Westchester Choral Society – Spring
“I do but sing because I must…”
Alfred Tennyson
Westchester Choral Society – the longest continuously performing chorus in Westchester County has the good fortune to be guided by Music Director Frank Nemhauser and Associate Music Director David Baranowski.
The choir met for their first virtual rehearsal of the Spring season on January 12th and will continue to rehearse by sections every Tuesday evening.
Nemhauser selected Handel’s L’Allegro, il Penseroso, ed il Moderato (The Cheerful, The Thoughtful, the Moderate man). The first two movements are based on poems by John Milton. The third movement is based on a poem by Charles Jennens.
Handel (3/5/1685-4/14/1759) was a German-born British Baroque composer, who was well known for his operas, oratorios, anthems and organ concertos. He was strongly influenced both by the great composers of the Italian Baroque and the middle-German polyphonic choral tradition. In the history of music, Bach and Handel share the platform as the greatest composers of the Baroque era. However, that is the view from our twenty-first-century vantage point. In the late Baroque era, there would have been only one reigning Baroque composer, and that composer was Handel.
We are indeed fortunate that Nemhauser has selected such beautiful and uplifting music for the choir to sing during this time of the pandemic. On the last Tuesday of January, Nemhauser lectured on Baroque music and allowed time for members to socialize. “We miss the camaraderie we normally shared when rehearsing in vivo,” but members share feeling inspired and encouraged after rehearsals. Since we cannot congregate, we must at least stay musically connected.
Nemhauser also serves as music director for the Berkshire Choral International and is both director of vocal studies and associate professor at Mannes College of Music in New York.
For additional information please visit: www.westchesterchoralsociety.org.
WCS is a nonprofit 501©(3)organization
About Westchester Choral Society
The award-winning Westchester Choral Society was founded by Sarah Stewart Bowne in 1942 to perform Bach’s B minor Mass with 15 singers. Today we are 55 singers performing works from Baroque to contemporary, presenting three concerts per season as well as Summer Sings and other musical events. Smaller ensembles are available for private and community performances. We welcome singers in all voice ranges to join us at a rehearsal before auditioning. We rehearse Tuesday evenings at the Music Conservatory of Westchester in White Plains (handicapped accessible; free parking available; near public transportation). To arrange a trial membership, contact WCS President Numa Rousseve at 914-285-9026. The Westchester Choral Society is a proud member of Chorus America, the Vocal Area Network, and ArtsWestchester, which honored us in 2000 with its Arts Organization Award.