Songs of Connection Concert at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church (Palo Alto)

Submitted by the Event Organizer

This fall, the Peninsula Women’s Chorus weaves a tapestry of sound from a collection of contemporary and classical works stitched together with flute interludes created by our guest artist, Rachel Beetz. Focusing on how we are drawn together as family, friends, communities, and even pen pals, the repertoire explores the beauty and struggle of relationships and the time and work underlying meaningful connection. Beginning with Ysaye Barnwell’s wise and moving “We Are,” we continue with Aaron Copland’s vision of our final gathering in “At the River,” followed by Felix Mendelssohn’s stately contemplation of our connection to the divine, “Laudate Pueri Dominum.” The concert then weaves traditional chants, and Beetz’s live and processed flute sounds with contemporary works by Pamela Z, Amy X Neuburg, Karen Siegel, Eve Beglarian, and Eva Ugalde Álvarez. This concert will showcase the premiere of our commission by Jennifer Wilsey, titled “Would You Like to Have It All?” detailing the beauty of female friendship by means of text gathered from PWC and crafted into a libretto by Lynn Marie Kirby and Denise Newman. We conclude the concert with holiday selections, including selections from Vaughan Williams’ “Hodie,” Flory Jagoda’s “Ocho Kandelikas,” a Ladino song celebrating a child’s joyful memories of Chanukah, and ending with a boisterous celebration of gathering found in The Highwomen’s “The Crowded Table.”

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.