MIDDLEBURY — The Middlebury College Community Chorus will begin rehearsals to prepare for its annual fall concert, slated for performance on the college campus the weekend before Thanksgiving. Regular rehearsals take place on Tuesday and Sunday evenings from 7-8:30 p.m. in Mead Chapel, beginning September 12.
This season’s program includes historical works from the European choral tradition alongside inspiring contemporary works written during the past twenty years — music of heart and home as well as celebration and thanksgiving.
Historical works included in this season’s repertoire include “Jubilate (O be Joyful)” by the German composer Felix Mendelssohn, “How Lovely is Thy Dwelling Place” from “A German Requiem” by Johannes Brahms, and “Agnus Dei” (Lamb of God, grant eternal rest) from the requiem by French composer Gabriel Fauré. The group will prepare “Dona Nobis Pacem” (Grant us Peace) from the “Mass in B minor,” one of Johann Sebastian Bach’s final compositions.
Other works include “These Green Hills,” Vermont’s state song, “Stand in That River” by New Haven native Moira Smiley, and “I Dream a World” by Langston Hughes.
Conductor Jeff Rehbach notes that this program will offer singers the opportunity to explore a rich variety of styles of historic and present-day music, with vivid writing for chorus and piano. Rehbach begins his eighteenth consecutive season as director of the College Community Chorus, and Timothy Guiles returns as the choir’s virtuoso accompanist.
The choir welcomes all interested singers to join the ensemble during September. Participants should plan to attend at least one rehearsal each week.
For additional information, visit go.middlebury.edu/communitychorus or contact director Jeff Rehbach at 802-989-7355.