Music on the hill co-Hosts Connecticut Spring Ring

On Saturday, May 6, forty handbell ringers from across the state gathered for the Connecticut Spring Ring, a Handbell Musicians of America Event, held at the United Church of Rowayton and co-hosted by Music on the Hill and the United Church of Rowayton.

Artistic Director Ellen Dickinson was the clinician for the event. Ringers had a chance to meet and talk with other musicians. The Spring Ring gives ringers a chance to play new pieces of music, and possibly try a new bell position as well! If you have every seen a handbell choir play, you will have observed that it takes many people to play a piece of music! Handbell ringers generally ring two bells, each of which sounds one note, plus accidentals, at a time. Reading sessions like the Spring Ring give ringers a chance to try new bells, especially very large bass bells or very small treble bells.

Many thanks to all of the handbell choirs who loaned equipment and bells to make this day possible, including Music on the Hill, United Church of Rowayton, the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Westport, Norfield Congregational Church, Southport Congregational Church, and Yale University.

Songs of Love & Springtime, Friday, April 28

On Friday, April 28th, the Festival Chorus of Music on the Hill, conducted by Ellen E. Dickinson and accompanied by David H. Connell, and the Wilton High School Madrigals, conducted by Will Mandelbaum, presented Songs of Love & Springtime at the Wilton Presbyterian Church.

The Festival Chorus opened the program with two lively Renaissance madrigals, Sing We and Chant It by English composer Thomas Morley (1557 - 1602), and Fa una canzona by Italian composer Orazio Vecchi (c. 1550 - 1605). For these two madrigals, half of the 34-voice Festival Chorus stood in front of the audience, and half sang from the balcony, surrounding the audience in lively sound.

The Wilton High School Madrigals next performed a set of winter songs. These beautiful melodies invite the audience to remember the season past, and to appreciate the new season ahead. Included in this set of winter songs was the Choral Suite from Frozen, arr. Roger Emerson, “Eyze Sheleg” from Five Hebrew Love Songs by Eric Whitacre, and O magnum mysterium by Morten Lauridsen.

Following the set of winter songs, the Festival Chorus performed two songs welcoming spring, in the section of the program called “The Winter is Past.” Rosephanye Powell’s resplendent Arise, Beloved! setting the composer’s own text based on Song of Solomon 2:7-13, assures the listener, “lo, the winter is past…the rain is gone, the flowers appear, the birds are singing.” Next on the program was Sarah Quartel’s simply beautiful setting of the Langston Hughes poem In time of silver rain. “In time of silver rain, the earth puts forth new life again, green grasses grow, and flowers lift their heads. And over all the plain, the wonder spreads, of life, of life, of life!”

The Madrigals next performed two selections, Rogers Emerson's tender, lyrical Shoshone Love Song (The Heart's Friend), and Moira Smiley’s gentle, hypnotic arrangement of Huddie Ledbetter’s Bring Me Little Water, Silvy, with body percussion.

The Festival Chorus continued with a set of pieces celebrating “Music in Nature,” beginning with Norwegian composer Ola Gjeilo’s The Rose, setting the Christina Rossetti poem of the same title. Visit our blog post here to learn more about this mysterious poem and beautiful piece.

The Festival Chorus next performed Anticipation of Spring (Frühlingsahnung) by Felix Mendelssohn, with poetry by German Romantic poet Ludwig Uhland. “O, soft caressing breeze, once more you awaken, sweet songs of springtime, soon violets bloom anew.” (And for German speakers, here is Uhland’s original work: “O sanfter, süsser Hauch! Schon weckest du wieder, Mir Frühlingslieder, Bald blühen die Veilchen auch.”)

Concluding this section was Ralph Vaughn Williams lively arrangement of the English folk song Just as the Tide was Flowing, an audience, and chorus, favorite.

The Festival Chorus opened “Night Songs” with the wondrous Sure on this Shining Night by Morten Lauridsen (his O magnum mysterium was heard earlier on the program), with moving text by James Agee. “Sure on this shining night of star made shadows round, Kindness must watch for me this side the ground.” The Madrigals then performed Kirby Shaw's breathtaking arrangement of Billy Joel's Lullabye.

For the penultimate selection, the 65 voices of the Festival Chorus and the Madrigals led the audience in singing Franz Schubert’s An die Musik, text by Franz von Schober, translation by Richard Lalli. To close the concert, both choruses joined in singing Stephen Paulus’ The Road Home, a beautiful choral favorite.

Many thanks to the Wilton High School Madrigals and Will Mandelbaum for this beautiful collaboration, and to the wonderful audience who joined us on Friday night.

Mark your calendars for the 20th annual Summer Chorus, Brahms Ein Deutsches Requiem. Rehearsals are Tuesdays and Thursdays in July, starting Thursday, July 6, from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. with the concert on Thursday, July 27 at 8:00 p.m. at the Clune Center for the Arts at Wilton High School. Singers from all choruses, adults and teens, are welcome to join the Summer Chorus. To register, click here or email info@musiconthehillct.org. See you this summer!

Meet the Poet and the Composer: "In Time of Silver Rain"

In time of silver rain by Canadian composer Sarah Quartel sets the Langston Hughes poem of the same name.

In Time of Silver Rain (1947)

In time of silver rain
The earth
Puts forth new life again,
Green grasses grow
And flowers lift their heads,
And over all the plain
The wonder spreads
Of life, of life, of life!

In time of silver rain
The butterflies lift silken wings
To catch a rainbow cry,
And trees put forth
New leaves to sing
In joy beneath the sky
As down the roadway passing boys
And girls go singing, too,
In time of silver rain
When spring
And life are new.

In Time of Silver Rain by Langston Hughes (1901 - 1967), the celebrated African-American poet, paints many beautiful images of new life and the coming of spring. Hughes is well-known for his honest, insightful portrayals of the joys and hardships of Black life, particularly during the time of the Harlem Renaissance. Langston Hughes was a prolific writer, creating poetry, novels, short stories, essays and plays. He never lost his conviction that “most people are generally good, in every race and in every country where I have been.”

This poem has been frequently set to music, and it is easy to see why. In springtime, the whole world seems to sing with new life and growth, and Hughes captures the essence of that time. “Trees put forth, new leaves to sing, and boys and girls go singing, too, in time of silver rain.” Whether the “time of silver rain” in Hughes’ poem references a metaphorical or real springtime is left to the reader to decide.

Composer Sarah Quartel describes herself as a singer first and foremost, and her compositions reflect that, as they are fun to sing and feel good in the voice. She shares that when composing a new piece, she first memorizes the poem, and then lets the melody and composition flow from the words. Her compositions enliven the text, allowing the listener to fully and richly imagine the world that the poet has crafted with their words.

In time of silver rain has a beautiful, peaceful melody that listeners will really enjoy. Please join us on Friday, April 28, to hear this and other beautiful music on Songs of Love and Springtime.

Meet the Poet and the Composer: "The Rose"

Featured on the program of Music on the Hill’s upcoming concert, Songs of Love and Springtime, is The Rose by Norwegian composer Ola Gjeilo, setting text by English poet Christina Rossetti.

The Rose

The lily has a smooth stalk,
  Will never hurt your hand;
But the rose upon her brier
  Is lady of the land.

There's sweetness in an apple tree,
  And profit in the corn;
But lady of all beauty
  Is a rose upon a thorn.

When with moss and honey
  She tips her bending brier,
And half unfolds her glowing heart,
  She sets the world on fire.

Christina Rossetti (1830 - 1894) was an English romantic poet. Her poetry is beautiful, with a flowing, lyrical quality that lends the poetry well to music. You may recognize her as the poet of the well known Christmas carols In the Bleak Midwinter by Gustav Holst and Love Came Down at Christmas.

The Rose is mysterious and deceptively simple; its sweet verses mask something else, something just below the surface. Gjeilo’s arrangement, with flowing piano accompaniment, and unfolding choral harmonies and dissonances bring the words to life, and ignite in the listener feelings that the poetry was perhaps striving to express. Ola Gjeilo describes The Rose as his favorite Christina Rossetti poem.

Although Norwegian by birth, it is perhaps Ola Gjeilo’s adopted country of America that has influenced the composer’s distinctive soundworld the most, evolving a style that is often described as cinematic and evocative, with a lush, harmonious sound.

We hope you will join us on Friday, April 28 at 7:30 p.m. to hear this beautiful music on Songs of Love and Springtime.

Music on the Hill Awarded Grants from CT Humanities and CT Office of the Arts

Music on the Hill was recently awarded several support grants for the 2023 fiscal year from the Connecticut Office of the Arts and CT Humanities. We thank the State of Connecticut and CT Humanities for their advocacy and for providing ongoing operating support for arts organization and the arts, culture, and tourism sector throughout our state!

At their December meeting, the board of directors of CT Humanities awarded more than $8.5M in operating support grants from the CT Cultural Fund to 723 non-profit museums and cultural, humanities, and arts organizations.

Music on the Hill was among the organizations awarded funds for the 2023 fiscal year, receiving $8,000 in support.

“Through this investment, Connecticut’s leaders recognize the integral role arts and culture play in our state’s economy, in the lives of our residents, and in making our communities thriving places to live and work,” states Dr. Jason Mancini, executive director at CT Humanities.

Music on the Hill is also the grateful recipient of operating support from the CT Office of the Arts for the 2023 fiscal year. The Supporting Arts grant program provides general operating support to help Connecticut’s arts organizations and municipal arts departments cover programmatic costs associated with their mission-related work. As part of this grant program, Music on the Hill was awarded $2,405.

The Connecticut Arts Endowment Fund was established by the Connecticut General Assembly to stimulate the development of private sector funding and to ensure the long-term stability of Connecticut’s arts industry by providing funding to organizations. For the 2023 fiscal year, Music on the Hill was awarded $1,681.

Additionally, Music on the Hill was the recipient of a $7,957 grant from the General Operating Support for Theaters and Performing Groups from the CT Office of the Arts.

Many thanks to CT Humanities and the CT Office of the Arts for their vital support and for their continued investment in arts organizations in our state!

Community Children's Chorus featured in The Redding Sentinel

Music on the Hill’s Community Children’s Chorus was recently featured in The Redding Sentinel as part of the paper’s March Family 5 round-up of classes and groups for singers of all styles.

The author of the article, Jessie Wright, cites the positive impact singing and musical activities have on children’s development. Professor Graham Welch at the Institute of Education at the University of London is quoted as saying, “Singing is important because it builds self-confidence, promotes self-esteem, always engages the emotions, promotes social inclusion, supports social skill development, and enables young people of different ages and abilities to come together successfully to create something special in the arts.” We couldn't agree more!

Music on the Hill offers a tuition-free Community Children’s Chorus for all children in third through eighth grade who love to sing! Chorus meets Wednesdays from 4:15 - 5:30 p.m. and the Chorus performs several times per year.

As part of the Chorus, children learn music from a variety of cultures and genres; learn vocal production, breath support, and other skills; read music; build teamwork and leadership skills; and build confidence and have fun!

To learn more about Community Children’s Chorus and to join, visit the Music for Kids page on our website, musiconthehillCT.org.

Experienced teen singers are welcome to join the Festival Chorus. The Festival Chorus is a non-auditioned chorus for experienced singers that meets on a project basis, allowing musicians to commit to a four to six week cycle of rehearsals at a time. For more information and to join, email info@musiconthehillct.org.

March Winds, Sunday, March 12

On Sunday, March 12, Music on the Hill presented March Winds to a full and delighted audience at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Westport. The Festival Chorus, Jubilate Ringers, and Community Children’s Chorus performed beautiful music about the wind, the sun, the seasons, and the ways in which we are all connected.

The Festival Chorus opened the program with Hymne au Soleil by Lili Boulanger, French composer, and the first female winner of the Prix de Rome composition prize, with text by French poet and dramatist Casimir Delavigne. Unfolding layers of chords echo the awakening of the earth by the sun, “a great hymn of love." Alto Cidalia Kettles’ moving and dramatic solo in the middle of the piece breathes new life into the composition, just as the “the universe, younger and fresher,” is rejuvenated by the newly risen sun.

The Jubilate Ringers next performed Where the Heart Dwells by Artistic Director and conductor, Ellen E. Dickinson, another work that draws inspiration from the wonder of the sun. This work in five parts (parts I through IV peformed here) paints the picture of the sun through the day, opening with With Stillness Comes the Dawn; a single, beautiful, treble melody opens the piece and echos throughout while notes build underneath, culminating in the final cresting of the sun over the horizon. The piece continues with the playful second part Morning Light (Gladness of Heart). Treble bells in Sanctuary play a still and quiet melody over a moving and constant bass line to illustrate a pause in the day, and the finding of sanctuary. The ringers concluded with Brilliant Sun; fresh melody and lush harmonies celebrate and admire the full, brilliant sun.

The Jubilate Ringers continued with Amen, Siakudumisa by South African composer, S. C. Molefe, arranged for handbells by Cathy Moklebust, and accompanied by percussion. Continuing the celebratory section of the program, the Festival Chorus and Community Children’s Chorus, with percussionists, joined together for the joyful and rhythmic Sisi Kushangilia by Victor C. Johnson, a native of Dallas, TX. This jubilant and joyous melody, with simple text in Swahili, surely left audiences singing along, “we will sing, we will dance, we will be glad!”

Moving to the “wind” section of the program, the Community Children’s Chorus sang Wind on the Hill by Victoria Ebel-Sabo with text by A.A. Milne, featuring a beautiful melody for unison treble voices. The Jubilate Ringers presented Sound of the Wind by J. Wayne Kerr.

The Festival Chorus next sang Voice on the Wind by Canadian composer Sarah Quartel. This piece sets an inspiring text, written by the composer, about the empowerment of singing. The chorus also performed Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind by John Rutter, with text from Act II of Shakespeare's As You Like It.

Also featured was Windsong by American composer Dan Forrest, with text from the poem of the same name by American poet Eileen Berry. Berry's beautiful text provides a rich metaphor for healing. Forrest builds textures and creates lush harmonies as the chorus sings “a never ceasing song to tell how things heal."

Next on the program was the expressive and introspective I Dream a World by André J. Thomas, American composer and Professor of Music, Choral Education, and Director of Choral activities at Florida State University, with text by the great African-American poet Langston Hughes. "I dream a world where man no other man will scorn, where love will bless the earth and peace its paths adorn..."

The Festival Chorus brought the program to its high point with Let the River Run by Carly Simon, arranged by American composer Craig Hella Johnson. Dancing keyboard and exciting percussion accompanied this vibrant choral showcase, which was as much fun to sing as it was to experience and hear!

Bells and voices joined together for Over the Rainbow by Harold Arlen and arranged for handbells by Tammy Waldrop. The Community Children’s Chorus introduced the piece, and the audience was invited and delighted to join in singing this favorite a second time.

With a nod to St. Patrick’s Day, the ensembles of Music on the Hill sent the audience on their way with best wishes with Irish Blessing, a traditional Irish melody with traditional Irish text arranged by Eileen Laurence.

Please join the Festival Chorus and the Wilton High School Madrigals on Friday, April 28, for Songs of Love and Springtime, featuring classic choral harmonies and works by Rosephanye Powell, Felix Mendelssohn, Sarah Quartel, Eric Whitacre, and Ola Gjeillo, plus favorites by Ralph Vaughn Williams and Stephen Paulus, and a lively set of Renaissance madrigals!