Last fall, I figured I’d try to build on the success of our Christmas Music Fireside and start an Easter Music Fireside. I got it on the Stake Calendar. Then was a bit ill through the fall and began dreading the necessary rehearsals for my plan, so I took it off the table. But the new Stake Activities Chair, Ann, really wants to keep it there. She’s gotten me excited about it again, so I’m pondering it.
What To Sing?
For years, I’ve wanted to perform Rutter’s Requiem as a Stake Fireside. It’s a spectacular piece of music. I was privileged to sing it while I was a member of the Utah Chamber Artists under the direction of Barlow Bradford. In 1996, I toured Israel with the choir. While there, we recorded it with the Israeli Chamber Orchestra. It was a wonderful experience. I make a point of listening to that recording every Easter week.
What’s A “Requiem?”
LDS musicians may not be familiar with “Requiem” and what it is. “Requiem” is latin for “rest.” Many of the great classical composers have composed their own Requiem. I’ve sung many of them. (Another very nice Requiem is by Fauré.) These musical Requiem arrangements are perhaps best described as musical settings of the Catholic death mass. In LDS terms, it represents the Catholic understanding of the Plan of Salvation, the Plan of Happiness. Doctrinally, they are generally correct from an LDS perspective, though they obviously don’t reflect the full understanding from an LDS point of view. Requiem music can be very uplifting, very enlightening — all the things that sacred music should be.
Rutter’s requiem is very nice with it’s mixed use of Latin and English. And, of course, Rutter’s musical treatment is magical as usual.
The Musician Requirements
So, anyway, that’s what I want to do for the Easter Music Fireside. This will be a concert, nothing less. It will require good voices, singers who can read music and carry their parts independently. Singers who can learn quickly with minimal rehearsal, which still represents significant rehearsal time. For 4-part women’s and men’s voices, I’ll need 32 voices to do it justice.
While I’m still wary of the time, I think I’ve talked myself into it again.
This first year, we won’t go for orchestration. We’ll perform with piano and the few solo instruments that are really needed: Cello, Oboe, Flute. I have 2 of the 3; still hoping to find an oboist. I have Craig, of course, for piano, and will probably bring in our really good teen pianist, Steven, too. I’ll bring in singers from within and without the Stake, with emphasis on Stake performers, of course. Gotta put the word out this weekend. Gotta get funding for buying the music.
Last Thoughts
In the end, I think it will be a very nice Easter program. Firesides give us freedom to do things like concert performances that would not be appropriate in a Sacrament meeting. I’m excited to share my love of this particular music with the Stake musicians and members alike.
Know any really good singers in Sandy, Utah who’d like to participate?
If Requiem is out of reach for you, another good Easter idea is to do a Messiah Sing-in for Easter instead of Christmas. Maybe next year. This year, I want to do Rutter’s Requiem.
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