By Edward E. Jones
We have had another rich Term musically in the Memorial Church, and as I reflect upon the past year, I am delighted with the work of the Harvard University Choir and the Choral Fellows. Following a busy Fall Term — which included performances of Britten’s St. Nicolas, a concert of the music of Henry Purcell, choral evensong, and a beautiful pair of Christmas carol services — the choir returned a week early in January to record a CD.The sessions were intense but rewarding — overseen by the Grammy-winning engineers of Soundmirror — and it was a wonderful experience for the group to work at such a high level. The final product — Spring Bursts Today: A Celebration of Eastertide — can be downloaded for free through the Memorial Church’s website.
The main event of the Spring Term was a performance of C.P.E. Bach’s oratorio Die Israeliten in der Wüste, given in celebration of the composer’s 300th anniversary. This wonderful, though rarely performed, work brought together members of the music department, the Packard Humanities Institute (which is editing the complete works), the Harvard Baroque Chamber Orchestra, Grand Harmonie, and the Harvard University Choir, and it was a thrilling event. C.P.E. Bach’s music is emotional to the core and requires a dramatic reading — I was delighted with the intensity of the performance from the Harvard University Choir and our wonderful team of soloists (Amanda Forsythe, Jessica Petrus, Jonas Budris ’06, and David McFerrin), and the evening was crowned with a rousing performance of the composer’s double-choir Heilig.
During Holy Week the Choral Fellows presented a moving account of Buxtehude’s Passiontide masterwork Membra Jesu nostri; Easter Sunday had the full Harvard University Choir arriving at 7:30 a.m. in time for the first of two identical communion services.
Our bi-weekly organ recital series continues to flourish with a wide-range of styles and repertories on offer from both instruments; I was delighted that Dr. Murray Forbes Somerville (Gund University Organist and Choirmaster, 1990–2003) returned to Cambridge to give the final recital of the year. In addition, James David Christie and Diane Meredith Belcher — two renowned local organists — performed our celebrity recitals to appreciative audiences. The organs of the Memorial Church will also feature prominently in this June’s National Convention of the American Guild of Organists, including in recitals by Associate University Organist and Choirmaster, Christian Lane.
Harvard’s annual celebration of the Arts, ARTS FIRST, saw a recital of Purcell and Handel by the Choral Fellows and the Harvard Chamber Orchestra, as well as a festival choral evensong, featuring Stanford’s majestic Evening Canticles in A and Britten’s haunting Hymn to St. Cecilia — it was a lovely occasion and both events drew very large crowds.
Two other events in the Spring Term standout in my mind: the visit of the cast of the ART’s Witness Uganda to perform in our Sunday worship was an extraordinary moment, and we were all deeply moved by the power of this remarkable narrative and music. And for me, personally, the visit of the choir of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, in early April was a highlight: my former choir, the group has gone from strength to strength under the leadership of Richard Latham (who was my Junior Organ Scholar during our undergraduate days!), and to have Emmanuel sing with the Harvard University Choir during our Sunday service was a real treat.
The end of an academic year is also a time that one must say farewell to our leavers, this year including many long-time members of the Harvard University Choir. In addition, Associate University Organist and Choirmaster Christian Lane is moving on from his position at the Memorial Church after six years of wonderful music-making. I thank him for his leadership, expertise, and beautiful playing over this period, and wish him every success in the future.
It continues to be an honor to serve in the Memorial Church under the inspiring leadership of Professor Jonathan L. Walton, and to lead a group of students whose hard work and exquisite singing make such an important contribution to our worship and outreach. I am delighted to report that we have formed a Harvard University Choir alumni committee — under the chairmanship of former choir secretary Jim Farmer — and we are dedicated to reaching out to even more of our former students who devoted so much of their time to the music ministry of this church. On Christmas Eve several former uchoristers returned to Cambridge to participate in our community choir for the Christmas Eve service and I would like this tradition to continue and expand; so if you would like to sing in the 5:00 p.m. Christmas Eve service this year, we will have a 3:30 p.m. rehearsal in the choir room. Please come and join us! But before another Christmas is upon us, let us enjoy the glorious summer months.
Edward E. Jones is Gund University Organist and Choirmaster and Curator of the University Organs.