Wednesday, March 7, 2012

“Trent Johnson conducts 'Cantus Avium Solamen Est' (Birdsong Brings Relief)” 3 PM March 18, Westfield, NJ



[TOP: The Oratorio Singers and Orchestra in concert (Photo credit - Kevin A. Johnson)  BOTTOM: Trent Johnson]

Trent Johnson sends this announcement to AfriClassical, where he has been featured for years:

On Sunday, March 18 at 3:00P.M. organist, composer and conductor Trent Johnson will conduct the Oratorio Singers and soloists, with members of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, in 3 varied works at the First United Methodist Church in Westfield, New Jersey. The ever popular Gloria of Antonio Vivaldi, and John Rutter’s Magnificat will be presented with soloists Hope Hudson and Denise Woods.

Also on the program will be the exclusive preview of Cantus Avium Solamen Est (Birdsong Brings Relief) a new work by Trent Johnson. This work is a concerto for clarinet, bird whistle, chorus and orchestra. Clarinetist Andrew Lamy of the NJSO will be the soloist. In addition to being a world class clarinetist, Mr. Lamy is active in the field of ornithology having led bird breeding surveys, bird watching and research tours, and studied birdsong.

This work is currently made up of 3 movements set to the poetry of Jelaluddin Rumi, Laura Richards and Rainer Maria Rilke. This concert will serve as a preview to the larger version of the work which will contain 4 or 5 movements. This work features 2 poems that are evocative of birds and birdsong along with a setting of the children's poem Eletelephony by Laura Richards.

The Oratorio Singers of Westfield New Jersey celebrated their 30th anniversary in 2010 and have presented many of the standard works for chorus and orchestra over the years along with works of the 20th century and several world premieres. They have performed with the New Philharmonic Orchestra, the Westfield Symphony and have appeared at Carnegie Hall in the Mozart Requiem and the Verdi Requiem.



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