Community Chorus at South Berwick

CCSB Collaborates with the Friends of the South Berwick Library on Spring 2012 Concert. The theme for the Spring 2012 concert is 'On the Bookshelf', a musical browsing as if in a library of a variety of topics. This theme presented the opportunity for CCSB to address one of its missions: engage and participate with the local community. The Friends of the South Berwick Library is a nonprofit group dedicated to support and promotion of the new Library being constructed in South Berwick. The Friends are committed to raising funds to supplementing Town funding of the facility, which is being completed in 2012. The Friends are promoting the concert and will share in the ticket proceeds from the concerts as a fundraiser.

CCSB Celebrates Italian Traditions with Laud to the Nativity in December 2011. Christmas music rooted in Italian traditions was the inspiration of CCSB’s December 2011 concerts, titled Laud to the Nativity . The concert continued with our Christmas Garland tradition, titled and featured the chorus performing a capella, with our wonderful accompanist Audrey Adams, and with a full woodwind ensemble. The concert included Italian works from the Renaissance to the present. A series of Italian carols was followed by contemporary works, and then by baroque and renaissance music of Italy. The closing highlight of the concert was Respighi’s wonderful ‘Laud to the Nativity’ a telling of the nativity story with rich choral singing, soloists, and woodwind ensemble. The work is colorful, dramatic, and inspirational ! It is not often performed, but should be! The concert also included community carols with audience, chorus and wind ensemble in rich singing of traditional favorites.

CCSB Celebrates the Earth with ‘Our Island Earth’ April 9 and 10, 2011. The Spring 2011 concert was a musical celebration of Earth, its place in the cosmos, and the stewardship of Earth. The program started with “Island in Space” by Kirke Mechem based on the words of an Apollo Astronaut who saw the Earth from the Moon, and never looked back, with works by Belmont, Gjeilo, Vaughan Williams, Boulanger, and Pfautsch that explored different elements of the stars, sun, and Earth, including madrigals performed by CCSB’s chamber singers. The highlight of the concert was the premiere performance of “This Fragile Blue Orb” written by CCSB’s own Dr. Harry Moon for this concert. This large and exciting work featured the chorus with English Horn, gong, and CCSB’s accompanist Audrey Adams with a major piano accompaniment, explored the concepts of peace as means of caring for the planet, starting and ending with “dona nobis pacem”. Because of the concerts’ environmental theme, environmental groups were invited to come and display information on their programs to the audience at the intermission and after the concerts. Many came, and this added to the meaning and depth of the event.

Harry Moon, pianist Audrey Adams, and Jen Doiron review score of “This Fragile Blue Orb”

CCSB Reveres Bach’s influence with Christmas Concert. The December 2010 concert was a celebration called ‘Friends and Family of J.S. Bach’ and featured the chorus with full chamber orchestra in performances of works by Bach, his sons, friends, and some of those influenced by Bach. Introduced by a single Bach chorale, the program proceeded with seasonal works by Buxtehde, Telemann, W.F. and J.C. Bach with chamber orchestra. Carol-inspired works concluded with “Seven Joys of Christmas” by Mechem with the chamber orchestra.

CCSB Performs An Hour to Dance April 10 and 11, 2010. The Community Chorus at South Berwick performed its April 2010 concert "An Hour to Dance". The concert celebrated dance themes, and the poetry of dance with several major works, including Gwyneth Walker's cycle An Hour to Dance, based on the poignant poetry of Virginia Hamilton Adair. This work featured wonderful and rich piano accompaniment by CCSB's Audrey Adams. Other works included Benjamin Britten's Gloriana, and dance-themed works by Copland, Vaughan Williams, and Shaw, as well as madrigals performed by CCSB chamber singers.

CCSB Performs A Christmas Garland - Noel, Alleluia, December 5 and 6, 2009
The Community Chorus at South Berwick performed its fall 2009 concert based on the celebratory theme Noel, Alleluia on December 5 and 6, 2009. The concert program celebrated the season with works by Randall Thompson ( his wonderful "Alleluia"), Stephen Paulus (Hallelu!) Eric Whitacre's transcendent Lux Arumque as well as French carols and other works. The chorus sang a capella and was accompanied by harp, oboe, and cello, as well as our own Audrey Adams on piano. The first concert was performed at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Newington, to a good audience in spite of the region's first major snow fall, and on Sunday, December 6, the concert was performed at the Wesley Kennedy Performing Arts Center at Marshwood High School in South Berwick. The Chorus and audience enjoyed use of additional acoustical shells purchased with a continuing grant from the Strawberry Festival Committee.