'We Remember' with songs of remembrance, grief and hope: Santa Fe Symphony Chorus, Symphony Chamber Ensemble to perform free concert
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Classical fans can enjoy a free (and early) Memorial Day concert at Santa Fe鈥檚 Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi on Tuesday, May 21.
The Santa Fe Symphony Chorus and the Symphony Chamber Ensemble will perform songs of remembrance, grief and hope in an afternoon of uplifting music.
The program will open with Charles Strouse鈥檚 鈥淥n This Day鈥� for solo trumpet, strings and chorus. The reverent work recalls the memories of loved ones who gave the supreme sacrifice for the cause of liberty. The Broadway composer鈥檚 honors have included three Tony Awards for 鈥淏ye Bye Birdie,鈥� 鈥淎pplause鈥� and 鈥淎nnie.鈥�
Next on the bill is Stephen Paulus鈥� 鈥淧ilgrim鈥檚 Hymn鈥� from his opera 鈥淭he Three Hermits,鈥� based on a short story by Leo Tolstoy.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a prayer to God of unending love,鈥� said choral director Carmen Fl贸rez-Mansi. 鈥淓ven when (disaster) is taking our hearts, we breathe your name. I wanted to finish with the idea of hope.鈥�
The chorus, trumpet and strings will perform two pieces by contemporary composer Patrick Hawes.
鈥淭he reason I chose these is we have the patriotic,鈥� Fl贸rez-Mansi said. 鈥淪ometimes, it鈥檚 just remembrance for fallen armed forces.鈥�
鈥淭he Dreams That Remain鈥� was commissioned by Laudamus Chamber Chorale of Fort Collins, Colorado, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the choir鈥檚 formation. The work sets three poems by the Indian poet Sarojini Naidu. By focusing on the subject of dreams, both literally and figuratively, this work explores what happens to a person when their hopes and dreams are dashed, and they are forced to seek out new dreams.
The first movement begins in the forest.
鈥淚t sounds like fireflies in the sun 鈥� on a hike, the whisper of the wind through the aspen,鈥� Fl贸rez-Mansi said.
The second movement expresses the loss of someone, ending with 鈥淥h my heart let me rise out of the depths of the darkness of grief, we rise into our hope.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 a very beautiful way to end this concert,鈥� Fl贸rez-Mansi said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a big, full, lush (piece) with strings and piano.鈥�
