FARMINGTON — For the first time in many years, the University of Maine at Farmington Community Orchestra and Community Chorus will combine forces for a December concert.

They will present a varied program of music from the first half of the 20th century at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9, in Nordica Auditorium.

Under the direction of Trond Saeverud, the orchestra will begin the program with Aaron Copland’s spirited “El Salon Mexico,” followed by Ralph Vaughan Williams’ ethereal “The Lark Ascending,” featuring Saeverud as violin soloist. The second half of the concert culminates with both ensembles presenting the “Requiem” by French composer Maurice Durufle.

“El Salon Mexico” incorporates Mexican folk music, lively dance rhythms and the brilliant orchestration characteristic of Copland’s compositions.

In contrast, “Lark Ascending” evokes a serene pastorale, with the solo violin floating above a quiet accompaniment from the orchestra. The work was inspired by George Meredith’s poem of the same name, which begins with the lines “He rises and begins to round, He drops the silver chain of sound.”

With his “Requiem” of 1947, Durufle created a work in somewhat the same spirit as the better-known “Requiem” of his countryman Gabriel Faure in the previous century. It is somber, comforting, at times angry, ultimately transcendent, moving from the terror of the “Dies irae” (days of wrath) to the glimpses of heaven in the final “In Paradisum.”

This performance of the “Requiem” reprises one that the UMF Chorus gave nearly 20 years ago, with many of the singers having the opportunity to sing it for a second time.

Copy the Story Link