The church was full of people both young and old as the clock passed way after four when the concert was scheduled to start. The audience was getting anxious as a couple of late comers found their seats. Then all of a sudden, from the Follett behind, men’s voices slowly filled the large church. The choir walked in like an army from behind, singing their first song of the evening, “Soldier’s Song.”
The first performance of the year by the Bakersfield College Chamber Singers and Chorale was on Oct. 22. The theme was titled War and Peace and was held at St. Francis Catholic Church. The choice of music and the choir set the mood for this concert. It was warlike, yet gentle.
“It is war-like music that one can channel into peace,” said BC music instructor Ron Keane, choir director.
The theme was chosen to relay the message that if young people can channel all of their energy into beautiful music, then, perhaps, through the arts, people can stop crime.
“If you could channel their frustration into the arts, then no one gets hurt,” said Keane. “We try to provide a vehicle through music so that one cannot hurt people in reality.”
The chamber singers opened the show with music from France, Bosnia, Japan and Ireland. The multicultural choice in music only added to the theme making it obvious that anger, war, and crime are not only prevalent in our society.
The song titled “War Song” from Japan was choreographed and the chamber singers transformed into Japanese soldiers while singing the upbeat spirited song.
After a five minute intermission, the Chorale started the second half of the show with a strong well-known piece, “Lamentations of Jeremiah,” that showed off the choir’s intensity. The second half of the concert was emotional and humorous; the crowed smiled, and some were in tears.
A song written and arranged by Keane made its world premier; it was called, “Only My Dreams.” The use of long white tubes that captured different notes while being spun in circles in front of the choir while they sang added an eerie sweet ambience to the song.
Following directly after the premier, the chorale performed an Indonesian piece, “Tjak” that was full of random burps, screams, and humming. It was jumpy, and some mothers in the audience with their infants were forced to get up and exit due to the surprising loud content of the song.
The BC Chamber Singers and Chorale incorporated the drums, bass, guitar, and keyboard to end the show with a song arranged by Kirby Shaw called “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”