Over the weekend, the Tabernacle Choir presented its annual Pioneer Day Commemoration Concert. This year's concert was a little different in that we were joined by a hip-hop violinist Lindsey Stirling and a young classical cross-over operatic tenor Nathan Pacheco. Their musical styles were new and different fare for our typical listeners, I am sure.
We sang back-up to Lindsey Stirling as she played her violin and danced spritely through the fog during her original piece "Elements." While she did not dance in the rain, blow in the wind, or jump through the fire like she does in her YouTube videos, her performance was filled with excitement. This new music was a visual treat, to say the least.
Nathan Pacheco thrilled the audience with his stunning high notes in the the famous Puccini aria, "Nessun Dorma," but also sang a beautiful new love song, "Prendi I Miei Sogni" with back up by the choir. Both songs were performed in Italian, and still the audience received them with relish and delight and thunderous applause.
Rick Elliot, principal organist for the choir, gave a stellar performance with the orchestra of the "Toccata" by Joseph Jongen This piece was definitely not the quiet, reverent piece normally offered on the Sunday broadcasts. This one pulled out all the stops, literally, and there are a lot of stops on that Conference Center organ!! (Those of us who sit in the choir loft can attest to the awesome power of that organ.) Once again, the artistry of a master brought new music to an audience and brought them to their feet.
All music was once new music.
It is always a risk to put something new out there. Will it be acceptable? Will it find a welcome audience? Will it have staying power?
People like what they know. It is comfortable. They generally resist taking a chance on something new, unless they are a little bit adventurous.
I challenge you out there to take a chance on new music and listen to new artists, try new songs, be open to changes in styles. Help the new music have a chance to find its niche.
We sang back-up to Lindsey Stirling as she played her violin and danced spritely through the fog during her original piece "Elements." While she did not dance in the rain, blow in the wind, or jump through the fire like she does in her YouTube videos, her performance was filled with excitement. This new music was a visual treat, to say the least.
Nathan Pacheco thrilled the audience with his stunning high notes in the the famous Puccini aria, "Nessun Dorma," but also sang a beautiful new love song, "Prendi I Miei Sogni" with back up by the choir. Both songs were performed in Italian, and still the audience received them with relish and delight and thunderous applause.
Rick Elliot, principal organist for the choir, gave a stellar performance with the orchestra of the "Toccata" by Joseph Jongen This piece was definitely not the quiet, reverent piece normally offered on the Sunday broadcasts. This one pulled out all the stops, literally, and there are a lot of stops on that Conference Center organ!! (Those of us who sit in the choir loft can attest to the awesome power of that organ.) Once again, the artistry of a master brought new music to an audience and brought them to their feet.
All music was once new music.
It is always a risk to put something new out there. Will it be acceptable? Will it find a welcome audience? Will it have staying power?
People like what they know. It is comfortable. They generally resist taking a chance on something new, unless they are a little bit adventurous.
I challenge you out there to take a chance on new music and listen to new artists, try new songs, be open to changes in styles. Help the new music have a chance to find its niche.
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