Program Notes:
The Vanderbilt University Singers presents “American Mosaic,” an exploration of the composers that form the foundation of our choral canon. From the thrilling leaps of Dello Joio’s A Jubilant Song and the dark and brooding harmonies of Barber’s A Stopwatch and an Ordnance Map to the audacious, brassy… Read moreShow less
Program Notes:
The Vanderbilt University Singers presents “American Mosaic,” an exploration of the composers that form the foundation of our choral canon. From the thrilling leaps of Dello Joio’s A Jubilant Song and the dark and brooding harmonies of Barber’s A Stopwatch and an Ordnance Map to the audacious, brassy shape note music of Appalachia and the rich, sophisticated, and moving works of William Dawson, this concert will open your eyes to the ingenuity and expansiveness of the American choral sound.
The second half of the program is dedicated to the African American spirituals tradition, a pillar of our choral canon that is rarely examined with such depth. We trace our way through eight foundational spiritual arrangers, with commentary by Tucker Biddlecombe and Grace O’Duffy.