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This concert features the world premiere of the New Amsterdam Singers commission I Go Among Trees by Robert Paterson, with guest marimbist Makoto Nakura. Paterson chose splendid texts for this 15-minute work: the title poem by renowned poet and nature lover Wendell Berry, May Sarton’s wry take on the cold weather in New England, and John Freeman’s fast-moving, colorful ode to the kestrel. The marimba is a brilliant instrument evoking flight.
Also on the program: Vincent Persichetti’s 12-movement Winter Cantata for women’s voices, flute and marimba; Francis Poulenc’s set of prayers of St. Francis for unaccompanied men’s voices, featuring the composer’s trademark luminous harmony; and three works by Black composers Rosephanye Powell, Uzee Brown, and John Work, characterized by lively syncopated rhythm or yearning emotion. Plus, we’ll present the New York premiere of We Will Stand Up by Karen Siegel. Inspired by the youth plaintiffs demanding a stable climate in Juliana vs. United States, the work was commissioned by a 10-choir consortium.
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All NAS singers and staff are fully vaccinated, and singers are tested prior to the performance. All audience members will be asked to provide proof of vaccination and to remain masked throughout the performance.
| I Go Among Trees, World premiere, commissioned by NAS | Robert Paterson |
| We Will Stand Up | Karen Siegel |
| Winter Cantata | Vincent Persichetti |
| The Word was God | Rosephanye Powell |
| Deus in Adjutorium Meum | Benjamin Britten |
| O Radiant Dawn | James MacMillan |
| Wake me up, Lord | Uzee Brown |
| Newborn | John Wesley Work III |
| Quatres petites prières de Saint François d’Assise | Francis Poulenc |
The same program will also be presented on Sunday, December 12th, at 4PM and online on Monday, December 13th at 8PM.