Choir dips into the past

In the third and final concert of the season, Vocal Alchemy takes its audience on a journey inspired by great English poetry of the Shakespearean era.

Songs and Sonnets, slated for this coming Sunday at St. Andrews United Church, brings to life 16th century poetry and music from the Bard’s time.

The 40-voice mixed choir conducted by Jordan Van Biert also features special guest Eve Richardson, a graduate of the University of Alberta’s education and music programs. As an active choral singer, Richardson has developed a wide repertoire singing in a variety of choirs including the University of Alberta Madrigal Singers and Pro Coro Canada.

The first half of the concert is devoted to Shakespearean texts put to music by composers of that era. Thomas Morely’s Now is the Month of Maying is sung as a five-part madrigal, Thomas Campion’s Never Weather Beaten Sail is the concert’s only spiritual text, and William Byrd’s Ye Sacred Muses is an elegy to Thomas Tallis, says Von Biert.

One of the concert’s highlights promises to be two madrigals — Sing We and Fair Phyllis — sung in eight-part harmony by 14 voices including St. Albert’s own veteran chorister Gerald Widlake.

The second half shifts to contemporary composers that have adopted 16th century texts. Van Biert anticipates jazz composer George Shearing’s three charts Live With Me, Who Is Sylvia and It Was a Lover to be of special interest.

“People will find them fun and charming. They will find you can mix old poetry with the medium of jazz and swing. It’s neat and it will get your toes tapping.”

Vocal Alchemy is also holding a drop-in for new singers at their regular rehearsal on Tuesday, May 4 at 7 p.m. Rehearsals are also held at St. Andrew’s United, 9915 – 148 St.