In 2009 the Association of Lutheran Church Musicans awarded its Raabe Prize for Excellence in Sacred to Dan Forrest for his work for chorus and orchestra in paradisum…. Forrest holds a doctoral degree in composition from the University of Kansas and a master’s degree in piano performance. He is a former professor of music at Bob Jones University, where he served as Department Head of Music Theory and Composition for several years. in paradisum … is an eleven minute work takes its texts not from the Requiem Mass, but from the Gospels of Luke and John, the Revelation of St John the Divine and Psalm 116. The composer rescored the work for both chorus and wind orchestra or chorus and piano, and for the Northampton Bach Choir he scored it for chorus, organ, brass and percussion, in a scoring matching that of John Rutter’s Gloria. At its most moving climax paradise is reached, and a chorus of high pitched handbells are chimed in an aleatoric manner from the distance. Later in the year the Northampton Bach Choir recorded Forrest’s arrangement of Holst’s ‘Jupiter’ theme, O God, beyond all praising, and gave the European première of three of Dan’s carols – Good Christian men, rejoice!, O come, all ye faithful and There is faint music.

www.danforrest.com

Minnesota-born composer Stephen Chatman is one of the most prominent composers working in Canada today. Professor and Head, Composition Division at The University of British Columbia, Vancouver since 1976, Chatman is the first Canadian ever short-listed in the BBC Masterprize international competition. In 2001 he began work on a large work for chorus and orchestra, setting selections from the poetry of Walt Whitman. In 2002 the work was completed and premièred in a concert marking the 75th anniversary of the Vancouver Bach Choir. The composer began the four-movement work on September 10 2001, the day before the tragic attacks on the United States. He recalls, “While re-reading Whitman’s poem on 9/11, I felt Fate had tapped me on the shoulder – the cathartic emotion of the text became an overwhelming inspiration”. Chatman’s stirring ‘symphony of sound’ proclaims spiritual exaltation and raises allegories with every blast. His exuberant setting celebrates not only Whitman’s embodiment of music, but also the optimism and virtuous wonders of the human spirit.

Sadly the Bach Choir were unable to give the première performance as a medical emergency meant our Musical Director was unable to conduct the concert.

www.drstephenchatman.com