Great Bend Chorale & Youth Chorale: Vivaldi 'Gloria' RV 589
$24 ($20 senior/military)
After a three year hiatus, the Great Bend Chorale and Youth Chorale resume their tradition of a fall masterwork performance with Vivaldi's magnificent Gloria, RV 589. The Red Priest's setting of the Catholic hymn has resonated with audiences in ways that Vivaldi could never have imagined. At least 100 recordings of it exist, and it has graced many film and television soundtracks.
It’s also the perfect expression of our excitement about returning to live performance.
Performance Schedule
- Friday (Opening Night), November 18 at Faith Lutheran in Shelton, 8pm
- Saturday Night, November 19 at Plymouth UCC Church in Seattle, 8pm
- Sunday Matinee, November 20 at Faith Lutheran in Shelton, 4pm
About Gloria:
Ordained in the Roman Catholic tradition and nicknamed "il Prete Rosso" – the Red Priest – for his shock of red hair, Antonio Vivaldi's Gloria in D major, RV 589 was probably composed in Venice sometime after 1713 and before 1717, shortly after he retired from full-time teaching at the Ospedale della Pietà. The score was clearly intended for performance by the orphanage's gifted chorus.
Arguably his most significant work, the score disappeared after Vivaldi's death and remained undiscovered for nearly two centuries until, in the late 1920s, it was found buried among a pile of forgotten manuscripts. But even then, it still was not performed until September 1939 in Siena in an edition by the composer Alfredo Casella. This was by no means an authentic edition (he described it as an "elaborazione"), as he embellished the original orchestration and cut sections from three movements. It was not until 1957 that the now familiar original version was published and given its first performance at the First Festival of Baroque Choral Music at Brooklyn College, NY.
In the Roman Catholic tradition, the Gloria text is a hymn of praise used as the second part of the Ordinary of the Latin Mass, after the Kyrie. It begins with the words of the angels, as recounted in the Gospel of Luke: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will." The piece is in twelve sections, each distinguished by a different musical setting. Eight of the numbers are composed for the entire chorus; the remaining four feature soloists, singing either alone or with other performers. The wonderfully sunny nature of the Gloria, with its distinctive melodies and rhythms, is sure to brighten not only our return to live performance, but the kick off to the holiday season.
About Great Bend Youth Chorale
The Great Bend Youth Chorale is a non-auditioned educational ensemble for youth 8-14 open to all regardless of skill level or training.
Led by Great Bend Center for Music’s founder, Matthew Melendez, the ensemble provides a performance-based educational experience that builds self-esteem and skills in a nurturing environment. Participating singers work to develop their literacy, ear training and vocal skills while learning masterwork repertoire usually performed in collaboration with the adult chorale in ticketed concerts.
https://greatbendmusic.org/youthchorale/