Summertime Singers present American composers

A new mixed choral group, Summertime Singers, offers a salute to American composers in its first Sequim performance at 7 p.m. Friday, July 29, at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 525 N. Fifth Ave.

 

Conducted by Colleen Johnson, the singers begin the program with William Billings’ “Kittery.” Selections from Aaron Copland’s opera “The Tender Land” will include “Graduation Speech,” sung by Linda Bach, and the “Love Duet,” sung by Susanne Skadron and Jon Stafford.

 

Johnson said, “We are privileged to perform Shawn Kirchner’s ‘Heavenly Home,’ a set of three Appalachian spirituals arranged for 12-part men’s and women’s voices. This incorporates the open cords of the Sacred Harp tunes on which they are based, while adding the lush harmonies of our century.”

 

Two other spirituals to be sung are “City Called Heaven,” a sorrow song, featuring alto Jody Bower, and “Ain’t Got time to Die,” a rousing gospel arrangement featuring tenor Ron Dionne. Also included in this set is a solo by alto Sydney Keegan, “Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Chile,” arranged by Jester Hairston.

 

Other selections include “Festival Sanctus” by John Leavitt; “The Paper Reeds by the Brooks” by Randall Thompson; “Shenandoah,” arranged by James Erb; “My Bonnie Lass She Smelleth” by Peter Schickele and the premiere of “Flowers” by local composer Karl Bach.

 

Admission is a suggested $10, with children admitted free. Proceeds benefit the Sequim Senior Activity Center.

 

Summertime Singers is an outgrowth of the Sinfonia Sacra, led by Keegan, which performed previously in Port Townsend. Many of the Summertime Singers were in that group. The new group is the inspiration of Johnson and Bach.