SICF 2015 Louisville Cardinal Singers - Ave Maris Stella by Blake Wilson

Описание: The Louisville Cardinal Singers conducted by Kent Hatteberg was a feature choir at SICF 2015.

The song sung here is Ave Maris Stella composed by Blake Wilson.

Blake Wilson is a student at the University of Louisville and a member of the Cardinal Singers and Collegiate Chorale. Ave Maris Stella was not necessarily written with the choirs at UofL in mind; rather, he wanted to compose something that could be sung with a gathering of friends. One of these friends heard the piece, and thought it would be a great fit for the Cardinal Singers. The piece opens with a rich homophonic setting of the title text, followed by an unfolding of syncopated entrances around the choir. The basses join in the same manner at the appearance of the text Solve vincla reis. A brief return to homophonic texture occurs during the text Monstra te esse Matrem, before the basses start another chain of cascading entrances. The two soprano parts perpetuate a driving rhythm in canon while the other voices provide a foundational support of expansive block chords.

A brief moment of repose is signaled by a soprano and alto solo on the final iteration of the text Mites fac et castos. The full choir enters again in block chords, building in dynamic and range before the climatic final section. A brief setting in 7/8 uplifts the listener as the choir sings Sit laus Deo Patri, Summo Christo Decus, Spiritui Sancto. A shift back to common time and the recurrence of homophonic text setting over expansive chords allows for a glorious ending to the piece.