While reading the last book written by the eminent paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould, I was reminded of the grounding that our cultural institutions and disciplines give us. In addition to his astonishing scientific accomplishments, Mr. Gould was a longtime choral singer and an enthusiastic member of the Haydn and Handel Society in Boston.
In The Hedgehog, the Fox and the Magister's Pox, Gould writes of the 'aha' experience, as in music, when there is an immediate insight…that hits us all at once as from the blue, leading us to emote: Omigod!" He calls this a time of "consilience" when we realize "our highest mental and moral possibilities through an equal regard (between the sciences and the humanities)."
The Wagner Ensemble is excited to offer you, in our 13th season, an eclectic selection of choral music and, perhaps, create moments of "joyful consilience" for all of us. This is in keeping with our mission statement, to present music of different styles and periods, in order that the music of one style or period may illuminate our understanding of another.
The jewel of our December program is the Magnificat in D of J. S. Bach with orchestra. This performance will also include the four charming Christmas interpolations he wrote to be performed with the earlier version of the Magnificat in E flat.
Our February offering “Songs of Innocence and Experience" continues the multi-flavored thread of last year’s “Journeys” concert: the commonality of our varied quest for love and wisdom.
“The American Spirit" concert in May presents our culturally rich mutual heritage through folk songs, hymns, spirituals, bluegrass, Stephen Foster and Broadway. Also joining us in this performance is the Grammy-winning Americana fiddler Richard Green
Choral music is a community bridge, uniting people of the chorus and the audience from diverse backgrounds and values in a recreating, with composers and poets, order and discovery from our human experience. It is a source of solace in troubling times.
We invite you to join us, both as attendee and supporter, as we continue to strive for expanding excellence in the choral art.
