A rtzx; THE MICHIGAN DAILY
Arsk Entertdin ment Tuesday, December 7, 1976 Page Five
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University'~s Messiah Ic
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By ANGE NICITA eneu with a oroad and typicaly
TqHE AUDIENCE stood and Frenchstyle overture from the
waited silently as the con- orchestra which included a
ductor raised his arms. As he beautiful blending of strings.
lowered them, Hill Auditorium The tenor soloist, Vinson Sole,
was filled with the voices of the then performed the recitative
300 member University Choral and aria "Comfort ye" and
Union bursting forth in the joy- "Every Valley". He seemed
ous strains of the Hallelujah slightly unsure of himself in
Chorus. these first two pieces, which
This was only one of the many prophecy the birth of the Mes-
highlights of the magnificent siah. His voice moved slightly
performance of Handel's Mes- off from the background estab-
siah, staged last weekend by lished by the orchestra. How-
the Choral Union and the Inter- ever, in the second portion of
lochen Arts Academy Orchestra the program with his next reci-
under the direction of Donald tative "All they that see him",
Bryant. he completely redeemed himself
Written in 1741 by Handel i with his beautiful vocal quality
during a fit of inspiration in and the candid expression he
which he shut himself up in a; portrayed.
room for 24 days straight, the The bass soloist, Simon Estes,
Messiah is an oratorio which showed a beautiful depth and
reflects the Prophecy, Advent, emotion with -his voice from
Nativity, Mission, Sacrifice and the moment he began to per-
Atonement, Ascension, Gospel form. In his recitative and aria
Tidings and Resurrection of "Thus saith the Lord" and "But
Jesus Christ. It was composed whom may abide" he brought
in 3 parts with over 50 individ- out the imposinb fear in each
tal pieces, and the Choral Un- t expl 'osieearthshakingepro-
ion seemed to capture the truet
spirit of this masterpiece in its phecy of the Messiah. He execu-
rednition. ted the difficult Baroque runs,
T H E PERFORMANCE op- shakes, and embellishments ofI
- I - -- -
the pieces with skillful exper-
tise,
Lili Clookasian, the contralto,
was the next soloist to be plac-
ed in the spotlight. Like the
tenor, her first piece, "Behold,
a Virgin shall conceive", seem-
ed to be slightly off, not por-
traying the solemn proclama-
tion it should have but instead
having a more narrative style.
However, Clookasian too made
up for the slip with her next re-
citative "Then shall the eyes
of the blind be opened." In this
piece she showed a true depth
of expression and vocal quality,
lending it an air of calmness
and a promise of joy with the
coming savior.
AS WITH the tenor and con-
tralto, the soprano, Kathryn
Bouleyn, appeared to have dif-
ficulty with her first series of
recitatives, beginning with
"There were shepherds abiding
in the fields." Her voice was off
at times and her vibrato seem-
ed to generate the wrong pitch.
Bouleyn too got better as the
night went on. Her aria "He
shall feed his flock like a shep-
herd" was excellent and illus-
trated the peaceful repose pro-
mised in the piece with beauti-
ful vocal quality.
The Chorus was magnificent
throughout the performance.
The blending of voices was sup-
erlative and strong, but not ov-
erbearing. They seemed to
bring out the true spirit of the
oratorio. In the first part they
exhibited the Prophecy of the
coming of Christ and the glory
and peace of his birth in such
pieces as "And he shall purify"
and "Glory to God in the high-
est". In the second part the
overall emotional tone of the
Chorus changed to one of anger
and bitter sadness as they re-
vealed the Passion and suffer-
ing of his death.
The final portion required an-
other change in mood to show
the joy of the Resurrection and
the Gospel, culminating in the
final and triumphant chorus
"Amen". Throughout the entire
performance the chorus was
able to portray t these mood
changes effectively and with ex-
quisite vocal variation.
THE INTERLOCHEN Arts
Academy Orchestra provided
one of the most beautiful por-
tions of a totally enjoyable
y
)vel
show. The mood and expression
the musicians portrayed at. all
times matched the feelings of
the singers. The skillful playing
of the harpsichord by Nancy
Hodge added greatly to the
group's overall quality. Perhaps-
tw of the most impressive con-
tributions of the orchestra can
be seen in the Pastoral Sym-
phony and the bass aria "The
trumpet shall sound". In the
Pastoral Symphony the strings
did a beautiful job establishing
the mood of peace and serenity
of Christmas Eve. In the bass
aria the trumpet section pro-
duced excellent embellishments
in the higher register of the
instrument. Overall the orches-
tra proved to be an expressive
ano indispensible element to the
enjoyment of the Messiah.
In totality the Choral Union
and orchestra performed Han-
del's work in a way which truly
brought forth its inherent dra-
ma and majesty. Handel once
said that he wrote the Messiah
with the hosts of heaven stand-
ing before him, and after hear-
ing the University's beautiful
rendition of this classic Satur-
day night, it almost seems be-
lievable.
'Druid
By SARAH GRIFFITH
Druid Dirge, performed
Barbour gym last Friday a
Saturday nights, was an e
trancing demonstration on h(
theatre and dance can be mi
ed. Mary Giordano, director a
'composer, and Bruce Faton
Buffalo conceived 'of a dan
both about women and abo
Barbour itself.
This mixture of theatre a:
dance is part of a new wa
of theatre - one that learn
Dirge: Entrancing JOHN FORD'S 1946
words from Gertrude Stein's use by lighting various sections M Y D A R LIN G
in Many, Many Women was my of the floor.
nd favorite section. Never letting - The last scene, a ritual funer- 'M / EN aI UE a
n- ooeachother, the daners al libation, was particularly ef- Henry Fonda stars as Wyatt Earp who
moved across the gym floor in fective, turning the gym intoH
ix- a variety of shapes, sometimes a kind of cathedral, with the rides into Tombstone with a cattle drive.
nd ngtoteh other, some monk's choir overhead on the After his brother is killed, Wyatt stays
oftimes to themselves or to the track. Again, the audiende was
ce audience, but never letting the trusted with structuring this] on as marshall. Walter Brennan and
ut beat get monotonous or the ac- scene, as fluorescent water wasWh
tion repetitive. In a scene like dumped on two prone figures. Ward Bond share the action at the OK
nd thin, theatre and dance are Though this performance was Corral.
ve united in a union more mature simply done, it showed what an
ed and more exaggerated than in interesting and potentially use- WED: THE BLUE DAHLIA
to mfiul space Barbour can be, and C ATONIGHT AT OLD ARCH. AU).
Gi- Druid Dirge was created i what a waste it would be to tear 7:00 & 9:05 Admission $1.25
up and for Barbour; it makes use down its lovely oak walls. )
i f h i track thecir--
Daily Photo by ANDY FREEBERG
Jazz saxophonist Rahsaan Roland Kirk produces some powerful music at his Sunday night
M.chigan Ballroom appearance.
UN ION BALLROOM CONCERT:
from Theatre of the
Absur
Kirk cooks on saxt
By JIM STIMSON When Kirk rejoined the band Anymore." Hill remained on
]DURING THE second set of for the mti'al portion of the stage for the rest of the show.
Rahsaan Roland Kirk's Sun- song, he began to cook with His, smooth, rich voice blended
day night concert, he opened the I newfound energy. His sax lines well with Kirk's music.
flo'r to questions from the audi- were now sweet and soaring, not The Vibration Society is com-
ene. choppy as they'd been at the posed, of Hilton Ruiz, piano;
"How come you ain't played start of the tune. Philip Bowler, bass; Steve
voar soprano sax?" asked one Turre, trombone; and John Gold-
A YEAR AGO, this same dy- smith, wearing an official
Rahsaan smiled, and said, "In namo had a stroke, which left Eclipse Jazz shirt, on drums.
A.erica, you always got to him partially paralyzed. Six They were flashy on the solr' *
p-ove something . . . It's a months and ninety pounds later, but never drowned out the main
'itch." he was back to prove he could attraction, Kirk.
still play. And the crowd at the'
AFTER THE laughter died Michigan Union Ballroom is now Kirk, a native of Columbus,
down, he added, "But I'm 100 per cent believers. Ohio, had the audacity to play
Ia eit to you." Ithe Ohio State fight song,jazz
strong. I can proveKirk is a veteran of many style-but placated the crowd
a few noteson the proceeded to blow tours. He doesn't even recall by switching to "Hail to the
the tenor sax-at the same whether he's played Ann Arbor Victors" halfway through. Then
after this proof positive, Kirk before. But audiences don't con- he turned around again and
launched ito an energetic so- cern Kirk much. added, "I hope you get yo' ass
prano solo, which was more "I just want audiences to be beat."
music than show. loose, into the music," he ex- The set was also marked by
Shortly before, Kirk and his "lamed i an after-show iter- tributes to former jazz greats.
band, the Vibration Society, had view.Kirk played "Theme for Lester
worked the audience into a p Young" from Return of the
feverish emotional peak with the e SHO a 5000 Pound Man, and closed the
song "Voluntary Slavery." He ,,mento"fKi 's flae stlbu set with a tribute to John Col-
stopped playg his sax and (before his stroke). He then trane and to Lady Day, Billie
gan chanting with the crowd,(f h sk haeH Holliday. The last number faded
building to a wailing and moan- brought on voca ist Michael Hill out, with Kirk wispering, "dick-
ing uproar. It was total audience' for the moving jazz-blues numn etv-clack, Clickety clack, who'll
involvement, her, "I Don't Get Around Much: bring the spirit back?" Nobody
--__-_-__-tried to bring the spirit back
more than Kirk himself
dt4 &ie4
rl"HE UNIVERSITY'S Arts ter. Call the University Music
Chorale is presenting its School for time and price in-
Christmas Concert tonight at 8 formation.I
in Hill Aud. The progiam wxill -
feature works by Charpentier,
Respighi, Pingham and Poulenc. p qIs1br
It should be good, so close up
those ugly books and go listen
but which also lends itself
a broader range of themes. C
ordano hopes to take her grot
to the New Theater Festival
Baltimore in the spring, both
learn and to show her techr
ques to others.
A DUET DANCED by Ju
in I
to
ni-
lie
oI t e running La , te ~ i
cular stairway and the third-
floor balcony as well as the
gym floor. Even the crude over-
head lighting, augmented by
Finch and Jennifer Riopelle to stage' lights, was put to good
FUNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN DANCE COMPANY
with THE UNIVERSITY PHILHARMONIC and
the CONTEMPORARY DIRECTIONS ENSEMBLE
Elizabeth Weil Bergmon's
THE PLANETS
by Gustov Holst _ _
Goy Delonghe's
LA CREATION
DU MONDE
by Darius
Milhaud
._ ._.__ ..._. ___.q~...- .....
i
I
POWER CENTER
FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
DECEMBER 10, 11 at 8:00, DECEMBER 12 at 3:00
Tickets at Power Box Office and Hudson's
A
o k
HOW TO GET RID OF
(or sell)
YOUR FALL TERM BOOKS
WITHOUT REALLY TRYING?
Just lake advantage of the
Michigan Daily Classified Book Drive
to some pretty music.
rrOMORROW, for a change of
pace, check out Meg Chris- Tonight at 7:00 & 9:05
tian's 8:30 performance in East MA A"
Quad. She's a feminist singer
and songwriter 'with an album
out on Olivia Records. You can
get tickets at the door or at "
either Discount Records or A
Woman's Bookstore, (225 E. Lib-
erty) for $3.
This Friday through Sunday2 ! hw
the University Dance Company
and School of Music will pre- "
miere original dance versions of
Gustav Holst's The Plants ande Pn4
Darius Milhaud's La Creation
du Monde, in the Power Cen- Tonight at 7:00 & 9:00
-.._......* _-. ._._ .._, . I W ALT D S E n w.n
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303 South State Street
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104
313/668-7652
One of America's Finest Bookshops
PASSAG ES.
I
PREDICTABLE CRISES OF ADULT LIFE
By GAIL SHEEHY
WHERE? Stop in at the Michigan Daily
420 Maynard Street
HOW? Fill ut an order form listing your name,
phone-number, and the course number.
We will place that information in the
proper department category, and your ad
will run for 3 days-unless your books sell
any sooner
COST? Just $1.00 for three days.
Pre-payment required.
WHEN? Beginning immediately at the onset of
Winter Term-January 7th.
ART I
"SEX TEEN"
AND
"FANTASY IN BLUE"
ART 11
A i'oadoap of adult life, indicating the perdictable
passages we take through our Twenties, Thirties,
Forties, and beyond. "The hope, wit and de-
m'ythification of adulthood that permeates
Sheehy's book makes Passages a work of
revelation."-front page, Washington
Post Book World. "Provokes the
A Fine Gift
$10.95 at most
Bookstores
$9.86 at Borders
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