In addition to our weekly musical contribution between September and June, the choir of First Presbyterian Church of Albany usually endeavors to take on one or two more substantial pieces during the church year. For the First Friday in December 2024, we performed Johann Sebastian Bach’s Magnificat, directed by our choir director, Michael Lister, in the church’s sanctuary.
The choir had been practicing since September, with three special Sunday afternoon rehearsals. Dr. Lister had also recruited additional vocalists, some from his tenure at the College of Saint Rose (RIP) and from UAlbany. A few of them also came at the end of our regular Thursday night rehearsals to hone their musical understanding of the pieces.
There were two parts to the December 6 program. The first part involved the octet of the choir: Rose, Maria, Fiona, Sarah, Joshua, Nate, Dan, and Tom. They performed:
Ave Regina Coelorum by Isabella Leonarda (1620-1704)
Ave Maria by Tomas Louis Victoria (1548-1611)
Ave Generosa by Ola Gjeilo (b. 1978) with text by Hildegard von Bingen
Blessed Be That Maid Marie, a 15th-century Carol arranged by Susan LaBarr
Magnificat by Arvo Pärt (b.1935)
Bògòroditse Dyevo by Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873 -1943)
Hacia Belen va un Botrrico, a traditional Spanish Carol arranged by Alice Parker
Estonian
My favorite piece was the Pärt, pronounced like pear with a T at the end. I’ve been a big fan of the Estonian composer for over two decades when my wife and I were at the house of one of her friends, and they were playing some of his music.
It was good that Bach Magnificat involved additional singers because at least five of our choir members were playing in the orchestra instead.
You may recall from the movie Amadeus when the Salieri character cried, “Too many notes!” This is what the Magnificat felt like for both the singers and the instrumentalists. In the case of the former, there was a lot of melisma, which is “a group of notes or tones sung on one syllable.” My favorite piece, which did not involve the full choir, involved the trio of Rose, Carla, and Fiona. They sang the solos and duets along with Joshua and guest vocalist Kristopher.
I’m using this photo that my friend Annika took because at least three people who attended the Magnificat asked if I had participated. Someone in front of me must have obscured me. But in this picture, I’m just left of the lectern. I was there! Really!
I’m always excited when we do a big piece and relieved when it’s over. Here’s the First Friday performance for December 6, 2024, at First Presbyterian Church of Albany.
