Westminster Williamson Voices Will Present Music of the Spheres at The Philadelphia Cathedral November 13.
The Westminster Williamson Voices, conducted by James Jordan, will present a concert entitled Music of the Spheres at The Philadelphia Cathedral Sunday, November 13 at 8:00 p.m.
The program will feature choral music from various parts of the world dramatically presented in the spectacular spaces and lighting of The Philadelphia Cathedral. The ensemble will present music by American composers Stephen Sametz and Roger Ames, Scandinavian composer Sans David Sanstrom, Estonian Urmas Sisask and Felix Mendelssohn that focuses on the use of the choral ensemble to create vastly different soundscapes for the listener's ears.
A world premiere of a work by composer Roger Ames will feature melodies of native Americans interwoven with a unique percussion element performed by the choir. Additionally, organist Robert Ridgell will perform improvisations that will create a seamless sound tapestry connecting all of the music of the program. He will be joined by pianist Marilyn Shenenberger in accompanying the choir...
Composed of students at Westminster Choir College of Rider University, the Westminster Williamson Voices is a select ensemble of 35 singers whose mission combines choral performance with educational outreach, artistic collaborations and partnering with other art forms. Emphasizing world music and the music of our time, it is named for
The repertoire and performances of the ensemble cover a broad spectrum, with special emphasis upon music commissioned for the choir. Artistic collaborations with other art forms-- dance, theater, and the visual arts--are at the core of the performances of this ensemble. The Westminster Williamson Voices serves as a living choral laboratory. Its primary musical mission is to explore new methods of teaching and rehearsing and to be at the forefront of choral education pedagogy. The teaching and learning of literature for performance utilize contemporary ensemble methods involving groundbreaking Aural Immersion Solfege™ and movement pedagogy emphasizing both the philosophies of Dalcroze and Laban..
James Jordan is recognized as one of the nation’s pre-eminent conductors, writers and innovators in choral music. He has been called a “visionary” by The Choral Journal. His career and publications have been devoted to innovative educational changes in the choral art. A master teacher, Dr. Jordan’s pioneering writing and research concerning the use of Laban Movement Analysis for the teaching of conducting and movement to children has dramatically changed teaching in both of these disciplines.
A member of the conducting faculty at Westminster Choir College of Rider University, James Jordan is one of the nation’s most prolific writers on the subjects of the philosophy of music making and choral teaching. He has produced 10 major textbooks and several choral series bearing his name and has contributed to four other textbooks. His books on the subject of vocal technique for choirs are considered an essential for the education of conductors around the world. His choral conducting book, Evoking Sound, was named as a “must read” on a list of six books by The Choral Journal. His newest book, Ear Training Immersion Exercises for Choirs, details the first comprehensive approach toward aural literacy for choirs using solfege and a unique system of score analysis that focuses upon what is aurally perceived by the choir. His books, The Musician’s Soul and The Musician’s Spirit, acclaimed by both instrumental and choral conductors alike, have been credited with beginning a transformation on how music is taught both in ensembles and the classroom through a process of humanizing and loving.
Tickets for this performance are $15 for adults and $10 for students/seniors. They will be available at the door or can be reserved by calling 866-468-7619 or on the Web at http://www.ticketweb.com/. The Philadelphia Cathedral is located at
