Songs of Springtime Choral Concert Film Premiere

Delivering musical hope, Saint Paul’s Choir of Men and Boys premieres its digitally recorded performance of Songs of Springtime, an uplifting choral music concert celebrating the joys of spring, available for ordering and viewing on Friday, May 28.  The performance is conducted by Saint Paul’s Choir School Director of Music and Choirmaster James Kennerley, with accompaniment by Assistant Director of Music Maks Adach on Saint Paul’s majestic pipe organ.  Bass-baritone soloist Jonathan Woody is featured. Contributions to stream the film begin at $25, available at bit.ly/songsofspringtime.

“Having the opportunity to present the North American premiere of 18th-century composer Manuel de Zumaya’s villancico Quien es aquella is particularly exciting, further fortifying our range of music reflecting the diversity and richness of our community,” shares Kennerley, who eagerly expressed his optimism for the ensembles and their sound.  “Nothing celebrates all that is good, true and beautiful about Saint Paul’s Church and Choir School more than the sound of the boys’ voices ringing throughout our magnificent church acoustic.”

A socially distant and safely recorded performance, Songs of Springtime instills hope through angelic chorister voices performing a thrilling and diverse hour-long program in Saint Paul’s Church’s sublime acoustic setting. The concert opens with the grand, stirring, melody-filled anthem Hear my words, ye people by English composer Charles H. Parry, featuring sections showcasing the boy choristers and double choir, and a rousing organ accompaniment, concluding with the hymn, O praise ye the Lord. A selection of music follows, honoring the month of May in its traditional Catholic observation, devoted to the Virgin Mary, and broadly recognizing mothers worldwide.  Pieces drawn from the great Mexican tradition of choral music include the North American premiere of Manuel de Zumaya’s poetic Quien es aquella. Works by celebrated Irish composer, Elizabeth McConchy and Black American composer R. Nathaniel Det are performed in observation of the school’s ongoing commitment to supporting diversity, equality and equity.  The concert concludes with the popular Eastertide song cycle Five Mystical Songs by Ralph Vaughan Williams, with poetry by George Herbert, featuring acclaimed NYC baritone soloist Jonathan Woody, along with rousing organ accompaniment. The final movement, Let all the world in every corner sing, raises the roof!