ABOUT THE MUSIC This is our first alliterative concert.

Often in this space I whine about how challenging it is to program a concert, to find a collection of music that is both achievable by the choir and engaging to the audience. But, this year, we subcontracted all of the programming out to an east coast conglomerate, and it was their marketing experts who told us that we should do a concert with an alliterative title. Among the options that they market-tested were “Bartók, Boccherini and Bee Gees” and “Beethoven, Barber and Beastie Boys.” I’m very happy that that focus group chose what they did, aren't you?

These three (I know. Six.) musical giants have more in common than you might think. First of all, they’re all great melodists. We found that we were just as apt to leave rehearsal whistling any one of the eleven Brahms Zigeunerlieder as we were any of the Beatles tunes (those of us that can whistle, anyway). This is a tuneful concert.

They were also all unapologetically commercial artists. One of the wonderful things about Bernstein’s music is that it’s impossible to discern serious music he wrote for the concert hall from stuff he wrote for Broadway. (Facing a case of composer’s block, he was only able to fulfill the commission for Chichester Psalms by cannibalizing unused material from West Side Story.) And Brahms was deeply concerned with the commercial viability of his music, and how well his sheet music was selling. After his “Lullaby” became so popular, composers all over the world began publishing unauthorized arrangements of it. Brahms’ publisher encouraged him to take advantage of the piece’s success, perhaps by writing another lullaby. Brahms wrote back sarcastically, “Why not make a new edition in a minor key, for naughty or sick children? That would be still another way to move copies.”

Our concert begins with Johannes. What music Brahms didn't write for the concert hall was mostly music for the home, to be performed and enjoyed at intimate gatherings; warm, gemütlich evenings of music-making. His marvelous Zigeunerlieder (Gypsy Songs) fall into that latter category. Originally written for four voices and piano in 1887, they were also a response to public taste. Gypsy-themed music was all the rage in Europe in the late nineteenth-century, and Brahms obliged by writing several works on gypsy themes. These pieces have been called Brahms’ vocal counterpart to his wildly popular Hungarian Dances.

Of Brahms, we also sing his most beloved piece of choral music, the fourth movement of his German Requiem. This we’re pairing with the last movement of Bernstein’s great Chichester Psalms, a piece that is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Written for the cathedral choir of the city in southern England, the work includes settings of six psalms, sung in their original Hebrew. The movement we’re performing includes Psalms 131 (“Let Israel hope in the Lord forever”) and 133 (“Behold how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity”).

Bernstein did not write a lot of choral music, unfortunately (on the upside, he didn’t write a lot of unfortunate choral music, as others have), and the only other piece of his we’re performing is a medley that was devised just a few years ago by one of his collaborators, Jack Gottlieb. A Choral Quilt includes songs from musicals, including West Side Story, Candide, Peter Pan, Trouble in Tahiti, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, and finally, a chorale from his Mass: A Theater Piece. What great tunes.

My musical passions began with The Beatles. My father had an 8-track tape of Arthur Fiedler's Boston Pops playing syrupy arrangements of Beatles songs (I think it was called Arthur Fiedler's Boston Pops Play Syrupy Arrangements of Beatles Songs.), and so I suppose that’s how the tunes first got in my head. But when I was in junior high, my older brother Mark began sharing his complete collection of original Beatles LPs with me (including a mint copy of the White Album that had the raised lettering and the stamped serial number on the front, I remember), and I became an obsessed person. Beatles songs were the first music I fell in love with, so I was very happy to be rehearsing this music. All that can be said about arrangements of Beatles music is that one can only hope that they do justice to the songs. I feel like these do.

We trust that you'll enjoy this concert. Having been some days in preparation, a splendid time is guaranteed for all. And please join us in October our big season opener, “Schubert, Schumann and Snoop Dogg.”

MATTHEW GREER

PROGRAM Zigeunerlieder, Op. 103 (Gypsy-Songs) Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)

1. He, Zigeuner, greife in die Saiten ein! 2. Hochgetürmte Rimaflut, wie bist du trüb 3. Wißt ihr, wann mein Kindchen 4. Lieber Gott, du weißt 5. Brauner Bursche führt zum Tanze 6. Röslein dreie in der Reihe blühn so rot 7. Kommt dir manchmal in den Sinn 8. Horch, der Wind klagt in den Zweigen traurig sacht 9. Weit und breit schaut niemand mich an 10. Mond verhüllt sein Angesicht 11. Rote Abendwolken ziehn am Firmament

Three Beatles Tunes Here Comes the Sun George Harrison, arr. Kirby Shaw Blackbird John Lennon and Paul McCartney, arr. Daryl Runswick

In My Life Lennon and McCartney, arr. Steve Zegree Laurel Deming, soloist

A Choral Quilt Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990), arr. Jack Gottlieb

Abby Greenwald, Julia Manganaro, Jonathan Davidson, Bryan Butler, Aidan Grummer, soloists “Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen” from Ein deutsches Requiem, Op. 45 Johannes Brahms Movement III from Chichester Psalms (1965) Leonard Bernstein

Checky Okun, Laurel Deming, Bryan Butler, soloists Three More Beatles Tunes Can’t Buy Me Love Lennon and McCartney, arr. Keith Abbs Yesterday Lennon and McCartney, arr. Bob Chilcott

Darryl Starkes, soloist Got to Get You Into My Life Lennon and McCartney, arr. Paul Crabtree

--------------------------

And in the end The love you take

Is equal to the love You make

So silence your cell phones.

Quintessence Personnel

Matthew Greer was appointed Artistic Director of Quintessence in 2009. He also serves as Director of Music and Worship Arts at St. John’s United Methodist Church, where he directs several choirs and oversees a comprehensive music program. At St. John’s, he founded the “Music at St. John’s” concert series, and “Thursday Evening Musicales,” an annual series of benefit concerts for Albuquerque Healthcare for the Homeless. In 2012, he was among the recipients of Creative Albuquerque’s Bravos! Awards, honoring artistic innovation, entrepreneurship, and community impact. He has recently served as a guest conductor for the New Mexico Philharmonic and for the UNM Concert Choir. A native of Kansas City, he has degrees in music education and theology from Trinity University and Boston University. He gets by with a little help from his friends. Amy Greer is an active performer, both as a soloist and in collaboration with singers and instrumentalists. Recognized for her creative approach to traditional piano lessons, she has maintained successful piano studios in New Mexico, Massachusetts, Texas, and Missouri and regularly gives workshops that focus on the psychology of learning through a musician’s lens. A writer and frequent contributor to music journals, she has been a columnist for American Music Teacher magazine. She has performed with the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, the Santa Fe Symphony, and the New Mexico Philharmonic. She holds a Master of Music in piano performance from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, a Master of Arts in educational psychology from the University of New Mexico, and an MRS degree from Trinity University. Amy keeps a house and tends a garden for one man, two cats and three feisty betta fish.

SOPRANO Anita Amstutz Barbi Cappel

Rebecca Craig Laurel Deming

Susy Derby Danielle Frabutt Abby Greenwald

Elizabeth Hartwell Loren Kelly

*Checky Okun

ALTO Chris Brady Norah Doss

Suzi Dressler Amy Greer

Pauleta Hendrickson *Trish Henning

Julia Church Hoffman Julia Manganaro

Karen Schlue

TENOR *Bryan Butler

Jonathan Davidson Garrett Keith Darryl Starkes Sean Umstead

BASS David Cappel

+Martin Doviak Dirk Edmonds

Aidan Grummer Dan Hohman

*Daryl Lee Dwayne Moseley

Arnel Oczon John Sitler

Will Wheeler

* Indicates Section Leader + Indicates Chorus President

Quintessence: Choral Artists of the Southwest Staff

Matthew Greer, Artistic Director April Ueland, Executive Director

Quintessence Board of Directors President: Elizabeth Drotning Hartwell Vice President: Dwayne L. Knirk

Secretary: Kristine Stichman Treasurer: Jerry Spurlin Choir President: Martin Doviak

Members: Tom Crow, Allison Davis, Dale Lange

Special thanks to: Claudia Giese, John Schwarting and the custodial staff of St. John's United Methodist Church, Paul Crabtree, Tom Crow

Graphic design by Studio 9, Website by The Web Angel, Program printing by Printmart

About the Singers

Anita Amstutz, singer, sower, bee blogger and ordained minister was surprised at how much fun it is juxtaposing Beatles swing, Brahms lieder and Bernstein's big sound! When Matt announced his intent for the "3Bs" concert, Barbi Cappel just assumed one of them was "Barbi,” but then of course she remembered that she has never actually written any music - she has enjoyed singing these "3Bs" however. Rebecca Craig enjoys singing, volleyball and hiking and has a husband, Dave, and toddler son, John. I've Got to Get You Into My Life and I Can't Buy Me (or you) Love, so I Will sing you everything from Psalms and Brahms to Blackbirds and Beatles because, In My Life, I've loved them all: Laurel Deming. Susy Derby has been singing at the top of her lungs since she was a little girl and is excited to finally be in a choir that doesn’t add movement to every piece securing a potentially clumsy-free performance. You've seen flutist Danielle Frabutt perform with Q in past concerts and now she is singing in her second concert this season; she can be seen in various roles around ABQ as the NMPhil Artistic Coordinator, Site Manager and Lead Teacher with the Young Musician Initiative, teaching private lessons and freelancing. Abby Greenwald, a soprano new to the southwestern desert, finds that singing with Quintessence is an oasis, helping her to bloom where she is planted. Elizabeth Drotning Hartwell is mama to 6-year-old Anna and 2-year-old Jacob, wife to Seth, family law attorney by day, has played all of Brahms’ symphonies on her cello, and one time at music camp wore out a CD playing “Hey Jude” on repeat. Loren Sapphire Kelly, a soprano, is very happy for this moment to arise; she is a nurse and teaches community health at UNM College of Nursing. Baby Boomer Washingtonian native, Checky Okun, grew up immersed in classical music, especially digging the works of Brahms, but has always loved the tunes of the Fab Four, and will sing both genres of music to her granddaughter Gemma, while her spouse Emerson teaches Gemma to be another Ringo. SoCal gypsy and ”bird lady" Chris Brady can't practice music during the day because her cockatoos rush to her shoulders and scream, unlike the Beatles "Blackbird," which is a big black Robin with an orange beak and a beautiful song. Girl Scouts Volunteer Specialist Norah Doss cannot provide you with free cookies, but she can recommend a strong beer of your choice. Suzi Dressler, alto, shares her retirement with a handy husband and two creative Belgian Tervuren canines, all of whom enjoy music in many forms, as well as hiking and other outdoor pursuits. Pauleta Hendrickson is a music educator and choir director and is enjoying singing this concert brought to you by the letter B and the number 3- In honor of the Muppets who will be returning to ABC next year. Trish Henning, professor of Physics and Astronomy at UNM, has been singing Beatles tunes in choirs since the '70s, when they weren't even oldies yet. Julia Church Hoffman, whose work in the UNM Department of Music and as Director of the UNM Music Prep School is all about helping lots of other people make music, is always happy when it’s her turn to be musical --singing with her Quintessence pals. Julia Manganaro is a high school and middle school choir teacher whose hobbies include breakfast, lunch, and dinner. A grateful member of the fabulous Q alto section, Karen Schlue has particularly enjoyed reliving her youth with the "Fab Four" portion of this Beatles, Brahms, and Bernstein concert. Bryan Butler grew up ya-ya-ya-ing with the Beatles, and though he has never had a mop top, he did try to emulate Brahms' beard last year. Jonathan Davidson is a homegrown tenor from Meridian, Idaho studying voice and conducting at UNM where he sings a lot and loves to organize copious amounts of choral music and is excited to sing with Quintessence for the first time! Garrett Keith, who can change the course of mighty rivers, bend steel in his bare hands, and who, disguised as a lowly tenor, mild-mannered singer for a great choir Quintessence, sings a never-ending battle for truth, justice and the musician way. A native Virginian and an avid caramel macchiato drinker, tenor Darryl Starkes enjoys short walks on the beach and not singing in bass clef. Yesterday, while across the universe, floating in a yellow submarine, Sean Umstead decided he would let it be to come together because here comes the sun over strawberry fields forever, and tomorrow never knows that I

About the Singers (Continued) am the walrus. David Cappel is a lifelong musical hobbyist who hails from the home of 'The Music Man,” plays trumpet & has a mean pool game. Martin Doviak enjoys playing tennis, skiing, running unleashed with dogs, singing with Q, NMSC, & UNM U Chorus, and searching for “somewhere” in this sentence to put a B of any sort—upper case, lower case, sharp, natural, or flat. Dirk Edmonds has never sung bass before this year and has really enjoyed not having to sing tenor. Aidan Grummer received his B.S. in Physics (to the relief of his parents) has begun graduate work at UNM (to the dismay of the professors) and is enjoying singing with Q (to the anguish of the director). Dr. Dan Hohman retired after 29 years of Naval/Marine Corps service and now serves as Director of Aerospace Medicine Services at KAFB, but is a musician at heart singing for any organization that will afford him the privilege of performing with them including this first season with Quintessence. On the rare occasions when Quintessence isn't rehearsing, Daryl Lee is either teaching computer engineering at UNM, making his wife Anita earn her "spoiled rotten" cap, or reading French literature from the 18th century to modern. Dwayne Moseley is honored to complete his 3rd season with Quintessence, returning to his childhood home several years ago for retirement after a 40 year Social Work career practicing in Dallas, Denver and Los Angeles where he concurrently sang in choruses. Baritone Sandian Engineer Arnel Oczon grew up playing Beatles LPs 'til they wore out, has a bright daughter Claire who youtubes the Beatles, he's married to the lovely Amy T. who adores Brahms because he wrote such gorgeous alto parts. John Sitler is delighted to sing this concert that brings back fond memories of a high school choir tour to Romania where we both heard genuine csardas-melodien and performed the Chichester Psalms accompanied by a steel drum orchestra. Goo goo g'joob! Will Wheeler, a graduate of the University of North Texas, is ending his 25+ year hiatus from choral singing with this concert; his first with Quintessence.

Quintessence Endowment Fund

Director’s Circle - $1000 & Above: Dr. & Mrs. Michael Hopkins, Roy & Elizabeth Morgan

Benefactors - $500 to $999: Dr. and Mrs. Jerone N. Deverman* Patrons - $100 to $250: In Loving Memory of Jean J. Sherlin*, Tessa Mae Chavez,

Mr. & Mrs. K.W. Gephart

The Quintessence Endowment Fund (established 2000) was created to help ensure a future for Quintessence, and for fine choral arts everywhere.

*Foundational Contributors

Please consider including Quintessence as part of your will or estate plan Quintessence is a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization and gratefully accepts gifts of cash, stocks, bonds, mutual fund shares, real estate or other tangible personal property. Quintessence may also be named

the beneficiary of a life insurance policy or charitable trust. All or part of your donation may be tax-deductible. Tom Crow, Quintessence board member and long-time singer, would love to talk with you

about this, or even more-complex gift arrangements and tax-savings strategies, as that is what he does when he's not making music. He may be reached at 505.243.2281 or tom@crowfa.com.

Acknowledgements

The Board of Directors and Singers of Quintessence would like to offer their sincerest appreciation for

financial support from all the people listed below. We would not exist without your help. If you don’t see

your name, please visit our website to make your tax-deductible contribution, or drop in a basket on your

way out. Please join the Quintessence family and help us share the joy of great music for years to come.

Quintessence Annual Fund From April 1, 2014 to April 30, 2015

Director's Circle: $1000 and up William & Christine Drotning D. E. & B. G. Tooley

2014 Summer Choral Festival Audience Virginia C. Ely Christopher & Joan Ueland

Anonymous Henry P. & Martha L. Erwin Floyd Vasquez

Crow Financial Advisers: Tom & Vicki Crow Edward Francovic Ann Wood

Allison Davis David M. & Tanner O. Gay

Elixir Boutique Chocolates Lorraine B. Gordon Friends: $1-$49

Sean & Pauleta Hendrickson Seth & Elizabeth Drotning Hartwell Amazon Smile Foundation

Howard W. Henry John W. & Diane B. Hawley Nicola Baptiste

Dr. Dale L. Lange & Dr. Estella Gahala-Lange Patricia A. Henning Susan & Steven Goldstein Charity Fund

John H. & Kristine A. Stichman Pamela W. Hodge-Miller Chris Brady

Thomas Horan Ellen S. Bruno

Benefactors: $500-$999 Alf Houkom Camille H. Carstens

Robert & Frances Fosnaugh Dominic G. & Karla E. Kollasch Ralph A. Cover

Matthew & Amy Greer, in honor of the Steve & Juilie Kongs Denise Crouse

singers of Quintessence Edward Lamon & Enid M. Cardoza Jeffrey S. & Edith E. Downs

Rita Leard Emily D. Moore James C. & Suzanne G. Dressler

Daryl O. & Anita C. Lee Barry E. Simon & Don D. Moseley Gregory V. & Louise Durfee

Messiah Sing Donations Loreen A. Nash Janet L. & James Field

Arnel Oczon & Amy Tarnower, in George C. & Mary Novotny Anne French

memory of Gerald Townower & Jane Snow Peter Eller Art James Graham

Jerry R. & Marjorie L. Spurlin Margaret A. Putnam Abby Greenwald

Justin & April Ueland Karen & John Schlue Aidan Grummer

Priscilla Shute Patricia P. Gutierrez

Sponsors: $250-$499 John N. Sitler E. Joan & David A. Heimbach

Carlton & Mary-Ellin Brooks Smith's Community Rewards Julia Church Hoffman

Douglas L. Brown Carol Tucker Trelease Elizabeth Hurst-Waitz

David M. & Barbara L. Cappel Karin L. Urban Nicki Jimenez

Hugh W. & Kathleen D. Church Margaret A. Wienbar Kenneth & Jane Klima

Martin J. Doviak Scott Wilkinson, Wilkinson Trust William A. & Marlene G. Kline

Geer, Wissel, Levy & Hartwell, P.A. Daniel L & Jane I Wright Joyce Leavitt

Dwayne Knirk Linda L. Little

Linda K. Lewis Donors: $50-$99 Darci Lobdell

Glinda S. Lobdell Anita Amstutz Lt. Col. (Ret.) Roald F. & Suzanne Lutz

Richard L & Susan Perry Shane B. Baker Douglas Madison

Beverly A. Rogoff M. Susan Boswell Jennie G. & Alex R. Matcham

Linda Wolcott Bruce A. & Molly E. Caskey David C. McGuire, Jr.

Merrie Courtright John McNeil

Patrons: $100-$249 Consuelo E. Dowler Janet Norden

Susan Brannan Fred and Linda Downum Kathleen O'Herron

Permelia C. & Gerald T. "Jerry" Allgood William Grantham Ray & Karen Oligher

Kathleen B. Austin Carolyn I. Johns Randall H. & Mallory P. Reviere

Carla R. Beauchamp William E. & Cynthia Anne Kuchar Francis R. Ricciardi

Janet L. Bowers Matthew & Kelly Jo Kuchar Patricia Catlett & Karen K. Schmiege

Steve & Renee C. (Noëlle) Brodeur Walter J. Polt & Cynthia Lashley Kathryn B. Smock

Sandra Brown Julianne Littlefield S. E. Staley

John F. & Bettina M. Caffrey Eric Metzler Daryl Starkes

Frederick P. & Lorraine M. Clark Ray Orley Kristine I. Susco

William D. Cox Tina A. Peterson Arlene G. Thomas

Rebecca R. Craig Kristine Purrington William T. & Barbara R. Tiwald

J. K. Deuel, Sr. Joseph R. Stroud John Vittal

Wona A. & Dr. Jerone N. Deverman Andrea Fellows Walters

Carol S. Dolan Diane D. Webb

This project is supported in part by New Mexico Arts, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs,

and by the National Endowment for the Arts

Available at Keller’s Farm Store

Come sing with Quintessence and a professional orchestra for our third annual

Summer Choral Festival.

Two great pieces of Americana are on the program: Randall Thompson’s Frostiana

Alice Parker’s Melodious Accord

Performance is Sunday, July 26, 3pm St. John’s United Methodist Church. Free admission.

For more information about singing and about

sponsorship opportunities visit www.quintessence-abq.com