Out from the Shadows Choral Series
Edited by Marques L. A. Garrett and James E. Green, “Out from the Shadows” stands as a choral series designed to spotlight the underrepresented contributions of composers of color/African descent. This series highlights their valuable contributions to choral music that don’t conform to idiomatic styles. While focusing on contemporary composers, the series also revives and explores the talents of past composers who have been overlooked. This helps to highlight the creators whose gender or ethnicity was a driving factor in their limited exposure.
The series helps to break down the barriers between various cultural and musical backgrounds, challenging preconceived notions about who should engage in particular styles of choral music. It also contributes to broadening our perspective on choral music, fostering a more inclusive and diverse understanding of this art form, unconstrained by conventional boundaries.
While focusing on contemporary composers, the series also revives and explores the talents of past composers who have been overlooked. This initiative is significant because it enables these creators to express themselves freely, transcending limitations based on their race, gender, or ethnicity. The overarching aim is to break down the barriers between various cultural and musical backgrounds, challenging preconceived notions about who should engage in particular styles of choral music.
The “Out from the Shadows” series contributes to broadening our perspective on choral music, fostering a more inclusive and diverse understanding of this art form, unconstrained by conventional boundaries.
Cum Sancto Spiritu
(José Maurício Nunes Garcia)
The composer, from Brazil, is one of the greatest exponents of Classicism from not only South America, but all the Americas. Gratefully, the editors have brought this piece into current notation for release to today’s choirs. It is a spirited setting of the traditional Latin ”Cum Sancto Spiritu” that would bring joy to any concert or service of worship.
Summer is Gone is a new setting in the Out From The Shadows Choral Series set on a text by British poet Christina Rosetti, the original title Bitter for Sweet, written in 1862. The composer, Samuel Coleridge Taylor, displays superb control of text setting, his accents, and dynamics creating vocal lines as natural as speech. In great harmony with Rosetti’s text, voice exchanges and falling chromatic figures create an unavoidable sense of decay and sorrow in this work. His harmonic rhythm makes a latent sense of time stretching and constricting. A great festival or competition work. A fun challenge for an accomplished chamber or larger choir and a memorable addition to your concert.
Summer Is Gone
(Samuel Coleridge-Taylor)
A rich choral tapestry and stunning piano accompaniment embrace the traditional melody in this setting by Reginal Wright. Commissioned by the Bridgeland High School Choirs in honor of their first senior class, Christopher Fiorini and Dolores Noel, Directors.