The Cal Poly Humboldt School of Dance, Music, and Theatre presents University Singers and Humboldt Chorale, led by choral director Rachel Samet, in two live concerts on Friday, May 9 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 11 at 7:30 p.m. The concert, called “Earth, Fire, Water, Air,” features natural elements in various ways. Concert tickets are $15 general, $5 children, and free for Cal Poly Humboldt students with ID. Tickets may be purchased at the door or in advance at tickets.humboldt.edu/dance-music-and-theatre. From the "All Events" drop down menu select "Department of Dance, Music, and Theatre" and select your event.

The 100+ member strong Humboldt Chorale will rouse the audience with Saunder Choi's bluesy arrangement of Saro Lynch-Thomason's "More Waters Rising." English composer Edward Elgar's passionate "Wie Fluten im Sommer," which conveys passion in summertime, is followed by Randall Thompson's setting of Robert Frost's iconic "The Road Not Taken," which uses nature as a way to ponder life's choices. The Humboldt Chorale keeps things moving with a Serbian dance tune, "Niska Banja," and Kirby Shaw's arrangement of Paul Simon's "Bridge Over Troubled Water" is a powerful musical statement sung by the large group.

University Singers starts the second half of the program with Brad Burrill's stirring "My Soul is Awakened," a setting of Anne Brontë's poetry that explores the power nature has to uplift us. Italian Renaissance composer Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina's serene and sensuous "Sicut cervus" beautifully evokes flowing water. Moira Smiley's arrangement of the American folk tune "Bring Me Little Water, Sylvie" is fresh, fun, and contemporary. Jack Klebanow's "Erev Shel Shoshanim" sensitively evokes a portrait of the Israeli desert. Donald Erb's arrangement of "Shenandoah" is a classic in choral repertoire, with rich harmonies and flowing lines. An exciting moment of the concert is Katerina Gimon's "Fire," which portrays the element through unconventional sounds and body percussion. The element of air is explored with William Dawson's highly rhythmic arrangement of the African-American spiritual "Ezekiel Saw de Wheel." 

The Humboldt Chorale will join the University Singers to close the concert with a conviction to stand up for civil rights with Rollo Dilworth's gospel style work, "Stand Upon the Rock."

When: Friday, May 9 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 11 at 7:30 p.m.

Where: Fulkerson Recital Hall

Price: $15 General, $5 Children and FREE for Humboldt Students w/ID

Tickets

Contact: Cal Poly Humboldt School of Dance, Music, and Theatre, 707-826-3566, mus@humboldt.edu