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If you goMeet the Musicians of Choral Arts of Chattanooga› When: 5:30-7 p.m. tonight, Oct. 27.› Where: The Walden Club, 633 Chestnut St.› Admission: Donations accepted.Choral Arts Sings“American Songs of Inspiration & Devotion”› When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29.› Where: Second Presbyterian Church, 700 Pine St.› Admission: Donations accepted.› Website: choralartsofchattanooga.weebly.com/concert-october-29.html
Last summer when Darrin Hassevoort was planning Choral Arts of Chattanooga’s season-opening concert, he considered its close proximity to the presidential election and how high emotions were running on both sides of the electorate.
“I was really looking for songs of inspiration and devotion. [That] led me to some of the old Puritan and Shaker songs, which focus on peace, humility and the need to look outside ourselves for strength and purpose in life,” says Hassevoort.
That theme also led to the discovery of a new work written by Douglas Hedwig, who moved to Chattanooga from New York City in 2013. Hedwig formerly played trumpet for the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, former Juilliard School faculty member and a professor emeritus of music from Brooklyn College. He composes works for a variety of ensembles that are published through Carl Fischer Music.
Hedwig’s composition, “Gitanjali: Song of Devotion,” seemed to be the “perfect mix of new and old music focusing on spiritual inspiration and devotion,” says Hassevoort.