On the Transmigration of Souls: Pacific Chorale Press Release

	On the Transmigration of Souls ----PACIFIC CHORALE News Release ----
	PACIFIC CHORALE IN WEST COAST PREMIERE JOHN ADAMS "ON THE TRANSMIGRATION OF SOULS" WINNER OF THE 2003 PULITZER PRIZE IN MUSIC JOHN ALEXANDER CONDUCTS THE CHORALE, SAN FRANCISCO GIRLS CHORUS AND PACIFIC SYMPHONY SOUND INSTALLATION BY SOUND DESIGNER MARK GREY

When an anonymous donor approached the New York Philharmonic in 2001 with a proposal to underwrite the commission of a new work in memory of 9/11, the orchestra turned to one of America's most celebrated composers, John Adams. The result is a 25-minute work for chorus, children's chorus, orchestra and sound design called "On the Transmigration of Souls." Pacific Chorale presents the West Coast premiere -- the fourth performance overall, and only the second performance in the United States -- of this new work in a concert titled "Transmigration" at the Orange County Performing Arts Center on Sunday, October 19 at 7:00 p.m. Joining the Chorale, under the direction of its artistic director John Alexander, are the San Francisco Girls Chorus, Pacific Symphony and sound designer Mark Grey (of Adams' "El Niño").

A powerful and poignant work, "On the Transmigration of Souls" was awarded the 2003 Pulitzer Prize in Music. A meditation on loss that builds into a cathedral of sound, it weaves together ambient city sounds -- echoes of car horns, muffled sirens, passing voices -- with choral texts taken from the heart-breaking missing-persons handbills that covered lower Manhattan for weeks following the attacks.

Speaking of "On the Transmigration of Souls" Adams writes: "My desire in writing this piece is to achieve in musical terms the same sort of feeling one gets upon entering one of those old, majestic cathedrals in France or Italy. When you walk into the Chartres Cathedral, for example, you experience an immediate sense of something otherworldly. You feel you are in the presence of many souls, generations upon generations of them... I had no desire to create a musical 'narrative' or description. Nothing could be more distasteful or banal."

Rounding out the evening's concert are two additional choral pieces by California composers. Morten Lauridsen's "Lux Aeterna" demonstrates (according to NPR music critic Jim Svejda) "that it is possible for important contemporary music to speak directly to the human heart." A non-liturgical Requiem, "Lux Aeterna" has achieved enormous popularity among choral music fans and is a favorite performance option for American choirs. James Hopkins' "Songs of Eternity" (1994) was premiered by Pacific Chorale and commissioned by the Philharmonic Society of Orange County in commemoration of Pacific Chorale's 25th anniversary. This performance will mark the 10th anniversary of the Hopkins' commission. With text taken from the writings of Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore, "Songs of Eternity" is a healing balm for those who have suffered loss.

The concert is underwritten by Dr Edward and Mrs Helen Shanbrom in memory of David Lee Shanbrom. Generous support has also been provided by ACFEA Tour Consultants, John & Lori Loftus, Mrs. Frederick Rohe Noelle Corporate Communications, the Orange County Performing Arts Center, and the Pacific Chorale Board of Directors.

Tickets are $20-$60 and are on sale at Pacific Chorale (714-662-2345) and online at www.ticketmaster.com. For more information call the Chorale or email ContactUs@PacificChorale.org

CALENDAR LISTING

West Coast Premiere: "On the Transmigration of Souls"
PACIFIC CHORALE
San Francisco Girls Chorus
Pacific Symphony
Mark Grey, sound design
John Alexander, artistic director

Sunday, October 19, 2003 at 7:00 p.m.
Orange County Performing Arts Center, Costa Mesa CA

An evening of choral music featuring the West Coast premiere of John Adams' haunting meditation on 9/11 called "On the Transmigration of Souls", winner of the 2003 Pulitzer Prize. Also on the program are James Hopkins' "Songs of Eternity" (originally premiered by Pacific Chorale in 1994) and Morten Lauridsen's popular non-liturgical Requiem "Lux Aeterna."

Tickets: $20-$60. For tickets call Pacific Chorale (714-662-2345) or order online at www.ticketmaster.com.

Source: Pacific Chorale

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