Last night, May 9, 2020, would have been the Canadian premiere performance of a new choral piece by Julia Jacklein titled ‘Far from ourselves’ with the renowned chamber choir from Kitchener-Waterloo conducted by Leonard Enns.
Da Capo Chamber Choir sponsors an annual choral composition competition, which they will continue to run, even in these extraordinary times.
This year’s deadline for entries has been extended to May 29, 2020.
I was looking forward to hearing Julia’s new piece since she has just completed her MA in composition at York University, and I have journeyed with her through her creative struggles and triumphs.
Julia has made a specialty of unaccompanied choral music, with a thoughtful sensitivity for text, exploring connections between music, poetry and visual art.
So today I’ve created a new playlist on my fledgling Youtube channel which focusses on ’emerging artists’ and one of Julia’s composition is at the top of the list today. In this video Julia’s piece ‘Stars’ is performed by Choral Chameleon, an innovative New York City based ensemble that performs and workshops new choral music. Julia was a participant their summer institute last year when this video recording was made.
Her choral piece sets the beautiful poem by Sara Teasdale:
Stars
Alone in the night
On a dark hill
With pines around me
Spicy and still
And a heaven full of stars….
You can read the full text on the video which you’ll find under the ‘Emerging Artists’ playlist on my Youtube channel.
Steph’s Youtube Channel
If you enjoy and appreciate this, please support these young artists in hard times when their premieres, CD launches, and public performances, so important to launching a career in music, have all disappeared.
‘Like’ the videos, subscribe, and pass on the music.
Stay safe and healthy,
Steph
I have just mentioned to Stephanie that the piece performed by Da Capo would actually have been another piece of mine, Far from Ourselves, set to a poem that I wrote in 2005. It’s interesting how even unperformed music and unattended concerts can somehow end up being important (at least for the musicians affected) – simply by not happening.
Thanks for the this Julia. I have corrected that important detail on my blog. So sorry we couldn’t hear ‘Far from Ourselves’ this weekend. Please keep in touch : )