IF YOU GO* What: UTC Master Chorale in concert.* When: 7:30 tonight.* Where: Second Presbyterian Church, 700 Pine St.* Admission: Free.* Phone: 425-4601.* Website: utc.edu/music.
Tonight’s concert by the UTC Master Chorale will conclude with a “Cloudburst” inside Second Presbyterian Church.
The phenomenon comes courtesy of snapping fingers and soaring percussion to simulate the sound of a thunderstorm. According to the chorale’s director, Dr. Kevin Ford, “Cloudburst” and the related piece “Water Night” will be the highlight of the show.
“The final two pieces are related to each other in text and theme, although ‘Water Night’ sets the text in English, where ‘Cloudburst’ sets it in the original Spanish,” said Ford, head of the Choral Department at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. “During ‘Cloudburst,’ the choir will snap their fingers to sound like rain, while the percussion will sound like the rest of the storm.”
The piece, sung in Spanish, will be accompanied by piano, hand chimes, bass drum and thunder sheet to simulate the appropriate sounds. Playing the thunder sheet will be Dr. Monte Coulter, UTC Professor of Music for Percussion.
The music was composed by Eric Whitacre based on works by Mexican poet Octavio Paz.
All of the concert features challenging literature by well-known choral composers, Ford said. The chorale will open the program with “Verbum Caro Factum Est,” a jubilant and trumpet-like piece by Hassler. The singers will follow with pieces by Handel, Purcell, Clausen, Hovahness, Barber, Young and finally Whitacre.
Soloists for the program are Kirsten Ridge-Parker, Caitlin Hawkins and Chris Epperson. David Friberg, organist at Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church, will be the accompanying organist. UTC students April Mathews and Sarah Marczynski will be guest conductors.
DID YOU KNOW?
The UTC Master Chorale was established in 2004 to provide an advanced ensemble experience during the summer. Admission is open to any UTC student as a class, as well as to any interested community singer. The mix of young singers and more mature voices produces an ensemble capable of performing works that might not be as feasible with only younger voices, said the choir’s director, Dr. Kevin Ford.