Northwest Chorale: Celebrate Spring Songs of Life, Love, and Faith

Michael Drumheller, baritone

Johannes Brahms - Zigeunerlieder, Op. 103

Ralph Vaughan Williams - Five Mystical Songs

Admission is complimentary and a free will offering will be taken to benefit Northwest Harvest.

The concert begins with Brahms' Zigeunerlieder, eleven songs with texts drawn from Hungarian folk songs. A vocal counterpart of his Hungarian Dances, these lively songs are filled with the flirting, joy, and longing of young love. The second part of the program showcases Haydn's part songs, which were among the last compositions of a busy and famous composer. Many have a very personal quality and offer a lively sense of humor and irony. Haydn's skills with text painting and counterpoint bring his subjects to life with delightful results. The program concludes with Five Mystical Songs by Ralph Vaughn Williams featuring baritone soloist Michael Drumheller. The lush poetry of George Herbert enriches the beautiful melodies sung by the soloist, supported by choir in the first three movements and in a simple and moving solo in the fourth. The work concludes with the full choir in a joyous and triumphant praise of both God and music.