The Greeley Chorale embarks on it 9th international concert tour, this time to Germany and the Czech Republic, on May 31. Prior to leaving, the Chorale offered a free concert on Tuesday, May 23, at 7:30 p.m., at First Congregational Church, 2101 16th Street, Greeley. The performance featured some of the works traveling to Europe with about 50 singers from the 104 voice Chorale.
Compositions for the tour and this concert include American melodies such as Stephen Foster’s Nelly Bly, plus arrangements of traditional hymns such as Abide With Me, When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, and The Lord Bless You and Keep You. Broadway is also represented in the mix, with an all-male arrangement of Bring Him Home from “Les Miserables”, along with several popular spirituals.
“We’ve not forgotten to take a little of home with us, as we will perform The Colorado Trail, as arranged by Mack Wilberg in celebration of the Chorale’s 50th Anniversary 3 years ago,” adds Dr. Galen Darrough, Artistic Director, and Conductor. “And, because music is truly an international language, we also perform works in French, Spanish, Russian, Latin and of course, German.”
One of the musical highlights of the trip will be a performance of Sicut Locutus Est, part of Johann Sebastian Bach’s work, Magnificat, in the Thomaskirche in Leipzig. Thomaskirche was Bach’s home church, where he was organist, and where his crypt is located. “It’s going to be somewhat surreal to sing one of Bach’s works literally at his final resting place,” Darrough commented.
Other performances include an exchange concert with the Singgemeinschaft Trunstadt choir in Bamberg, St. Nicholas Church in Potsdam, a joint concert with the Chlumec Youth Choir at St. Havel’s Church in Chlumec, Czech Republic and a final performance in Prague.
Photo: 2017 Greeley Chorale Touring Singers