Powell was into it as well.”įrom composition to performance, Powell has worked with Gjeilo, via web, and the PLU musicians. When I realized I really wanted to start writing band music, PLU was the only place I had in mind for a possible premiere. “I listened to some great recordings he (Powell) has done with the PLU band. “I am so excited and honored to have my first, two-band pieces premiered at PLU,” Gjeilo said. In all, the more than 100,000 copies of his works have been sold since 2007. He’s composed more than 30 published works, which have been performed worldwide. In 2001, he moved to New York to study composition at the Juilliard School. I’ve never heard anything like it before.” “The music is very different and that’s a good thing. “The students were so excited about it,” Powell said. Having the opportunity to work with the composer and perform with the composer is such a unique experience, Powell said. What made this unique was while Gjeilo was here he worked with the students before the final performance. To have a composer visit the premiere and sit in the audience for the concert is fairly common, Powell said. Songlist: Tota Pulchura Es, Northern Lights, The Spheres, Phoenix Voicing: SATB | 8717b | Sheet Music | $8.PLU has been the site for a number of world premieres, including works done by PLU faculty, like Greg Youtz, but this one’s a little different. With music inspired by the aurora borealis atmospheric lights, this song will render a most impressive performance
"Northern Lights" - Set to the Latin "Pulchra es amica mea" text from Song of Solomon, this easy-to-prepare composition is a great selection for high school, church and community choirs. With its beautiful color, intonation and phrasing, it is a great choice for advanced high school, college and beyond. "Phoenix" - Written for larger, mature choirs, Gjeilo uses the Latin "Agnus Dei" text as support for this symphonic-sounding choral work. "The Spheres" - This movement is the beginning of a Mass called Sunrise, and, according to its composer, it is to "be performed with the sense of floating in space." A fine challenge for accomplished high school choirs and beyond! The setting uses the Latin Kyrie Eleison text. His music has been featured on PBS and radio stations across the US. 1978) has been performed and recorded in more than 30 countries worldwide in venues such as New York's Carnegie Hall, Los Angeles' Disney Hall, Philadelphia's Kimmel Centeri, Washington DC's Kennedy Center and National Gallery, as well as the Copenhagen and Oslo Opera Houses. The music of Manhattan-based Norwegian composer Ola Gjeilo (b.
Songlist: Unicornis CaptiIvatur, Sanctus, Ubi Caritas Voicing: Mixed 5-8 Parts | 7001b | Sheet Music | $7.95 | A Cappella Not unduly challenging in terms of vocal range, it's readily accessible to good high school mixed choirs for concerts or festivals at any time. A stunning work! "Ubi Caritas" - With a sound at once modern and medieval, this remarkable setting of the familiar Latin text starts in unison and evokes plain chant, and gradually unfolds into wider harmonies and more modern harmonic language. Musically and vocally challenging, it offers great rewards to the most accomplished choirs. Inimitably original, Norwegian composer Ola Gjeilo's setting of the Latin text to Psalm 126 "Nisi Dominus" exudes a musical intensity similar to Orff's Carmina Burana. While not easy, repetition of rhythmic and harmonic patterns coupled with the familiar Latin make this much more accessible than it appears.
Unified by a repeated, modulated motif in the "Hosanna" section, this sensual yet spiritual Sanctus from inimitably original Norwegian composer Ola Gjeilo promises to be a highlight of an advanced choir's concert or service. "Sanctus" is atmospheric and intense, featuring contrasts of ethereal melody lines supported by stately, rich harmonies. Requiring highly developed musicianship, this work is sure to become a memorable concert highlight. "Unicornis CaptiIvatur" is an exciting, adventurous piece sets an unusual Latin text to music that ranges in style from renaissance dance to shimmering chorales to chant, and in texture from unison to an expansive eight parts.