MIDDLEBURY — The Middlebury College Community Chorus takes to the stage in Brandon and Middlebury during the first weekend in May for its “Spring Awakening” concert. The program offers songs of solace and hope, alongside pieces that celebrate the wonder of star-filled nights and an awakening to new possibilities. Included are rarely heard classical music, a traditional African song, and stirring works by contemporary American composers.
The concert includes two classical works that speak of hope in the midst of grief: “Elegischer Gesang (Elegaic Song)” by Ludwig van Beethoven and “Geistliches Lied (Let nothing ever grieve thee)” by Johannes Brahms. A chamber ensemble will accompany both these works, as well as play in “Across the vast, eternal sky,” a piece by Norwegian-American composer Ola Gjeilo and poet Charles Silvestri inspired by the legend of the phoenix.
The traditional African song “Shosholoz”originated among migrant workers traveling between Zimbabwe and South African to work in the mines. Featured in the movie “Invictus.” Its meaning may come from a combination of both Ndebele (of Zimbabwe) and Zulu (of South Africa) words meaning to push forward, endeavor, or strive.
The program also includes music written for Robert Frost’s poem “Choose something like a star” and Sara Teasdale’s poem “May Night,” along with Samuel Barber’s“Sure on this Shining Night” and Joseph Martin’s “The Awakening.”
Jeff Rehbach leads the chorus, and Timothy Guiles returns to the piano as the choir’s accompanist. Performances take place at the Brandon Town Hall on Saturday evening, May 6, 7:30 p.m., and at the Robison Concert Hall, Mahaney Center for the Arts in Middlebury on Sunday afternoon, May 7, 3 p.m.
In Brandon, donations at the door help support ongoing renovations and programming at the historic Brandon Town Hall; the Middlebury performance is sponsored by the College Department of Music and is free. For more information, contract Jeff Rehbach at 989-7355.