St. Norbert Times

Issue date: 9/28/09 Section: Entertainment

Media Credit: Kelsey Fenton

This year's SNC Family Weekend included a vast majority of events, coinciding with St. Norbert College's first SNC Day. One of the many events that happened Saturday, Sept. 19 was the Family Weekend Concert in Walter Theatre. Moms and dads were able to explore the realm of music their sons and daughters had been practicing these first weeks of school, as the Wind Ensemble, Chamber Singers, Women's Choir, Men's Chorus and Jazz Ensemble treated them with their musical talents.

The Wind Ensemble, directed by Dr. Frederick Schmidt, tipped off the evening with a piece entitled "Knight's Arrival." The song was specifically written for St. Norbert College's Wind Ensemble. The warlike drumming sounds catch the audience's attention right off the bat, engaging them for their next selection.

"Moon by Light" captured the audience's attention by having one of the band members read Psalm 121, which the piece is based on. The words help paint a picture in the minds of people while listening to the music. The song starts off light and airy, but it grows more dramatic as it continues. The Wind Ensemble performed "Velocity" for their last piece. Velocity is the rapidity of motion or operation and the swiftness of a movement, and this would describe exactly how this piece was performed. It started off loudly, and then retreated to a softer side, all while keeping its swirling momentum and movement.

Next, the Chamber Singers, directed by Dr. Sarah Parks and accompanied by Mrs. Elaine Moss (as were the other choirs), took the stage with "I Have Longed" which had a beautiful harmony. I enjoyed watching the Chamber Singers because of their open faces and smiles. They actually appear to enjoy singing! I found myself surprisingly impressed with the alto section in "I Have Longed for Thy Saving Health." Having sung alto in the past, I know it can be difficult to keep the right pitch. However, they remained on key and sounded strong. The Chamber Singers ended with "Worthy to Be Praised" which starts with a beautiful, rich tune and then switches over into a Gospel sing-along. The staccato beat stayed strong, even as several soloists came forward to enhance the song with their voices. There was no absolute way one could sit still through this piece.

The Women's Choir, also directed by Parks, sang "Mercy Seat," which Parks described as a "folksy" or "untrained" song. The song started off with a solo act and then jumped into a duet, followed by six other soloists. Ultimately these women's voices blended well with the rest of the women's choir. I feel that women's voices work very well for this piece, and the Women's Choir did the song justice. "Maria Mater" interested me because it was light and airy compared to other versions I have heard of "Maria Mater," and I sure appreciated the change in melody.

Continued...

Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools