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Click the link below to hear the Chorale in Verdi's Requiem


 

 

Bridges
community engagement program

Artwork by Kaz Tanahashi Ashes Into Light
Minnesota Chorale
   Kathy Saltzman Romey, Artistic Director

Allegro Choral Academy, Bel Canto Choir
   Gregory Douma, Conductor
Metropolitan Chorus of Tokyo
   Ko Matsushita, Conductor
Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra
   William Schrickel, Music Director
Minneapolis Youth Chorus
   Patrice Arasim, Conductor
Mu Daiko
   Rick Shiomi, Director
Combined choirs and orchestra performing 'Ah Nagasaki'

In October, 2008, the Minnesota Chorale and partnering artists, all under the direction of Kathy Saltzman Romey, presented the world premiere of Ah Nagasaki: Ashes into Light, by the American composer Robert Kyr. Joining the Chorale were the Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, the Chorale's own Minneapolis Youth Chorus and the Bel Canto choir of the Allegro Choral Academy, taiko (traditional Japanese) drummers from Mu Daiko, and vocal soloists. The Metropolitan Chorus of Tokyo (comprising singers from the Gaia Philharmonic Choir and Yokohama Chamber Choir "Kai") and conductor Ko Matsushita traveled from Japan to take part in the most ambitious Bridges program ever.

Bridges: Ashes Into Light was presented by The O'Shaughnessy and planet Ordway. Nearly 3,000 people attended presentations associated with the program, which included a Saturday evening concert, a Sunday afternoon performance at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church in Minneapolis, and a daytime performance for students on Monday.

youth chorus singersThe centerpiece of the program was the premiere of Ah Nagasaki, a three-movement, half-hour cantata for chorus, vocal soloists, and orchestra. The work was commissioned by the Nagasaki Peace Museum to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the atomic bombing of the city; the text, in both Japanese and English, was a collaboration between Mr. Kyr and the Japanese writer Kazuaki Tanahashi. The musical forces included: four soloists (soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone), boy and girl soprano, Noh chanter, mixed (adult) choirs, children's choirs, taiko drum ensemble, and orchestra.

Composer Robert Kyr describes Ah Nagasaki as "a journey from the profound tragedy of nuclear annihilation to reconciliation and 'waging peace' as a means of freeing the world from weapons of mass destruction." For more information about this and similiar efforts, click here.

musical score of 'Ah Nagasaki''Ah Nagasaki' n performance taiko drum

Photos by Diane Schroeder. Artwork by Kazuaki Tanahashi



Interested in reading more about choral singing and community engagement?
Click here for Shekela Wanyama's thoughtful and provocative paper on the subject.


Click here to learn more about past Bridges programs


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