On Sunday, Nov. 3 at 3 p.m., The Choir of St. Colman, with soloists and string quartet, will perform Gabriel Faure’s “Requiem” in its entirety, with David Scott, baritone and Teresa Ford, soprano as soloist. Completing the program will be four movements of John Rutter’s “Requiem.” Scott is director of choral activities at Washington High School; Ford regularly sings with the St. Colman Choir.
Faure’s work was first performed in 1888 but saw its final version completed in 1890. He treated the traditional text format of the church service “Requiem” with some flexibility but it was in the musical character of the work that he produced the greatest contrast with it predecessor works. Up until Faure, most composed Requiem settings were much more focused on a “fire and brimstone” fear of death approach. Faure’s was the first of the “lullaby” Requiems and John Rutter’s piece is of similar character. Rutter also took liberties with the text and so both works make themselves amenable to a concert format. Rutter has arranged the Faure work and admits that it had a big influence on his own composition.
“The idea of peaceable rest permeates both of these expressions of human loss and grief,” said Craig Jaynes, the director of Liturgical Music at St. Colman. “While some of the fear and terror of the older style are still present, they are greatly reduced. That is why we titled the program ‘In Memoriam – With a Smile.’ Loss of loved ones is universal human experience and it can often be tinged with much hurt and great sadness. But it is also an opportunity for the expression of great hope and expectation and it is this positive aspect, so beautifully expressed by both Gabriel Faure and John Rutter, that we want to present in this program. For anyone who still carries fond memories of deceased loved ones, especially in the last year or two, this music is almost guaranteed to bring a smile – it contains some of the most beautiful melodies and lovely harmonies ever put down on paper for human being to sing.”
The program is open to the public (it is not a church service); there is no admission charge but a free-will offering can be made. There is ample parking on the streets and in the lots around the church. Father Cyrus Haddad is pastor.
