The Dalles Cascade Singers Presents by Local Composers and Arrangers

From The Dalles Cascade Singers:

By Garry Estep

The Dalles, OR. Aug 25, 2023- The Dalles Cascade Singers are having a special concert featuring works written or arranged by local musicians. “Composers and Arrangers” is Saturday September 23rd at 7:00 P.M. and Sunday September 24th at 2:00 P.M. in the Zion Lutheran Church sanctuary.

Matthew Turner

This concert features guest conductor Matthew Turner presenting his 2003 work “Mass in Honor of a Friend”. Matthew, a native of The Dalles, is a composer, pianist, conductor, and teacher. He has written several works for choir, band, and solo piano. He studied music at the University of Oregon and the University of Southern California. He teaches elementary and middle school music in Seattle. Matt was commissioned to write Mass for a Friend for his former piano teacher, Jan Swartz, in 2003. It was premiered by the Cascade Singers under the direction of Lloyd Walworth. Matt is excited to present this piece again and wishes to dedicate the performance to the memory of both Lloyd and Jan.

Karl Vercouteren, a long-time member of the Cascade Singers, has arranged several choral arrangements tailored to the singers. In this concert you will hear his arrangement of “Die Lorelei.” Karl tried his hand at arranging “Die Lorelei” in 1986. The inspiration was Cascade Singers’ first European tour, set for 1986 but postponed to 1987. Tour concerts in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and England began at Bingen am Rhein— on the same stretch of the Rhine as the Lorelei Rock.

A modernized arrangement of the hymn “Beautiful Savior” came from a collaboration between Tyler Beane Kelly and Garry Estep. Tyler reworked the text of the hymn to make it more relevant to our modern times. Garry reharmonized the melody and provided an accompaniment which he describes as “Martin Luther meets Phillip Glass and Dave Brubeck.”

“Mass for the Unborn” is written by Garry Estep. The full score contains the following statement: “This composition is dedicated to all who have experienced the loss of an unborn being. Included is not only humanity, but all sentient beings on this planet. Feelings of sadness, confusion, anger, grief, and other such emotions must be going through the mind and soul following such an event. It is my hope that this piece may offer some solace and comfort to all who have experienced such a loss.”

Guest pianist Mairead Beane Kelly accompanies the Cascade Singers for this concert on the newly restored 1909 Chickering Quarter Grand piano.

For more information see the Columbia Community Connection Calendar or by clicking here.