Music Notes for May 29

Sunday's music presents works of three modern 20^th c. composers; Karl Jenkins, Ned Rorem, and Daniel Pinkham. There is no particular relationship among these three, just a general sense that you will sometimes hear more adventurous rhythms, melodies and harmonies. Karl Jenkins’ Ave Verum may be considered neo-romantic- modern music that hearkens back to traditional musical standards of melody and harmony. You may even hear the lyricism of contemporary musical theater. Both Rorem and Pinkham could be labeled neo-classical- modern melodic and harmonic ideas cast in Baroque and Classical era forms and textures. American Ned Rorem’s Psalm 148 solo voice setting was composed in Paris in 1951 and has the lean musical athleticism of French contemporaries such as Francis Poulenc

(1899–1963.) Although primarily an academic at New England Conservatory, many of American Daniel Pinkham’s compositions were composed in his forty-two year career as organist of King's Chapel in Boston. At the Offertory we hear another Psalm of praise, Pinkham’s choral setting of Psalm 150, again similar to the neo-classical sounds of Igor Stravinsky. It is personally a delight to work with St. Paul’s soloists and choir who can present this spirited music in worship!

On Wednesday, June 15 at 7:00 pm, The Friends of Music Guild Concert Series sponsors a special summer concert featuring internationally known cellist and teacher, Olga Redkina. Educated in Russia with performance degrees from Kazan State University and here in Pittsburgh at Duquesne University, Olga is principle cellist with the Johnstown Symphony and offers a cello camp here at St. Paul’s, June 15 through 18. Among other works, her concert will feature “Variations on a Rococo Theme” by Tchaikovsky. We are also delighted that Olga will offer prelude music on Sunday, June 5^th. To register for Olga’s cello camp at St. Paul’s and to receive further information, go to OlgaRedkina.com.