Choral Reviews


Locus Iste Paul Mealor (1975 - )


Text: Ancient Latin text, contemporary English text by Peter Davidson


SATB Divisi, unaccompanied; brief bass, tenor solos; soprano solo Publisher: Novello & Co. Duration: approx. 6 minutes


Locus Iste is another choral gem by Welsh composer, Paul Mealor. Mealor first came to the attention of an international audience when his work, Ubi Caritas, was performed at the royal wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton. Locus Iste was commissioned by the University of Aberdeen (Scotland) to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the consecration of the King’s College Chapel.


This beautifully lush and serene work is centered around an ancient text (Locus iste a Deo factus est, inaestimabile sacramentum, irreprehensibilis est; translated “This place was made by God, a priceless sacrament, beyond reproof ”). This text is part of the Gradual of the Mass typically reserved for church edifice dedication services. Mealor juxtaposes a lovely contemporary English text (“O flawless hollow, O seamless robe, lantern of stone, unbroken”) by Peter Davison at the end of the piece (sung by soprano soloist).


Mealor manipulates choral layers and suspended dissonances to move from the simplicity and intimacy of SATB to full 8-12 part writing (all beautifully informed by the text). And you have to hear measures 39-56 to fully appreciate Mealor’s restraint and other-worldly text painting. Due to the range demands of this piece, it is recommended for advanced choirs.


Midi practice files for each voice part are located at www.johnfletchermusic.org/


mealorp-locus-iste/. Follow these YouTube links to hear performances by the Chapel Choir of King’s College, Aberdeen (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5bod gP1K1c)


or Tenebrae (https://www.youtube.com/ 26


watch?v=81DckCL0CMU, from the CD A Tender Light).


Filled with His Voice Steve Danyew (1983 - )


Text: minister, poet and hymnwriter, Joseph Swain (1761-1796) SATB, Piano, Alto Saxophone Publisher: www.stevedanyew.com Duration: approx. 5-6 minutes


Filled with His Voice is a piece that programs well for any occasion and with a group of any size or ability level. I actually first became acquainted with Danyew while listening to one of his wind ensemble pieces, The World Alive. I was so captivated by Danyew’s writing style that I subsequently made contact with him and found out that he writes for solo voice and for choirs as well.


Everything in this piece works—from the lyrical piano accompaniment to the weaving of alto saxophone (as both melody and accompaniment) to the choral interpretation of text by British minister and poet, Joseph Swain. Danyew utilizes several call and response exchanges between SA and TB throughout (almost like a conversational dialogue), followed by full SATB choir. A terrific teaching piece to use with your young choir or church choir (it will work their sense of phrasing and unison singing!) or as a large combined group number. This piece features lovely programmatic writing with a tender sensitivity that your audience will be sure to enjoy.


This piece was commissioned by the Bethel College Concert Choir, Dr. William Eash, Conductor and a performance by this group can be heard here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDXq 1DfMu_o


Musica Dei Donum John Rutter (1945 - )


Text: According to Rutter’s editorial note, this text of unknown authorship is “known only from the musical setting of it by Lassus, first published in 1594 in a volume of that composer’s Cantiones sacrae”.


Dr. Diane Orlofsky


SATB (some divisi), solo flute Publisher: Hinshaw Music Duration: approx. 5 ½ minutes


Are you looking for a challenging Rutter piece that is also not performed often? Look no further than Musica Dei Donum. The Latin text extols the virtues of music (“Music, the gift of the supreme God, draws men, draws gods; Music makes savage souls gentle and uplifts sad minds. Music moves the very trees and wild beasts”).


The choirmaster at Clare College from 1975- 1979, Rutter wrote this piece for that very group and for his successor, Timothy Brown. (You can hear the Choir of Clare College, Cambridge (Timothy Brown, Conductor) perform this delightful work here:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hrt8Y 9OLOq8).


The piece begins with a melancholy flute melody and eventually includes all voices. Mixed meter occurs throughout the piece (the opening 12 bars of flute solo utilizes 6/4, 4/4, 3/8, and 2/4) and the voices enter on a 7/4 measure. Tonal shifts are delightfully unexpected (listen to the “trahit deos” repetition in measures 28-45 as an example) and chromatic leaps are everywhere (great ear training!), but be forewarned. The flute part is challenging and the unaccompanied voices need to be adroit with the occasional use of polytonality. However, the piece is worth every bit of work that your choir will invest! A hidden gem in the Rutter canon.


Dr. Diane Orlofsky is Professor of Music and Director of Choirs at Troy University, where she oversees the choral program and teaches undergraduate and graduate classes in music education. She is the conductor of the Troy University Concert Chorale and the Director of the Troy University vocal jazz ensemble, frequency.


February/March 2016


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