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Singers of the Lost Music

Like Indiana Jones searching for some lost, ancient treasure, Jeffrey Gemmell, director of choral activities, has left no stone unturned in his search for lost and forgotten choral music gems.

Gemmell’s choirs will sing many of these “rediscovered” works during the annual spring choral concert, Expedition of Recovery and Discovery, April 12 at 7:30 pm and April 13 at 2 pm in Harlen Adams Theatre.

“This is some of the most challenging work we have done,” said Gemmell. “We’re really enjoying blowing the dust off these lost pieces and getting them ready for our concert.”
The concert will feature the A Cappella Choir, Chamber Singers, University Chorus, and Choral Union. Joining the singers will be a chamber orchestra and university organist David Rothe performing on the Flentrop Pipe Organ.

Some of the pieces the choirs will sing haven’t been performed for more than 200 years, noted Gemmell. The choral ensembles will shine a spotlight on rarely performed works by brothers Franz Joseph and Johann Michael Haydn, as well as Americans William Billings and Samuel Holyoke. The A Cappella Choir and Chamber Singers will be joined on stage by a professional chamber orchestra. “Having the chamber orchestra accompany the singers is rare for us. It will add a colorful layer of sound to the singers’ voices,” said Gemmell.

CSU, Chico’s Chamber Singers will perform a new work, “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” a choral work born out of the 9/11 tragedy and jointly commissioned by CSU, Chico and CSU, Fresno (see Briefly Noted, page 3).

The concert is being presented jointly by the School of the Arts and the Department of Music.

See calendar for ticket information.