“Child of Wonder” Concert by Donald Brinegar Singers & JPL Chorus

Date/Time
Date(s) - 06/11/2023
7:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Location
St. Andrew's Catholic Church

Category(ies)

• Music

The public is invited to hear beautiful choral music with the theme “Child of Wonder” performed by the Donald Brinegar Singers and JPL Chorus.

The Donald Brinegar Singers and JPL Chorus will sing radiant choral music with the theme of “Child of Wonder.” The songs performed celebrate the wonders of childhood. David Saldaña’s “Love is Little” will be premiered. The concert is dedicated to Donald Brinegar’s grandson Justin who died at the City of Hope from a very rare form of cancer at age 12.

• In “Felices ter (Three happy they)” the work of the Roman poet Horace and “The Dean of American Choral Composers,” Randall Thompson, are joined together in an ode to unbroken love.
  “Love is Little” is a new arrangement by David Saldaña of the Shaker song with additional verses written by Saldaña to create a universal message of love.
  The program includes “Five Childhood Lyrics” by John Rutter.
• “The Pasture” and “A Girls Garden” are based on poems by Robert Frost. “The Pasture” is from “Where the Earth Meets the Sky” with music by Z. Randall Stroope. “A Girl’s Garden” is part of “Frostiana: Seven Country Songs” by Randall Thompson.
• Dan Forrest’ arrangement of “The Sun Never Says” was recorded by VOCES8 on their 2019 album, “Enchanted Isle.” The soaring setting of Hafiz-inspired poetry by Daniel Ladinsky speaks of the matchless beauty of unconditional love. It is movement III of “LUX: The Dawn From On High.”
• “O  Love” with a new arrangement by Elaine Hagenberg is based on the hymn by George Matheson. It uses hopeful ascending lines representing renewed faith. Though lingering dissonances remind us of past heartache, the beautiful promise remains: “morn shall tearless be.”
• “Pilgrims’ Hymn” by Stephen Paulus and Michael Dennis Browne is from the opera, “The Three Hermits” is a towering paean to faith.
• “May It Be” originally recorded by Enya from the film The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring with words and music by Enya, Nicky Ryan and Roma Ryan is arranged by Mark Brymer.  The song was nominated for the 2002 Academy Award for Best Original Song.
• “Child of Wonder,” a tribute to a child’s journey through life and beyond, is the last movement of “The Sacred Veil” with the poetry and music by Eric Whitacre.

> Free will offering.

The Donald Brinegar Singers and JPL Chorus is a combined community choral ensemble that meets in Pasadena directed by Donald Brinegar. Conductor Donald Brinegar is Professor Emeritus of Music at PCC. He is also director of Choruses for the Pasadena Symphony and POPS. He is an adjunct professor at Cal State Los Angeles Masters Program in Choral conducting. Brinegar has published five books on Choral Music.