REVIEW: USU choir concert explore various kinds of love
The Utah State University department of music presented the concert “Love Lost and Love Found,” Nov. 12. The concert was a combined effort of the Chamber Singers, Chorale and the Women’s Choir.
Various and unique themes of love were presented. There were the traditional love songs but also “love from the Bible,” “garden love,” “love of country” and of course “lost love.”
“We’ve got some fun things and humor mixed with seriousness,” said Mindy Barney, a senior majoring in vocal performance.
Will Kesling, conductor of both the USU Chorale and the Chamber singers, said the songs were about love and then somewhere along the way not love.
I went to the concert with the expectation to be entertained by talented singers singing inspired songs. I was not disappointed. The night set a high standard for the remaining concerts. I now look forward with pleasure to the Christmas concerts in December.
The night began with the USU Chorale singing Mendelssohn’s Heilig. The lights were lowered and the singing began but there was no one on the stage. The performers had strategically been placed, standing in the aisles surrounding the main bulk of the audience. The affect of this was surprising and unique. I felt like the concert was being played on surround sound. The rest of the night, the performers were on the stage but that first song set the tone for the evening.
The concert had a variety of songs, from serious to comedic.
The serious songs cast a somber but reflective mood. They did a good job of inciting emotion through the power of the work.
The Women’s Choir sang Sigh No More Ladies. A song about losing love and having to move on. The Chorale sang Londonderry Air also popular as Danny Boy. This is a haunting song about a boy being called off to war.
One highlight of the evening was a powerful rendition of Lest We Forget, by Brian Petersen, a Logan native. Peterson works at Bear River High School and wrote the song over the summer, Kesling said. The song seemed an appropriate reminder of what has happened. Kesling said the song not only focuses on those we’ve lost but also reminds that God’s armies are marching on. The comedic songs offered a fun and entertaining alternative. One performer, Matt Ahern, a senior majoring in psychology and philosophy, said of the comedy, “It’s more of subtle thing. It’s not to get you rolling in the aisles.”
The comedy in the songs may have been subtle but many including myself laughed out loud. The Chamber singers sang Frog-School Competition. The performers circled the piano, taking different positions to resemble frogs in a pond. Despite these efforts, the Chamber Singers did not sound as though they were croaking.
The Christmas concert is Dec. 7 and 8 at 7:30 p.m. at the Kent Concert Hall. The choirs will be performing with the Logan LDS Institute Choir and the USU Orchestra.
Grade: A-