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Brushstrokes: A Canvas of Sound, Presented by the St. Louis Women's Chorale, November 13 at 3:00
"Brushstrokes: A Canvas of Sound" is a musical journey through a person's life.
The music in our concert represents the Four Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter, in which each season represents a stage of life. We have 16 songs in our concert, and each song tells part of the story. For example, we open our concert with Spring Shall Bloom, a gorgeous, poignant piece that speaks to the hope that no matter how dark and long the winter, "spring shall bloom where now the ice is." It's about new life that blooms every spring in the face of significant doubt and difficulty. Choosing love, positivity and selflessness in the face of adversity. Achingly gorgeous. Music was written by Susan LaBarr, with poetry by Christina Rossetti. The piano accompaniment has constantly moving triplets under the sustained vocal lines. Melodies and countermelodies represent ideas going back and forth within the confines of a person's mind - the movement of our thoughts.
Summer represents early adulthood and explores being true to yourself as you find your way in the world. Our music this season also explores falling in love for the first time. We begin our summer season with Voice On the Wind, an energetic, a cappella piece that is driven by a compelling melody and powerful rhythms. The mood is upbeat, happy and life affirming. Text and lyrics were written by Canadian composer Sarah Quartel and are an anthem for being true to yourself.
Fall represents being middle aged and centers on the strength of knowing who you are and what is important. Our fall season also explores loss, an inevitable part of life. We begin our fall with Truth, music and lyrics by Andrea Ramsey, set in a minor key and poignantly exploring loss, especially Andrea's loss of her mother. "My roots are earth, muddy river and honeysuckle....You are beautiful, you are enough. You must believe in that. You must believe the truth," words that Andrea's mother spoke to her. After Truth, we sing Barter, a song with gorgeous melodies and lush harmonies that portray "life has loveliness to sell, all beautiful and splendid things. Scent of pine trees in the rain, eyes that love you, arms that hold. Spend all you have for loveliness, buy it and never count the cost: for one white shining hour of peace." The song builds to a powerful climax and then fades to a calm, subdued, peaceful ending.
Our winter season begins with Glow, a sparse, quiet setting exploring the beauty of an early morning snowfall and the majesty of winter. During this season, we also explore late adulthood and end of life issues as well as the afterlife. We close our concert with the hope of an African-American spiritual and the promise of being rewarded in the afterlife. Shout All Over God's Heaven is a rhythmic, energetic, joyful proclamation "I got a robe, you got a robe, all of God's children got a robe. When I get to heaven, gonna put on my robe, gonna walk all over God's heaven." This a cappella piece has an important key change and a big ending with a high B in the first sopranos, representing a triumphant finish.
URL:
Tickets: https://go.evvnt.com/1407270-0?pid=2809
Prices:
General Admission: USD 25.00,
Senior/Student: USD 15.00,
Virtual: USD 25.00
Artists: St. Louis Women's Chorale, Dionna Raedeke
