International Choral Festival | Bringing the World a Little Closer
Published: May 11, 2010
Every three years, Missoula gets the honor of hosting a rare musical event. Last July, singers from many parts of the globe converged in the Garden City for a much-anticipated songfest.
Since its inception in 1987, the festival has brought to town 5500 guests from 102 choirs representing 46 countries. That’s a lot of music-makers!
This two-CD compilation features many selections from the 12 participating choirs, and covers a vast repertoire of choral music. Disc One starts off with jaunty dance music from the Czech Republic’s Zvonecek-Praha Concert Choir, among whose pieces is Eben’s complex “Gigue.”
Next up is Estonia’s Chamber Choir Kalev, regaling us with the odd timings and call-and-response vocals of Marguste’s “See on Eesti.”
From the Republic of Georgia comes the Chanters Group of the Church of St. Panteleimon the Healer, with their songs for workers, riders, and hunters, and a tune about friendship and bravery, featuring deep and emotional baritone voices.
Rheinberger’s “Abendlied,” performed by the KammerChor Saarbrucken of Germany, gave me goosebumps with its dense harmonies. Coral Divertimento Mexico throws in some layered la-la-la-la-las on “La Sandunga,” and South Korea’s Gyeongju City Chorale gives us the flair of a western-musical on "Pine for Springtime.”
Disc Two brings us Sweden’s Koritsia, which contributes “Ave Maria” by Tegner, and soaring soprano voices that could crack glass on Rehnqvist’s “I himmelen.”
Taiwan’s Tainan Chamber Choir gets downright bluesy on Jin Huai Wu’s “Dark of Moon;” and the UC Alumni Chorus from Berkeley, CA, entertains with their gospel number, “I’m Goin’ Home.”
There’s a children’s choir, too – the Rocky Mountain Fourteeners from Colorado – who give an inspired performance with unnerving vocal interplay on Aguiar’s “Salmo 150,” and some modern-sounding dissonance during Lange’s “Esto Les Digo.”
Michigan’s Jefferson Avenue Presbyterian Church Chancel Choir goes for some old pop hits with their medley of “Monday, Monday/Walk Away Renee” and their wacky take on the Beatles’ “Can’t Buy Me Love.”
The hometown is represented by the Missoula Youth Choir, which does a lovely rendition of an all-time favorite traditional ballad, “Shenandoah,” and gives us finger-snappin’ rhythm on “Minoi, Minoi.”
The singers’ finale is, fittingly, another traditional effort, “Auld Lang Syne,” delivered by the International Massed Festival Chorus.
Live recordings are hard to do well, but this one gets precision work from the fellows at the Recording Center. Proceeds from the sales of this compilation go to the nonprofit International Choral Festival. Visit www.choralfestival.org for more information.
– Mariss McTucker
