Pro Coro Canada

Richard Sparks, conductor

with

Jolaine Kerley, soprano

Mireille Rijavec, alto

John Huck, tenor

Rob Clark, bass

Martin Riseley, violin

Jeremy Spurgeon, piano & organ

Pro Coro Canada Chamber Orchestra

In partnership with the Wirth Institute for Austrian and Central European Studies at the University of Alberta, Pro Coro Canada performed music by the great Czech composer Antonín Dvorák, and the magnificent Austrian composer, Haydn.

 

Programme

Antonín Dvorák, Hospodin jest muj pastyr (Psalm 23)
Mireille Rijavec (alto solo), choir, strings & timpani - sung in Czech

Antonín Dvorák, V prirode (Five choral songs)
choir, a cappella - sung in Czech

Allan Bevan, Then Farewell, World
Commissioned in 2003 by Pro Coro Canada, Richard Sparks Artistic Director
choir, a cappella

Eric Whitacre, Five Hebrew Love Songs
Martin Riseley (violin solo), choir & piano

F. J. Haydn, Missa in tempore belli (Mass in Time of War)
4 soloists (Jolaine Kerley, soprano; Mireille Rijavec, alto; John Huck, tenor; Rob Clark, bass), choir & orchestra  (strings, flute, oboes, clarinets, bassoons, horns, trumpets, timpani & organ)

Wirth Institute.

Pro Coro Canada

Anders Eby, Guest Conductor

with

Jeremy Spurgeon, piano

Bill Damur, flute

In what was certainly one of Edmonton's most anticipated choral events of 2004, Pro Coro Canada celebrated the return of former Artistic Director Anders Eby. It was a wonderful opportunity for Pro Coro Canada’s current audience to connect with the choir’s artistic roots, and to witness a performance of music that is a hallmark of Pro Coro Canada celebrated reputation – a cappella music.

Anders Eby is one of Sweden’s leading choral conductors. A student of Eric Ericson, he shortly afterward founded the Mikaeli Chamber Choir which became - and remains - one of Sweden’s pre-eminent chamber choirs. When Eric Ericson retired from teaching at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Stockholm, and after a long search, Eby was chosen as his successor and has been Professor of Choral Conducting (the only person with that title in Sweden) for the past eleven years. In his position at the Conservatory, Eby works not only with the cream of the Swedish choral world, but with a large group of international conducting students who come to work with him.

For this programme, Eby chose to conduct a rich spectrum of music by Swedish and Finnish composers including: Gunnar Eriksson’s arrangement of Purcell’s “Music for a while”; and ingenious settings of Shakespeare texts, “As you like it” by Lars Johan Werle; and “Fancies” by Sven-Eric Johanson.

Northern Canadian audiences realted particularly well to the music of two brilliant compositions: Gunnar Hahn’s “Rondo Lapponico” (using a traditional Lappish text); and a “Pseudo-Yoik” by Finnish composer Jaakko Mäntyjärvi. A yoik is the folk music of the Sámi (the sun people) of northern Europe. In a yoik, the natural environment is used as a parallel for human existence: animals or natural phenomena are allegories for features and events of human life.

Other highlights of the concert included: Jan Sandström’s “Surge aquilo”; Erik Uddunge’s “The Three Oddest Words”; Jaakko Mäntyjärvi’s “Canticum calamitatis maritimae”

Programme

Henry Purcell (1659-1695); Arr. Gunnar Eriksson (b.1936, Sweden)

Music for a while
Text by William Shakespeare
Jolaine Kerley, soprano solo & choir

Lars Johan Werle (1926-2001, Sweden)

As you like it
Text by William Shakespeare
Rob Clark, baritone; choir, flute & piano

Jan Sandström (b.1954, Sweden)

Surge aquilo (1998)
Text from Song of Songs 4:16
16-part choir, a cappella

Jaakko Mäntyjärvi (b.1963, Finland)

Canticum calamitatis maritimae (1997)
Text from Psalm 27
Benila Ninan, soprano; Michael Kurschat, baritone; with 8-part choir

Sven-Eric Johanson (1919-1997, Sweden)

Fancies I (1974)
Text by William Shakespeare
choir & piano

Erik Uddunge (b.1968, Sweden)

The Three Oddest Words
Text by Wislawa Szymborska (b.1923, Poland)
choir, a cappella

Mattias Sköld (b. 1976, Sweden)

We Know Not Where the Dragons Fly

Text by Liu Ji (1311-1375, China)
choir, a cappella

Gunnar Hahn (1908-2001, Sweden)

Rondo Lapponico (1971)
Traditional Lappish text
choir, a cappella

Jaakko Mäntyjärvi (b.1963, Finland)

Pseudo-Yoik (1994)
Nonsense text

choir, a cappella

 

Pro Coro Canada

Richard Sparks, conductor

with

Edmonton Youth Choir; John Wiebe, conductor

JUBILOSO! Bells of Concordia; Dr. John Hooper, conductor

Caesar Zmyslowski, guitar
Jeremy Spurgeon, organ

Featuring beautiful a cappella choral music, contributions by Jeremy Spurgeon on the Davis Concert Organ, carols sung by the audience, and something new & exciting – JUBILOSO! Bells of Concordia plus classical guitarist, Caesar Zmyslowski

Concert Sponsors:

Snyder & Associates LLP

Melcor Developments Ltd.

 

Programme 

O Come All Ye Faithful – arr. Jackson Berkey

Audience; Pro Coro Canada; Jeremy Spurgeon, organ

Rejoice & Sing This Christmas Morn – Eleanor Daley

Pro Coro Canada

Gigue on “Forest Green” – arr. Sondra K. Tucket

Jubiloso! Bells of Concordia

Christmas Lullaby – Jeffrey Van

Pro Coro Canada; Caesar Zmyslowski, guitar

An Alm for the Love of God – Augustin Barrios Mangore

Caesar Zmyslowski, guitar

Away in A Manger – arr. Jeffrey Van

Benila Ninana, soprano; Pro Coro Canada; Caesar Zmyslowski, guitar

Greensleeves – arr. Cathy Moklebust

Jubiloso! Bells of Concordia

Beautiful Star – Libby Larson

Pro Coro Canada; Jubiloso! Bells of Concordia

The Holly & the Ivy - Jonathan Willcocks

Pro Coro Canada

Glory! - Moses Hogan

Catherine Kubash, soprano; Pro Coro Canada

The First Noel – arr. Trent Worthington

Pro Coro Canada; Edmonton Youth Choir; Jubiloso! Bells of Concordia; Jeremy Spurgeon, organ

Creator of the Stars of Night - Jeffrey Honoré
Pro Coro Canada, Edmonton Youth Choir, Jubiloso! Bells of Concordia

A Spotless Rose - Herbert Howells

Rob Clark, baritone; Pro Coro Canada

Three Christmas Interludes – W.S. Lloyd Weber

Jeremy Spurgeon, organ

The Rune of Hospitality - Alf Houkom
Pro Coro Canada; Caesar Zmyslowski, guitar

Missionera - Traditional; arr. by Jorge Morel

Caesar Zmyslowski, guitar

Silent Night - arr. Jeffrey Van

Audience; Jolaine Kerley & Sonya Eagles, soprano; Pro Coro Canada; Caesar Zmyslowski, guitar; Jeremy Spurgeon, organ

‘Twas in the Moon of Wintertime - arr. Cynthia Carlson
Jubiloso! Bells of Concordia

The Lamb - John Tavener (words by William Blake)
Pro Coro Canada

Tomorrow shall be my Dancing Day - John Gardner

Pro Coro Canada; Jeremy Spurgeon, organ; tambourine & side drum

In dulci jubilo - Johann Sebastian Bach

Jeremy Spurgeon, organ

Joy to the World – arr. Trent Worthington

Audience, Pro Coro Canada, Edmonton Youth Choir, Jubiloso! Bells of Concordia

 

Pro Coro Canada

Mária Guinand, Guest Conductor

with

Kokopelli Youth Choir; Scott Leithead, director

Jeremy Spurgeon, organ

Programme

Otto Olsson

Six Latin Hymns Op.40
choir, a cappella

Felix Mendelssohn

Ave Maria Op.23 No.2
4 soloists, choir & organ

Felix Mendelssohn

Te Deum
choir & organ

Arvo Pärt

Cantate Domino Canticum Novum (Psalm 95)
choir & organ

Alberto Grau

Stabat Mater
choir, a cappella

Knut Nysted

O Crux
choir, a cappella

Einojuhani Rautavaara

Suite de Lorca
choir, a cappella

Modesta Bor

Manchas Sonoras
choir, a cappella

Astor Piazzola; Arr. Oscar Escalada

Cuatro estaciones Porteñas
choir, a cappella

Leo Brower

Son Mercedes
choir, a cappella

Miguel Matamoros; Arr. Alberto Grau

Son de la Loma
choir, a cappella

Venezuelan Popular song; Arr. Alberto Grau

Arestinga
choir, a cappella

Pro Coro Canada

Trent Worthington, conductor

with

Victoria School of Performing and Visual Arts Choir; Gerhard Kruschke, conductor

P.J. Perry, saxophone

Doug Riley, piano

Jeremy Spurgeon, piano

 

Programme

Missa con Piano (Missa Brevis) 1996

Bengt Hallberg (b. 1932)

Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, Agnus Dei

Pro Coro Canada & Jeremy Spurgeon, piano

This work was commissioned by Pro Coro Canada, and was scheduled to be performed with Sweden's jazz legend Bengt Hallberg at Edmonton's Jazz City Festival, June 1996. The work was never performed due to a sudden illness in Hallberg's family. Although the work has subsequently been performed in Europe, this will mark its North American premier.

 

 

Concerto for Piano & Mixed-voice Chorus (1980)

Bengt Hallberg

Text from “Sonnets to Sundry Notes of Music”, William Shakespeare

On a day; Live with me and be my love; Love’s answer

Pro Coro Canada & Jeremy Spurgeon, piano

Signature Bengt Hallberg! An ingenious blending of jazz and classical styles - performed with great virtuosity by the incomparable Jeremy Spurgeon. After hearing a 1995 recording of Jeremy Spurgeon performing this work (with Pro Coro Canada; conducted by Eric Ericson), Bengt Hallberg himself stated that he knew of only one other pianist who could play the piece as brilliantly as Jeremy Spurgeon!

 

Scandinavian Shuffle

Music by Svend Asmussen; arranged by Jens Johansen

 

Pro Coro Canada & Victoria School of the Performing & Visual Arts Concert Choir

 

Domaredansen

Swedish Folksong; arranged by Bengt Hallberg

English Text by Norman Luboff

Pro Coro Canada & Victoria Concert Choir; Doug Riley, piano

 

Sesame Street Theme

Lyrics & Music by Joe Raposo, Jon Stone & Bruce Hart

Arranged by Trent Worthington

Pro Coro Canada; P.J. Perry, saxophone; Doug Riley, piano

 

Jazz-it-up

P.J. Perry, saxophone; Doug Riley, piano

These Canadian jazz legends will treat the audience to a set of tunes, specially selected to get the toes tapping, the heart thumping, the blood invigorated, and the body jumpin'.

 

The Audience Jam-Along

Pro Coro Canada, Victoria Concert Choir, Audience

P.J. Perry, saxophone; Doug Riley, piano

Trent Worthington will lead the audience and performers in an improvisational "jam" - rasing the roof off the Winspear.

Take the A-Train

Lyrics & Music by Billy “Swee’ Pea” Strayhorn

in collaboration with Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington

Arranged by Trent Worthington

Pro Coro Canada

P.J. Perry, saxophone; Doug Riley, piano

 

 

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Requiem

Pro Coro Canada

Richard Sparks, conductor

with

Jolaine Kerley, soprano  

        

Mireille Rijavec, alto

Michel Landry, tenor

Paul Grindlay, bass

 

 

 

 

Pro Coro Canada Chamber Orchestra

Sponsored by GovernanceMatters.com

Programme

Allan Bevan - Nou Goth Sonne Under Wode (World Première)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Exultate, Jubilate

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Requiem

Pro Coro Canada

Richard Sparks, conductor

with

Sharla Nafziger, soprano

Mireille Rijavec, alto

John Tessier, tenor

Michael Meraw, baritone

Timothy J. Anderson, bass

International Piano Quartet

Elizabeth Bergmann, Marcel Bergmann

Jeroen Van Veen, Maarten Van Veen

Hammerhead Consort Percussionists

Trevor Brandenburg, Brian Jones

Darren Salyn, Brian Thurgood

Barry Nemish

Cantilon Chamber Choir; Heather Johnson, director

 

Programme

Igor Stravinsky - Svadebka (Les Noces)  (sung in Latin)

Carl Orff - Carmina Burana (sung in Latin)

 

The International Piano Quartet was founded in 1998 by two prize-winning teams of the Murray Dranoff International Two Piano Competition: the Bergmann Piano Duo (Canada/Germany) and the Piano Duo Van Veen (Holland). Their collaboration has led to performances in North America and Europe and a recording of Les Noces with conductor Robert Craft, which was released on Koch International in 2002.