Over the past year, performing art has been severely limited. Any artist who dabbles in any kind of performing can tell you that over the past year and a half, all attempts to create have either been shunned or approached with a heightened sense of caution because of the risks that have been associated with it. However, in the midst of the lights of Broadway being turned back on, Northwestern has also begun to venture into the shark-infested waters to engage with its community once again through performing arts. Launching into the year with the traditional public performance of the theatre department’s children show, the second main art event of the year will be commencing on October 2 at 7:30 p.m. in Christ Chapel.
The concert will feature performances from the jazz band, the A capella choir, and other ensembles as well. The A capella choir will be performing a whole host of genres, selecting songs like an arrangement of Amazing Grace, a modern soundscape piece and a Taiwanese arrangement.
Katie Struck, junior music major and member of the A capella choir, has a favorite among the selections called The Red-Gold Darkness of Rain. “The piece is derived from Amy Lowell’s Summer Rain poem, and we also imitate the sound of rain pattering throughout the piece, so it’s just very fun,” says Struck.
The Heritage Singers will also be performing at this concert. They will be singing selections in German from Johannes Brahm’s Liebeslieder Waltzer.
The Women’s Choir will also be performing, completing NW’s choir collection. They will be singing two selections, one in Spanish called Yo le Canto Todo el Dia, and the other in English. Elise Petty, a senior modified music major and member of the Women’s Choir, commented on the selection in English, and highlighted how it is an adaption of Psalm 23. “It is a text that most of us know, but in this song it is bringing praise to God, and is so beautifully written it gives me chills when it is sung.”
Along with a thrilling selection of pieces from all of the campus’ vocal groups, several of the band groups will be performing. Michael Hornback will be featured on the alto saxophone during one of the pieces.
Clare Struck, junior music major, also has a favorite among the selections for her respective ensemble. “I really love Celebrations. It’s a super fun piece to play, and my heart is always racing by the end of it. It feels so rewarding when we get to the end of the piece to remember all the things we’ve accomplished while preparing this challenging piece,” said Struck.
The singers and players will remain unmasked throughout the production. The musicians are elated that this change has come. Clare, for one, feels a sense of long-missed auditory freedom. Clare said, “We’ve all been longing for a sense of normalcy, and are so glad to be able to be back together again under normal circumstances.”
“Our voices will no longer be muffled behind masks, and the audience will get to hear a clearer and fuller sound compared to last year,” said Katie Struck.
Stephen Danner, another member of the A capella choir, says, “It feels great; with the masks on the sound is muffled and it becomes a lot harder to sing to the back.” As well as difficulty of distance, Elise Petty highlights that, “Not only is it hard to breath, but it is hard to project and to do diction [wearing a mask].”
As well as the enthusiasm, hopes are high for this concert and along with all of the following ones throughout the year.
