On the first weekend in May, Island Voices Chamber Choir will travel to Fanny Bay for their final concert of the season.
Since they’ll be only steps away from saltwater, the concert is titled “I’ve heard it by the sea.” The hallmark piece “Inscription on a Seashell” will evoke life by the ocean, both the storms and the safe harbours.
Many of the songs were presented earlier in the season, and were chosen after audiences voted on their favourites, including pieces such as “Send in the Clowns” and the “Java Jive.” But this will not be a simple reprise of familiar tunes.
As Island Voices director John Hooper explained, “Every time we reopen a piece of music we’ve already performed, it becomes an opportunity for the choir to re-examine it at a new level. Each individual chorister asks ‘How can I improve my technique?’ As a choir, we can explore how to more fully enter into the music.”
In addition, the choir will introduce a piece by the Renaissance composer Giovanni Palestrina to celebrate his 500th birthday. In counterpoint, they will then sing a modern “Exultate” by Welsh composer Sir Karl Jenkins.
With a full programme of music both reprised and new, audiences will be able to say “I’ve heard it by the sea.”
Island Voices presents “I’ve heard it by the sea” at Fanny Bay Community Centre on Sunday, May 4 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets (adult $25, student $10) are available through the choir’s website at islandvoiceschamberchoir.bc.ca.
