Today at IYC (Indianapolis Youth Chorale) rehearsal, our choir had the fabulous opportunity to work with the renowned composer, Morten Lauridsen. He's been in town since Tuesday, and our director got in contact with him, and he agreed to attend about an hour of our rehearsal today.
We sang his piece, Sure On This Shining Night, at our Christmas concerts this past year. It was by far one of my favorites of our entire Christmas set. It has a really magical feel to it. I'll post a link to my choir singing it at the end of this post..
We sang his piece, Sure On This Shining Night, at our Christmas concerts this past year. It was by far one of my favorites of our entire Christmas set. It has a really magical feel to it. I'll post a link to my choir singing it at the end of this post..
Anyways, we got to work with him from 12:30-1:30 today. We spent time singing Sure On This Shining Night for him, he loved it. He said it was "lovely and beautiful."
He also congratulated us on our appearance at the American Choral Directors Association National Convention in Dallas this past March. He was especially congratulatory because he said he knew how selective it was to be a part of the performing choirs
He read us a poem, and talked about how he always finds the text before he composes the music... He emphasized the importance of poetry and how he hopes we indulge in it and take time to find the beauty and depth behind the lyric of what we are singing.
He then did, what I thought, was the coolest part of the entire time with him. He sat down at the piano and accompanied us singing Sure On This Shining Night. It was probably one of the most moving things I have ever done.
He's a genius. A complete musical genius. He feels, lives, and breathes every note he plays on that piano and every note he sings. He has a deep connection with his music that comes straight from his heart. He put this text to music and gave it so much extra emotion, and so much extra hope. I am very honored that I got the opportunity to work with this man. He is a legend, and a fabulous musician. I will never forget this experience.
He also congratulated us on our appearance at the American Choral Directors Association National Convention in Dallas this past March. He was especially congratulatory because he said he knew how selective it was to be a part of the performing choirs
He read us a poem, and talked about how he always finds the text before he composes the music... He emphasized the importance of poetry and how he hopes we indulge in it and take time to find the beauty and depth behind the lyric of what we are singing.
He then did, what I thought, was the coolest part of the entire time with him. He sat down at the piano and accompanied us singing Sure On This Shining Night. It was probably one of the most moving things I have ever done.
He's a genius. A complete musical genius. He feels, lives, and breathes every note he plays on that piano and every note he sings. He has a deep connection with his music that comes straight from his heart. He put this text to music and gave it so much extra emotion, and so much extra hope. I am very honored that I got the opportunity to work with this man. He is a legend, and a fabulous musician. I will never forget this experience.
Sure On This Shining Night by James Agee
Sure on this shining night
Of star made shadows round,
Kindness must watch for me
This side the ground.
The late year lies down the north.
All is healed, all is health.
High summer holds the earth.
Hearts all whole.
Sure on this shining night I weep for wonder wand'ring far
alone
Of shadows on the stars.
Above - IYC singing Sure On This Shining Night by Morten Lauridsen at Angels Sing in December 2012.
Below- a trailer for the documentary about Morten Lauridsen.
Below- a trailer for the documentary about Morten Lauridsen.