will be conducted by John Nelson and will feature guest artists Martha Guth, soprano, and Gerard Sundberg, baritone. The concert begins at 8:00 p.m. in the Covenant Fine Arts Center Auditorium on the campus of Calvin College.
Composer Peter Bannister
Preceding the concert is a free presentation by Peter Bannister on Brahms' Requiem, "An Agnostic's Requiem?"
What did Brahms really believe?
Why did he write the Requiem?
What makes his Requiem so unique?
Bannister will explore the Requiem's relationship to traditional notions of a musical requiem, as well as the composer's highly individual (and controversial) adaptation of the biblical texts. The presentation will be given at 7:00 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center Auditorium, and all concert-goers are invited to attend.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Calvin College Fine Arts Center Auditorium
7:00 p.m.
“An Agnostic’s Requiem?”
Soli Deo Gloria’s Associate Artistic Director and Composer-in-Association
PETER BANNISTER
offers a personal view of Brahms’ beloved Requiem
8:00 p.m.
Artist Series: Season Finale
JOHN NELSON, CONDUCTOR
Requiem
Johannes Brahms
Chichester Psalms
Leonard Bernstein
Psalm 96 (world premiere)
Peter Bannister
Guest Artists:
Peter Bannister, guest composer
Martha Guth, soprano
Gerard Sundberg, baritone
Calvin College Capella
Calvin College Campus Choir
Calvin College Orchestra
Tickets range from $35-$45 and are available online at the Calvin College Box Office
or by calling 616-526-6282.
Launch of 3-Year Psalms Project
Psalm 23 text (Flickr photo OreoReoEoO
The premiere of Peter Bannister's SDG-commissioned work Psalm 96 is also the launch of a three-year pilot program for Soli Deo Gloria's Psalms Project. The Psalms Project is focused on creating a collection of contemporary choral works, featuring the texts from the Hebrew Psalter, by some of the world’s foremost composers. Several commissions were already in process when SDG received a grant from Lilly Endowment, Inc. to support a three-year pilot program to enlarge the Psalms Project. With this grant, Soli Deo Gloria is looking to commission a total of 15 new Psalm settings from composers who represent a broad geographical and denominational scope, with a mixture of established and younger composers who demonstrate a commitment to the highest musical standards.
During the three-year pilot project (from May 2011 to May 2014), SDG hopes to engage congregations and choirs on a deeper level with the music by including contextualization events, such as presentations, panel discussions, and question-and-answer sessions. In addition, the composers creating the Psalm settings will be invited to be present for rehearsals and premieres.
Visit the Psalms Project page for more information, an interview with Peter Bannister on the goal of the Project and a recording of the first Psalm Project commission premiere.
Psalm 96 in Honor of Elsbeth Shannon
Peter Bannister's Psalm 96 was commissioned in honor of Elsbeth Shannon, whose life work in the Congo to preserve African hymnody put the text of Psalm 96, “Sing unto the Lord a NEW song,” into action.
“Oh sing to the Lord a new song, sing to the Lord, all the earth! . . . Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts! Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!”
- Psalm 96: 1, 7-9 (ESV)
Elsbeth’s hope for this commission of Psalm 96 is summed up in this statement: “I love the expression, ‘Worship him in the splendor of holiness.’ This is what I’m anticipating: to see a breath of fresh air, something that would really bring glory to God, and that would help us to see the beauty of holiness, and encourage us to a worship of him that is worthy of him.”
For more information on Elsbeth Shannon, along with a recorded interview, visit the Psalms Project page.
