Many thanks to the Mods for giving their permission to post this.
Dear Dopers: for anyone who is near Waterloo, Ontario on March 28th, I’ll be the baritone soloist in a performance of Dave Brubeck’s 1968 composition “The Light in the Wilderness” with the Elora Festival Singers. Details, including a map to the Centre for Innovation in International Governance, are at this link.
Hoping some of you might be interested and able to make it.
Best wishes,
Le Ministre de l’au-delà
Sounds great. Will there be a broadcast?
Sadly not - having put in a fair bit of time learning it in the last couple of weeks, I’m rather hoping to talk a few other folks into doing it as well. I’m pretty sure if CBC had been talked into this, I’d have heard by now.
Still, hope springs eternal…
Indeed. I’m doing a concert on Sunday. Fairly standard stuff, with the only really tricky piece being the Poulenc Mass in G. We’ve just discovered that it’s going to be recorded for future broadcast. That’s putting us all on our mettle.
Unfortunately, I think that weekend is already booked for me… which is too bad, because I’m usually happy to find any excuse I can for a road trip to the Waterloo/St Jacobs/Elora area, especially if it involves some good music along the way. 
I shall hope the CBC sees the light so that I can catch it on broadcast… do keep us posted on any future concerts in and around the area, though.
Go** Le Ministre**!
Is there a YouTube clip of the piece that is close enough to the approach you guys are taking that it is worth sharing?
I love Brubeck based on my limited exposure - but I don’t know that work.
Nothing focuses the mind like a hanging microphone…
Mahna Mahna
I’ll continue to keep everyone posted, as long as I’m not being a pest. I just don’t get as much work near home as I’d like…
WordMan
The quick answer is ‘no’. I don’t know why, but there is only one recording of this piece, and it’s essentially the premiere, dating from 1968. This recording was released on CD, but it’s no longer available except as a rare/used item. I tracked down a copy at the U of Toronto music library, but it’s only available for listening in the library.
Nothing on youtube, either, though I’ll keep looking. I’m starting to speculate wildly on who has the recording rights to the piece, and how staunchly they protect them…
It’s too bad, because while the piece shows its age, it’s no more dated than say, the original cast recording of Jesus Christ Superstar or Godspell.
How did your performance go on the weekend Le Ministre? Did you get a good crowd?
Thanks for asking - I dare say it went really well. The band was fantastic, especially the pianist who did all the improv passages! It’s an incredible workout for everyone involved. I’m totally beat today - I don’t think I’ve sung a solo part that long since I did the Ralph Vaughn William’s Sea Symphony, and this was higher, to boot. I’ll let you guys know if there’s ever a review.
The choir seemed happy with the crowd - the venue only holds about a hundred, and we were almost sold out. I just found myself thinking 'All this effort for a hundred people? This is nuts!!!" I figured if each performer was working 3 people, we had the whole crowd covered nicely.
Now I’m trying to talk someone else into doing the piece just so I can justify the brain cells it’s taking up…
Here is a link to the review, for anyone interested.
Wow - what a great review! Congratulations.
Very favourable. Well done.