On April 2 the Keene State College Music Department presented the “Sorrow and Solace” concert program performed by the Keene Vocal Consort under the direction of Keene State faculty member, Matthew Leese.
The event was hosted at the Saint Bernard Church in downtown Keene.
Colton McCracken / Equinox Staff
The Keene Vocal Consort presented a program featuring many 16th century early music examples including a work by Henry Purcell and Richard Farrant.
Keene State students Matthew McGinnis, Emma Nelson, Tyler Martin, Daniel Carberg, Cari Caswell, Sam Bellemore and Becca Wilber were featured as vocal soloists in selections of the program.
The “Sorrow and Solace” concert idea was centered around Victoria’s “Passion According to John” which is one of the most popular settings of the Passion story and is performed at many Catholic, Anglican, and Episcopal churches during Holy Week.
The Vocal Consort opted to perform the piece in English to make the story more interesting and easier for listeners to comprehend.
Traditional chants, anthems, and motets were also included in the program for the purpose of “meditation.”
Colton McCracken / Equinox Staff
Keene State College Professor of Music, Dr. James Chesebrough, attended the Vocal Consort concert.
Chesebrough remarked, “it was performed in just a wonderful acoustic setting. I have never heard a better performance by the [Vocal] Consort. It had a perfect blend and balance.”
Keene State College student, Amy Buonpane, mimicked Dr. Chesebrough’s remarks and said, “This was the best concert the Vocal Consort has ever performed. The singers were fantastically blended. The performance really told a story.”
Callie Carmosino, also a Keene State College student, said that she thoroughly enjoyed the concert. Carmosino said, “I thought it was an incredible performance-best concert.”
Ethan Chalmers can be cotacted at echalmers@kscequinox.com
