West Bay Chorale concert features RI premiere, ‘There’s no fear in love’

Posted 5/2/19

The West Bay Chorale will present the Rhode Island premiere of composer Elliot Levine’s “There Is No Fear in Love” at its spring concert on May 19 at St. Kevin Church, Warwick. “There Is No …

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West Bay Chorale concert features RI premiere, ‘There’s no fear in love’

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The West Bay Chorale will present the Rhode Island premiere of composer Elliot Levine’s “There Is No Fear in Love” at its spring concert on May 19 at St. Kevin Church, Warwick. “There Is No Fear in Love” is a multi-layered song sung simultaneously in six languages and based upon John 4:18. The overlapping languages of French, Spanish, German, Hebrew, Arabic and English meld in a harmonious and moving piece which fits perfectly into the theme of the concert, entitled Tapestry.

The concert program weaves exciting global music from diverse cultures with music from American sacred traditional music.

Guest performers include Irish folk trio Kindred and Johnston High School Select Choir under the direction of Matthew Gingras. West Bay Chorale is pleased to feature both groups that will perform alone and jointly with the Chorale.

The premiere of There is No Fear in Love is an exciting privilege for West Bay Chorale. Composer Elliot Z. Levine is a founder of the Western Wind Vocal Ensemble, an a cappella group from NY area that just celebrated its 50th anniversary and whose workshops have been attended by several of WBC singers and director Eric W. Van Dervort. Van Dervort met with Levine and received special permission for West Bay Chorale to feature this piece, a perfect complement to the theme of the universality of music across cultures.

Other music selections range from American Sacred tradition’s I am the Rose of Sharon by William Billings to the exciting Aboriginal piece Tunggare, accompanied by David Brown on didgeridoo. Japanese traditional poem Hisakata No (In the Peaceful Light) is a serene contemplation of spring (cherry blossoms scattering like restless thoughts). Several West Bay Chorale singers aided in the adaptation of concert pieces. Virginia Bernal-Price adapted and will perform De Colores, a traditional Mexican folk song. Ina Woolman adapted wistful Norwegian favorite Nidelven for concert. North America folk song To My Old Brown Earth by Pete Seeger was adapted for choir by WBC singer Ned Quist. Quist adapted it in the late 70s and sent a recording of his adaptation to Pete Seeger, who wrote back thanking him, and saying that it was now as much Quists’ as his.

The final selection in the concert brings together all the performers to sing an inspiring Let the River Run by Carly Simon, with Michael Godlberg on djembe (an African drum). West Bay Chorale is under the direction of Eric W. Van Dervort, with John Boutcher, Accompianist, and will mark its 40th anniversary this fall.

Tapestry- Woven In Harmony, West Bay Chorale in concert, is Sunday May 19 at 3:00 p.m. at St. Kevin Church, 333 Sandy Lane, Warwick. Tickets are $12 for Adults, $6 for children under 12 yrs. Purchase tickets at the door or from www.westbaychorale.org or West Bay Chorale on Facebook, via FB Event www.facebook.com/

events/2223720974402561.

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