With choral and ensemble concerts, an annual a cappella event and a holiday treat featuring handbells and a brass quintet, the Maine Music Society has an outstanding new season planned.
It will start this week when the “Battle of the Blends XII” brings six a cappella groups to Lewiston’s United Baptist Church Saturday, Nov. 5.
Then, Dec. 10 in South Paris and Dec. 11 in Lewiston, the Music Society will present “A Holiday Gift” to area audiences. The Androscoggin Chorale will sing holiday music; special guest artists will be the Blue Hill Brass Quintet and the handbell ringers of the United Methodist Church of Auburn.
Because of the popularity of the Blue Hill Brass Quintet, “we nailed these guys down a year ago,” said Peter Frewen, the Music Society’s artistic director.
The quintet has been delighting audiences throughout New England for more than 20 years. These five professional players specialize in having fun while they deliver top-flight sounds from their chosen instruments.
The Auburn Methodist Handbell Ringers also have a wide regional following. Their talented and entertaining delivery is a delight for young and old.
Handbells and haiku
Besides many familiar and touching traditional works, several surprises will enliven the holiday program. For example, “Ringeltaenze” (ring or bell dances) by American composer Libby Larsen sets old French carols for handbell ensemble, chorus and piano.
More holiday music comes along with the traditional Messiah singalong, which will be Dec. 16 in St. Joseph’s Church in Lewiston. It will feature the Androscoggin Valley Community Orchestra, the Androscoggin Chorale and members of the public who wish to sing.
“Some of the programs are a little out of the ordinary this year,” Frewen said. That includes “Vocal Percussion” on March 25 and 26 (Portland and Lewiston).
In it, the Androscoggin Chorale and members of the Maine Chamber Ensemble will offer two American works for chorus and percussion to create intriguing new dimensions in the choral experience. One, with women’s voices, flute and marimba, atmospherically sets Japanese haiku on winter’s landscape. The other catalogs love’s passions as voiced by Roman poet Catullus.
The two pieces making up “Vocal Percussion” are Vincent Persichetti’s “Winter Cantata” and Dominick Argento’s “I Hate and I Love.” Other hymn and choral numbers will be performed with this concert.
“This music is completely understandable and affecting,” Frewen said. “This program will captivate the imagination and resonate in memory.”
Frewen said “Vocal Percussion” had been planned in last spring’s schedule, but it was canceled because of the complexity of the material and winter weather that made it impossible to hold all the necessary rehearsals.
Closing out the musical season will be Beethoven’s Mass in C with the Androscoggin Chorale and members of the Maine Chamber Ensemble.
“We are so grateful to be doing this Beethoven work,” Frewen said. It had been scheduled earlier, but the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and financial cutbacks meant it had to be postponed.
“Now that we are able to put it back in is testament that we are on the road to more and more fine presentations,” Frewen said.
A calmer composer
This Mass comes from a younger Beethoven, Frewen said – “not the thrashing and rebellious Beethoven of later years.”
“It’s unbelievably satisfying and contentful,” he said. “You just close your eyes and listen.”
Soloists will be Christina Astrachan, Sara Sturdivant, Timothy Neill Johnson and Peter Allen.
There’s also something new in store for the Maine Music Society’s 12th annual Lewiston-Auburn Garden Tour. Frewen said the lineup of private area gardens has already been set, and this tour will include walks through some houses as well as the garden tours.
The garden tour is scheduled July 15. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12.50 on the day of the tour.
The Music Society’s 2005-2006 season began in September with a Maine Chamber Ensemble concert of Haydn and Shostakovich works in Portland and Lewiston.
“Battle of the Blends XII” will be 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, in the United Baptist Church. Tickets are $17.50 in advance and $20 at the door.
Admission to the Messiah singalong Dec. 16 is $5.
“A Holiday Gift,” “Vocal Percussion” and the Beethoven program are all regular Maine Music Society presentations with tickets at $15 for adults, $14 for seniors and $7.50 for students.
“A Holiday Gift” is at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 10 in the First Congregational Church, South Paris, and at 3 p.m. in the Franco-American Heritage Center, Lewiston.
“Vocal Percussion” is at 7:30 p.m. March 25 in Woodford’s Congregational Church, Portland, and at 3 p.m. in the Franco-American Heritage Center.
The Beethoven program is June 3 at 7:30 p.m. in St. Luke’s Episcopal Cathedral, Portland, and at 3 p.m. June 4 in the Franco-American Heritage Center.
For information and tickets, people can call 782-1403.
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