Honoring and celebrating the second half of life through music and the stories of WWI veterans is the focus of the Ember ensemble’s season-opening concert titled, “Thriving Through the years: Wisdom from the Foxhole.” The concert is the first of three pairs of themed concerts in Ember’s 2018-2019 season titled, “Coming of Age”, which explores issues of aging. The Ember ensemble of Schola Cantorum on Hudson will perform under the direction of Artistic Director and founder, Deborah Simpkin King, Ph.D., on Saturday, November 10th at 7 P.M. at St. John’s in the Village Episcopal Church, NYC, and on Sunday, November 11th at 5 P.M. at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Montclair, NJ.
This is the first time that Ember has carried a theme across the summer months to its culmination in the following season. “Thriving through the Years” juxtaposes the climactic end point of last season’s, “When the War is Over” (11 Nov as the actual date of the WWI Armistice centennial anniversary) with the launch of its new season.
“With this concert, Ember begins its exploration of our maturing population and the unique life realities and opportunities aging holds for all of us, regardless of chronology,” says Dr. King. “Simultaneously serving as the culmination of our commemoration of the centennial anniversary of the Armistice of World War I, on 11 November 2018, we turn to the wisdom and life perspective shared by veterans of the Great War in their elder years.”
The centerpiece of “Thriving through the Years” is “Requiem for the Living” by American composer Dan Forrest, scored for mixed voices and orchestra. The piece both commemorates the lives of those who made the greatest sacrifice and lifts all of us into expansive perspectives on life. Like Britten’s massive “War Requiem”, Forrest includes text beyond that of the liturgical Latin requiem in his five-movement work.
A multi-media presentation of video clips taken from the Veterans History Project and other like resources will be woven throughout the performances of Joan Szymko’s powerful “Be It Therefore Resolved” and Jake Runestad’s evocative “Live the Questions.” Ember is delighted to be working collaboratively with composer/songwriter Cheryl Engelhardt, and will also include the American premiere of her composition, “We.”
“Thriving through the Years” will be performed on Saturday, November 10th at 7 PM at St. John’s in the Village Episcopal Church, 218 West 11th Street (at Waverly Pl) NYC and on Sunday, Veterans Day, November 11th at 5 PM at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 94 Pine Street, Montclair, NJ.
Veterans will be recognized and honored at every performance and given red lapel poppies, the WWI symbol of solidarity with soldiers.
Tickets for both concerts can be purchased in advance online for $20 (emberensemble.org/tickets) or at the door for $25. Veterans can reserve their complimentary ticket in advance online. Seniors/students, $15; children 18 and under are free of charge. For more information go to EmberEnsemble.org or call 888-407-6002 Ext.5.
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