Of Stars and Sages

Singers in Accord and renowned conductor and composer René Clausen invite you to experience a musical journey through wonder, love, and transformation in their upcoming concert, Of Stars and Sages.  The program includes the world premiere of a new work by René Clausen, with text by Katie Clausen.

The evening opens with Bobby McFerrin's chant-like, serene setting of Psalm 23, followed by American composer Randall Thompson's Choose Something Like a Star from Frostiana, his choral suite of seven Robert Frost poems.  In a similarly neo-Romantic style comes the lyrical and highly expressive If Music Be the Food of Love by Minnesota composer David Dickau.  The program then turns—both heartfelt and witty—to an exploration of romance featuring Paul Sjolund's satirical set of four short madrigals, and Walter Cecil Macfarren's You Stole My Love.  The set closes with two romantic loves songs—Z. Randall Stroope's soulful Amor de mi Alma (Love of My Soul) and René Clausen's O My Luve's Like a Red, Red Rose.

 In its world premiere, Chrysalis opens a new collaboration between composer René Clausen and writer Katie Clausen whose combined gifts create Chrysalis, a composition for choir and eleven instruments.  Commissioned by Singers in Accord for Of Stars and Sages, Chrysalis unfolds across four movements—Sound, Noise, Silence, and Flight Song--where the wedding of music and text traces a journey from the internal darkness of the chrysalis to the emergence of light and life.

 The concert culminates with Lux Aeterna (Light Eternal) from English composer John Rutter's widely known Requiem. A shining example of British euphony, its gentle lyricism serves as a balm of consolation, blessing, and solace for listeners as well as singers.