Orcas Choral Society to present Fauré’s “Requiem”

The Orcas Choral Society will present the “Requiem” by Gabriel Fauré on Saturday, March 14 at 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday, March 15 at 3 p.m. at the Orcas Island Community Church.

Directed by Catherine Pederson, the concert will open with opens with the 16th century hymn, “All Praise to Thee” by Thomas Tallis and include “Oseh Shalom--A Hebrew Prayer for Peace” by Vancouver composer, Joan Beckow; Consecrate the Place and Day by Lloyd Pfautsch.

Marianne Lewis, who performs as an organist and harpsichordist in the Portland and Seattle areas and at Orcas’s Emmanuel Episcopal Church, will provide an organ accompaniment for the choir. Her solo performance, Cesar Franck’s Prelude, Fugue and Variation, compliments the French Impressionist music of Fauré. Franck, a noted composer and organist of the 1800s, was one of France’s noted musical romantics. His music preceded Fauré’s by a generation.

The Choral Society Chamber Choir will sing Fauré’s oft-performed “Cantique de Jean Racine” which was composed when Fauré was 19 years old. The text is a poem written by French dramatist, Jean Racine.

Members of the Choral Society Chamber Choir are: Denise Babcock, Catherine Ellis, Caroline Scott, Penny Sharp Sky, Helen Bee, Karen Ecklund, Lisa Heisinger, Pam Evans, David Ecklund, Carl Lewis, Victoria Parker, Jim Shaffer-Bauck, Wally Logan, Herlwyn Lutz, Stan Miller and Phil Weatherspoon.

“Requiem” is Fauré’s best know work and was composed in 1888. The piece has seven sections beginning with the tender plea of the Introit and Kyrie and ending with the other worldly “In Paradisum.” Fauré was born in 1825 and Requiem was played at his funeral in 1924.

Cellist Ritambhara Tyson will join the Choral Society and Lewis on “Requiem.” Soloists are soprano Margaret Doyle-Stevens and Bass/Baritone Eric Gourley. The Orcas Island Community Church is located at 176 Madrona Street in Eastsound. Admission to the concert is free but donations are welcome and can be made at the door.

Comment on this story.

COMMENTING RULES: We encourage an open exchange of ideas in our online community, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. In a nutshell, don't say anything you wouldn't want your mother to read.