Baroque Masterworks, a Greater Grand Forks Symphony Orchestra concert in collaboration with the Grand Forks Master Chorale, will begin at 8 p.m. Friday at St. Michael's Catholic Church, Grand Forks.
The performance will feature "Magnificat" by Bach and "Gloria" by Vivaldi, with Joshua Bronfman, artistic director of the Master Chorale, as guest conductor.
Bronfman is director of choral activities at UND where he directs the UND Concert Choir and Varsity Bards. He teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in choral conducting, choral literature and choral methods.
In 2005, Bronfman was chosen as a conducting fellow for the Eric Ericson Masterclass in the Netherlands, where he directed the Netherlands Chamber Choir and Netherlands Radio Choir. Bronfman recently completed his Ph.D. in choral music education and choral conducting at Florida State University. He received his master's degree from Oregon State University and his bachelor's degree from Florida State University.
"Magnificat," a major vocal work of Johann Sebastian Bach, initially was composed in 1723 in Leipzig, Germany. Bach had been named director of music for Leipzig, a prosperous, cosmopolitan place, but he had been third choice for the job. He wrote the first version of "Magnificat" to prove himself for his first Christmas there, according to online program notes written by Shulamit Hoffmann, founder and artistic director of Viva la Musica!, an adult choir in the California Bay Area. Over the years, Bach removed Christmas-specific texts to make it more suitable for year-round performance.
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The text for "Magnificat" is based on the book of Luke and Mary's astonished words at being told she was carrying the son of God, beginning with: "My soul doth magnify the Lord."
Soloists for "Magnificat" will be Connie Stordalen, Stephanie Kanbe, Holly Wrensch, Alan Benjamin and Royce Blackburn.
Antonio Lucio Vivaldi (1678-1741), nicknamed il Prete Rosso ("The Red Priest") for his red hair, was an Italian composer, priest and virtuoso violinist and today is recognized as one of the greatest Baroque composers. Vivaldi wrote more than one version of "Gloria." It's not known why and precisely when they were written or first performed.
For 200 years, "Gloria" fell into obscurity, then was unveiled at a concert in 1939 and has become one of the most popular of all choral-orchestral works.
Master Chorale members are Harmon Abrahamson, Sarah Arvin, Christopher Beckman, Alan Benjamin, Amanda Bass, David Biberdorf, Sam Braun, Dion Brown, Kellie Burgess, Mark Diers, Kathy Fiedler, Ron Fossell, Emily Hogenson, Erin Holdman, Christopher Hunt, Lyndon Johnson, Avery Jones, David Kary, Stephanie Knabe, Rita Lealos, Angela Loff, Becky Mercer, Geoff Mercer, Ciara Mills, Tabitha Ongstad, David Perry, Roberta Pytlik, Shawn Rasch, Jennifer Robinette, John Shabb, Jeanne Thibert, Jeff Tilley, Rebecca Weaver-Hightower, Kate Weinand and Laurel Wessman, David Henrickson is accompanist.
Orchestra personnel will be Joel Alarcon, Lindsay Bartlett, Shari Boschee, Jennifer Brock, Valdin Buchmeier, Ethan Custer, Lihue Czackis, Gabe Durand, Kathy Frost, John Gangelhoff, Melissa Knutson, Kari Lindemoen, Andrew Martin, Philip D. McKenzie, Mark Nelson, Kyle Norris, Joel Robinette, Sheri Sweri, Leo Shulstad, Austin Soderstrom and Mike Wittgraf,
General admission tickets for the concert are $10 for adults, $7 for students and military, and free for children younger than 5.
