Acappellago, member of Chorus America, is an a cappella chamber choir performing in the western suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, USA.
The choir’s special appearances to date include the Chicago Composer’s Forum’s first “Musicircus” by John Cage. (September, 2005).
In addition, Acappellago has performed the “Star Spangled Banner” for the Chicago Cubs, Chicago Rush, Chicago Fire, Chicago White Sox, Kane County Cougars and Schaumburg Flyers.
In March, 2015, under the direction of Dennis Smith, the choir will perform a program of cappella choral works, including “Tides of Ocean” by Matthew Orlovich, in two concerts entitled “Escape to… Where the River meets the Sea.”
CONCERT 1
Date: Saturday, March 14, 2015, 7:30 pm
Venue: Mayslake Peabody Estate, Oak Brook, IL., USA.
Tickets/more info: Acappellago website.
CONCERT 2
Date: Sunday, March 15, 2015, 4:00 pm
Venue: Congregational Church of Batavia, 21 South Batavia Avenue, Batavia, IL 60510, USA.
Tickets/more info: Acappellago website.
TIDES OF OCEAN (FOR A CAPPELLA SATB CHOIR)
A number of my earlier works for The Australian Voices have been inspired by the work of the poet / writer Victor Carell. When asked, then, to compose a new score for The Australian Voices to perform during their upcoming overseas tour, I eagerly returned to Carell’s poetry and chose to set his poem entitled Tides of Ocean.
Carell noted, in writing about the poem, that he came to Australia in 1947 to appear in the musical Annie Get Your Gun. He travelled in an ex-Liberty ship named the Marine Phoenix which was one of the first passenger ships after the war.
“It was my return home to Australia following ten years absence”, Carell wrote. “I eagerly sought the first sight of the Southern Cross as we dipped south.”
The musical setting of the poem falls broadly into four continuous sections. The opening section comprises a rhythmic and lively music as the choir sings of standing over “tides of ocean.”
There follows a calmer music as the poem carries us into the night with images of moon-paths and flying fish flashes, culminating in a “southward dip” which involves all the tenors and basses descending to their striking lowest registers.
The slowly emerging Southern Cross and the excitement of its presence is reflected in the third section of the work by the gradual accretion of voices forming a natural crescendo. Like a frame for the work, the choir returns to the opening music before concluding.
Matthew Orlovich,
Composer.
Score Availability
Tides of Ocean (for a cappella SATB choir) can be ordered world-wide from:
Musical Resources, Toledo, OH, USA.
2020 N. Holland Sylvania Rd
Telephone 1: 419.539.9100 – Local
Telephone 2: 800.377.0234 – Toll Free
Fax: 877.377.7799
Email: Musical Resources
Online store: Click here
