The SOU Chamber Choir presents "Breathing Masterworks" for their Spring Concert.

The concert features the world premiere of SOU faculty Bryan Jeffs’ Four Movements for Carl Sagan in collaboration with the SOU Percussion Ensemble, Eric Whitacre’s Five Hebrew Love Songs and Caroline Shaw’s To the Hands with string ensemble.

$10 general admission/$5 seniors. Buy tickets online at https://sou.universitytickets.com or in person at the OCA Box Office M-F Noon-6pm and one hour prior to the performance, or call 541-552-6348.

Free livestream: https://youtu.be/DnxniXPFHIg

PROGRAM

Four Movements for Carl Sagan* by Bryan Jeffs

I. If You Wish

II. To Make an Apple Pie from Scratch

III. You Must First

IV. Invent the Universe

To the Hands by Caroline Shaw

I. Prelude

II. in medio / in the midst

III. Her beacon-hand beckons

IV. ever ever ever

V. Litany of the Displaced

VI. i will hold you

Five Hebrew Love Songs by Eric Whitacre

I. Temuná

II. Kalá kallá             

III. Lárov

IV.Éyze shéleg!         

V. Rakút

*World premiere

Featuring special guests:

Kathleen Strahm, violin, Abigail Wilensky, violin, Michael Sorensen, viola, Michał Palzewicz, cello, David Miller, bass; Olivia McMains & Alisa Lopez, soloists; Sophia Chin, tambourine; 

"Being mostly a composer of percussion music, "Four Movements for Carl Sagan" is my first attempt at composing for choir. The piece takes a simple quote from Carl Sagan's television series Cosmos, "If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe", and breaks it down into several components which build with each movement to their final assemblance. I utilized rhythm-centric methods of composition focusing on patterns and layering over melody and harmony. I think you can hear the "drummer behind the curtain" in the final piece." - Bryan Jeffs, composer.