GRINNELL ORATORIO SOCIETY
2012-2013
John Rommereim, director
Marlys Grimm, Rehearsal Pianist
Originally founded in 1901, the Grinnell Oratorio Society was, in the early decades of the 20th Century, one of Iowa's most auspicious musical institutions. Edward Scheve (1865-1924), a composer of symphonies, concertos, oratorios, and chamber music, established the choir as an outgrowth of the music conservatory that was then part of Grinnell College. In 2010, the Grinnell Community Chorus was renamed the Grinnell Oratorio Society as a way to draw attention to this proud history. The choir currently rehearses Monday nights, and it draws together students, faculty and staff of the college, people from the town of Grinnell, and nearby cities such as Newton and Malcolm. In recent years, the Oratorio Society has performed many of the masterpieces from the choral literature, such as the Brahms Requiem, Mozart's Requiem and Grand Mass in C Minor, Beethoven's Mass in C Major, Bernstein's Chichester Psalms, Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass, Bach's Magnificat, Verdi's Requiem, and Britten's monumental War Requiem. In addition to performing these monumental works, the choir also has expanded its activity beyond the confines of classical music. In the spring of 2012, for example, the Oratorio Society participated in thrilling performances of Duke Ellington's Sacred Concerts, in collaboration with the Grinnell Jazz Ensemble. In the 2012-13 season, we are delighted to present The World Beloved: A Bluegrass Mass, by Carol Barnett, in collaboration with an outstanding bluegrass string band from Minneapolis, Monroe Crossing. This remarkable work brings "the solemnity of the classical-based Mass together with the down-home sparkle of bluegrass." On November 7, the Oratorio Society will be hosting Schola Cantorum Coralina, Alina Orraca, conductor. This is an exceedingly rare opportunity to hear one of Cuba's finest professional choirs. The 21 singers of the choir will be in Grinnell for three days (including November 6, the day of the presidential election), and they will be hosted in local homes. Looking ahead to the spring, we will be performing Carl Orff's spectacular Carmina Burana, in collaboration with the Grinnell Symphony Orchestra and the Ottumwa Symphony, under the direction of Eric McIntyre. The Oratorio Society is a valuable resource for our community -- and the more involvement we have, the greater the impact will be. Unlike most choruses of this type, there are no dues charged for the Oratorio Society; the ensemble is supported by Grinnell College as a service to the community. Our aspiration for this year is to draw in all the best singers from the region, so that we can raise the roof with an even more robust sound, returning to the glory days of the Oratorio Society, when the choir numbered around 175.
First rehearsal: Monday, September 3, 7:00 pm, Sebring-Lewis Hall
Sign up online at the Oratorio Society website to get on list, and to receive a score prior to the first rehearsal.
Grinnell Oratorio Society
2012-2013 Season
Friday, September 28, 7:30 pm Sebring-Lewis Hall
Family Weekend Choral Concert by the Grinnell Singers and the Grinnell Oratorio Society
The Oratorio Society will perform "Four Quartets" Op. 92, by Johannes Brahms, and selections from The World Beloved: A Bluegrass Mass, by Carol Barnett. The Brahms works are exquisite gems -- well worth repeating from our 2011-12 season. The selections from A Bluegrass Mass are a sneak preview of our November concert.
Wednesday, November 7, 7:30 pm, Sebring Lewis Hall
Concert by Schola Cantorum Coralina, Alina Orraca, conductor
One of Cuba's finest choirs makes a rare appearance in the US. A concert not to be missed!
Sunday November 18, 2:00 pm Sebring-Lewis Hall
The Grinnell Singers and the Grinnell Oratorio Society, with special guests, Monroe Crossing
Five Hebrew Love Songs, by Eric Whitacre
Hallelujah, by G. F. Handel, arr. Mervyn Warren
The World Beloved: A Bluegrass Mass, by Carol Barnett
Minnesota composer Carol Barnett's remarkable work brings "the solemnity of the classical-based Mass together with the down-home sparkle of bluegrass." Whitacre's "Five Hebrew Love Songs" are among the celebrated composers best-loved works. Mervyn Warren's arrangement of the "Halleluja" Chorus is a rousing, gospel-based take on this familiar work.
Sunday, February 17, 2:00 pm Sebring-Lewis Hall
The Grinnell Singers and the Grinnell Oratorio Society
"Think Global, Sing Local" Home grown music and music from the wider Grinnell family.
Saturday, April 27, 7:30 pm Bridge View Center, Ottumwa, Iowa
The Grinnell Singers, The Grinnell Oratorio Society, and the Ottumwa Symphony Orchestra, Eric McIntyre, Conductor
Carl Orff's Carmina Burana
Carl Orff's masterpiece will be presented on the beautiful stage at the Bridge View Center in Ottumwa. The concert features the combined voices of many talented singers from the Ottumwa area, and members of the Grinnell Singers and the Grinnell Oratorio Society.
Sunday, May 5, 2:00 pm Herrick Chapel
The Grinnell Singers, The Grinnell Oratorio Society, and the Grinnell Symphony Orchestra, Eric McIntyre, Conductor
Carl Orff's Carmina Burana
FAQ
1. What is the Oratorio Society? We have chosen this name as a way of linking the group to Grinnell's past: Originally founded in 1901, the Grinnell Oratorio Society was, in the early decades of the 20th Century, one of Iowa's most auspicious musical institutions. The choir has accomplished great things in recent years, including performances of many of the masterpieces from the choral literature, such as the Brahms Requiem, Mozart's Requiem, and his Grand Mass in C Minor, Beethoven's Mass in C Major, Bernstein's Chichester Psalms, Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass, Bach's Magnificat, Verdi's Requiem -- even Britten's monumental War Requiem. Last year, the ensemble participated in thrilling performances of Duke Ellington's Sacred Concerts, in collaboration with the Grinnell Jazz Ensemble. Our goal is to expand the ensemble in the coming year, drawing in all the best singers from the region, so that we can raise the roof with an even more robust sound, returning to the glory days of the Oratorio Society in the early part of the 20th century, when the choir numbered around 175. Unlike most community choruses, there are no dues charged for the Oratorio Society; the ensemble is entirely subsidized by Grinnell College as a service to the community.
2. What are the choir's plans for this year? 2012-13 promises to be a banner year for the Oratorio Society. We have On November 18, we will be performing a remarkable work by the Minnesota composer, Carol Barnett, The World Beloved: A Bluegrass Mass. We will be joined by a professional string band, Monroe Crossing (fiddle, banjo, guitar, mandolin, string bass, singers). This work was greeted with great acclaim at the recent national Chorus America convention in Minneapolis. The composer writes, "To bring the solemnity of the classical-based Mass together with the down-home sparkle of bluegrass--now there's an assignment. My highest hope is that listeners coming from one tradition--classical or bluegrass--and perhaps dubious about the other, might discover something new and wonderful in the combination, as I have." This is sure to be a fun project!
On November 7, the Oratorio Society is very pleased to be hosting Schola Cantorum Coralina, Alina Orraca, conductor. This is an exceedingly rare opportunity to hear one of Cuba's finest professional choirs. The 21 singers of the choir will be in Grinnell for three days (including November 6, the day of the presidential election), and they will be hosted in local homes. In addition to the evening concert, they will be conducting workshops with Roger Henderson and the high school, at the middle school, and with the Grinnell Singers at the college. We plan to connect the Cuban musicians to our community in a substantial way, and to give them a warm Iowa welcome. The visit is supported by the Grinnell Area Arts Council, the Grinnell College Office of Community Engagement and Enhancement, the Center for International Studies, the Rosenfield Program in Public Affairs, the Grinnell College Public Events Committee, and the Grinnell College Music Department
On February 16, we will join forces with the Grinnell Singers to perform a concert titled, "Think Global, Sing Local: Home-grown music and music from the wider Grinnell family." The concert will include music by local composers, and Grinnell College students and alumni.
On April 27, we will travel to Ottumwa to collaborate with the Ottumwa Symphony, under the direction of Eric McIntyre, in a performance of Carl Orff's Carmina Burana. Singers from the Ottumwa area will be joining us in the performance at the Bridge View Performing Arts Center in Ottumwa. On May 5, we will repeat this concert at Herrick Chapel in Grinnell.
4. I know that singing would be good for me, but I haven't sung since freshman year of high school; are you sure you want me in the choir? The choir membership ranges widely in ability, from fabulous sight-readers and experienced musicians who seem to be able to sing anything placed in front of them, to people who haven't sung much whose voices are a little rusty and who are a little iffy when it comes to note-reading. The magic of it is that we all work together and make something beautiful. Yes, we really do want you in the choir!
