VoxHumanae

I have been given the wonderful experience this past semester of conducting the Bucknell University Chorale. The Director of Choral Studies, Dr. William Payn, has been a wonderful mentor and friend. His welcoming demeanor and intense artistry are not only intimidating, but also completely comforting at the same time. I have sung under his baton for a little over a year now and I am constantly learning from him. He has helped me to develop my music on a much more personal level.

For him, I have conducted Poulenc’s Gloria, Durufle’s Requiem, and some more of the finest works in Choral literature.  Through his talented teaching and ever-mindful artistry he has told me that my conducting has gone through a transformation. 

This Sunday, I will be conducting Williametta Spencer’s setting of the John Donne Sonnet, “At the Round Earth’s Imagined Corners” on stage at the incredible venue, the Weis Center for the Performing Arts.  I don’t think that the choir and I could have been more in touch with each other.  They anticipated and interpreted every move that I made, from the largest gesture to the smallest finger flick.  My fingers were shaking with so much excitement and energy.  After the final cut after building to the massive chord on, “As if Thou’dst sealed my pardon, with Thy blood,” the choir and I sighed a collective sigh and I got chills all over my body.  It was an amazing moment; One that choir singers/conductors live for. 

Holy Sonnet VII: At The Round Earth’s Imagined Corners Blow

John Donne

At the round earth's imagined corners blow Your trumpets, angels, and arise, arise From death, you numberless infinities Of souls, and to your scattered bodies go, All whom the flood did, and fire shall, overthrow, All whom war, dearth, age, agues, tyrannies, Despair, law, chance, hath slain, and you whose eyes Shall behold God, and never taste death's woe. But let them sleep, Lord, and me mourn a space, For, if above all these my sins abound, 'Tis late to ask abundance of Thy grace, When we are there. Here on this lowly ground Teach me how to repent; for that's as good As if Thou'dst sealed my pardon, with Thy blood.

Realizing fault… pleads for mercy on his/her soul.

But let them sleep, Lord, and me mourn a space,
For, if above all these my sins abound,
'Tis late to ask abundance of Thy grace,