For the Kona Choral Society, its upcoming concert has been three years in the making. The dedicated effort has resulted in the debut of two original choral works with the respective composers in attendance. This unique concert, the “Hawaii Island premieres of Island Home (Awakening) and Jubilate Deo,” will take place from 4–5 p.m. on Sunday, June 4 in the Grand Ballroom of the Hilton Waikoloa Village.
Over the past few years, Susan McCreary Duprey, KCS artistic director and conductor, had to conduct rehearsals online via Zoom due to the pandemic regulations. Within the first year two events occurred while live choral music was sidelined. First, the KCS community welcomed new tenor Christopher Lee Fraley, and a connection was forged through his musical composition “Island Home (Awakening).” Second, the prolonged Zoom meetings provided the community chorus with the opportunity to delve into the score of Dan Forrest’s “Jubilate Deo,” a seven-movement masterwork.
“It’s been an amazing journey learning these pieces and I’m blown away by the commitment and mutual trust of the singers,” shared Duprey of the weekly online score study sessions. “This music feeds the soul.”
The evening concert will commence with the world premiere of “Island Home (Awakening).” The five-minute piece will be accompanied by a full orchestra. Back in 2020 when Fraley, who’s been composing for over 25 years, was commissioned to write a celebratory song for the choral society’s 30th season, he originally looked to base the lyrics off a poem. However, he soon found inspiration for his composition through a spiritual connection to the land during his early morning walks near his new home in Kailua-Kona. The poetic lyrics and melodic and resonating tone of the score will take audiences on a sweeping musical journey over the mountains and down to the ocean of Hawaii Island.
The musical work starts with a short overture before the chorus welcomes a new day and “the peaceful, gentle sunrise” through a “lei of clouds sweeping down.” The second and third verses highlight and honor Hawaii’s beauty and spirit as the piece reaches the climax and carries through the final chorus, encouraging listeners to “join in the singing/vibrant singing.” Fraley explains in his program notes that this acknowledgement and appreciation of the island is the second, spiritual awakening referenced by the subtitle.
“The text is just stunning. It’s personal, vulnerable, and beautiful,” commented Duprey, who felt a meaningful connection to the lyrics as a call to action, especially given the group’s extended hiatus from in-person concerts. “We are so ready to sing together again, and to sing vibrantly.”
Having the composer and his wife Barbara, an alto, singing with the chorus was a new and exciting experience for Duprey, who has never had a composer part of the music-learning phase. “It was such a fun process,” she said. “I felt the freedom to interrupt and internalize the score and bring to life the dots on the page.”
The next inaugural piece, “Jubilate Deo,” will close the show and composer Forrest, who hails from North Carolina, will be in the audience. Duprey credits the 50-minute work as a true “barn burner,” and one that tested the limits of her singers and herself over their years of online study and in live rehearsals.
The masterwork relies on a meticulous score, filled with substantive content that asked Duprey to navigate various tempos, articulation notes, and dynamic markings in order to honor and bring to life the global confluence of the traditional Psalm 100 text.
Set in seven languages, the hymn of “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands” has been composed to incorporate the wide range of cultural influences combined with Forrest’s own musical interpretation. The movements highlight seven languages, and include liturgical Latin, intertwined Hebrew and Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, Zulu, Spanish, Song of the Earth (without accompanying words), and a final movement fusing several of these languages with English. The blending of language and culture is tied together through the joyful connection and vivid imagery of all the earth singing as one, “omnis terra, jubilate!”
The voices of the now 90-member KCS chorus will be joined by 20 singers from their sister chorus, the Windward Choral Society from Oahu, and supported by a 38-member orchestra with concertmaster Iggy Jang from the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra. The performance will also feature collaborative pianist Gloria Juan and soloists Amy Mills, soprano, and Wendy Buzby, mezzo-soprano. Percussionist Sharon Cannon was pivotal in securing instruments and bringing orchestra members together from across the islands for the eagerly awaited performance.
The rejoicing of musical merriment is precisely the thematic message the KCS has set as their mission for this concert. “This work celebrates the expression of joy and this is our offering to the community,” Duprey said.
The conductor went on to emphasize that over the recent years the binding thread of connectivity for humanity has been the performing arts – for the heart, soul, body and mind. “This concert is perfect for families. It’s the perfect introduction to live choral music. Some parts are loud and bombastic, others quiet and contemplative.”
The audience is invited to remain after the concert for a talk story with composers Dan Forrest and Chris Fraley and KCS Artistic Director Susan McCreary Duprey.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.KonaChoralSociety.org or at the door, for $35 general admission, $50 reserved, and $10 student. Validated parking will be discounted at $10, payable at the door. For more information, email KonaChoralSociety@gmail.com.