Bach to the Future Concert - April 15, 2000
The Great Reunion Concert
This concert had several significant meanings: It was the annual spring production. It was the 10th anniversary of Michael Roy coming to Redlands Community Church, and in those ten years, the choir had become well-known in South Florida as a stellar performance chorale. Lastly, it was a reunion of all those who had sung in the choir during that decade, and who had relocated out of town/state, or had gone to other ministries. Many traveled back to Miami for the reunion and sang again as one in the Lord.
The concert was advertised as Bach to the Future to convey the wide spectrum of music on tap: ancient music to high and low church to country and bluegrass gospel. Below are audio files of this historic concert, known affectionately by those singers who shared all or part of those 10 years, as the Great Reunion Concert. South Florida will likely never see a choir of this excellence and versatility again.
All That Hath Life and Breath (Rene Clausen): an a cappella anthem with the incidental solo by soprano, Katie Burdick.
Lift Up Your Heads.. from Messiah, is here performed with only period instruments: recorders, viols, sackbut, portative organ, and harpsichord.
Surely, He Hath Borne Our Griefs:
This concert was also our Easter season musical event, and a Messiah
presentation was given: parts II and III. All choruses and solos were accompanied by period instruments.
For all of the Messiah selections in Bach to the Future go here:
Filiae Jerusalem (Gabrieli - 1510-1585): A motet with the choral parts doubled on recorders, viols, sackbut and portative organ. It cadences with a fine countrapuntal "alleluia."
Old Timey Hymns (arr. MR) - 1st half: This medley of old rural church, revivalist, and Early American hymns
is over 15 minutes long and is offered here in two audio files.
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When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder: solos, MR and Nancy Wolfe, alto.
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When the Saints Go Marchin..: solo: Becky Spence, sop.
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On Jordon's Stormy Banks.
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Beulah Land: solo, Lou Rose, baritone.
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Meet Me There: solo, John Flynt, tenor.
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This World is Not My Home: MR, solo.
Old Timey Hymns, 2nd half:
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We Shall Rise: a hauntingly beautiful Early American pentatonic hymn (listen in vain for any 4th or 7th degree of the scale in the tune). Solos: Katie and John.
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I'll Fly Away.
Arise, My Soul, Arise (Woodward): This reunion choir was 23 in number, but ten of those were returnees to the
fold, back from afar. This anthem was reserved for the resident choir of 13, so that the audience might appreciate those who were toiling weekly in the Sunday choir. It was upon this base of in-residence singers that the concert series rested. Diane is impressive at the piano.
Lead Me to Calvary :Arr. MR - This arrangement was performed by at least three different vocal groups over the
many years: The MR Singers in the '70's; the West Kendall Presbyterian (called the "Old Church") vocal group, which went extinct in 1990; and this recording of the RCC vocal group, in 2000. This one is perhaps the best, with Katie Anderson and Becky Spence on soprano, Jan at alto, John Flynt at tenor, and MR at bass. Diane Maltby backs us up on organ.
