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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate NEWS NOW Easing the pain ... Lithia Christmas Faire set Thanksgiving weekend ... ScienceWorks explores the science behind 'Back to the Future' ... Easing the pain ... Lithia Christmas Faire set Thanksgiving weekend ... ScienceWorks explores the science behind 'Back to the Future' ... MUSIC 'There is Sweet Music' Southern Oregon Repertory Singers launch 30th season Comment DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Oct. 22, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted Oct. 22, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News Southern Oregon Repertory Singers' director and conductor Paul French says he likes "big-heart" music. Music that really reaches out and grabs the listener. "Some music is aimed at the brain rather than at the heart," he says. "I think all of the pieces on our program this weekend will really grab people." French and the choir will present "There is Sweet Music," a program of music from the British Isles, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, in the Music Recital Hall on the Southern Oregon University campus, 1250 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland. Tickets are $26 or $32 and can be purchased online at repsingers.org or by calling 541-552-0900. Students and SNAP card holders can purchase tickets at the door for $5. Season tickets with reserved seats are available. Free lectures about the music will be presented one hour before each show. "We'll include music from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Music from across the British Isles," French says. "I've made sure to include Welsh music, as I've been stopped so many times on the street to be reminded that Wales is part of the British Isles," he laughs. The concerts begin with music by English composer Sir Edward Elgar set to Lord Alfred Tennyson's poem, "There is Sweet Music." "I chose it because I think it is one of the most beautiful pieces of music," French says. "It sounds like rose petals blowing on the breeze. It's a wildly romantic and atmospheric piece." "Sweet Music" will be followed by a set of compositions by Welsh composer Paul Mealor. The set, "Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal," uses imagery of rose petals. The Repertory Singers will perform three of the four pieces from the set: "Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal" — also set to a Tennyson poem — "Lady, When I Behold the Roses Sprouting" and "Upon a Bank with Roses." "Something interesting about Mealor," French says. "His music was featured at Prince William's and Kate Middleton's 2011 wedding. Born in 1975, he's a significant composer of today's choral music. He lives in Scotland, but he was born in Wales. His teacher, William Mathias, wrote the music for Lady Di's wedding. His music is lush and colorful. If Renoir wrote music, it would sound like this." Audiences can look for arrangements of Scottish and Irish folk songs made popular by Irish choral group Anuna, along with arrangements of English folk songs made popular by The King's Singers, a British a cappella vocal ensemble founded in 1968 at King's College in Cambridge. "We have several local musicians playing with us for the folk music," French says. "Pat O'Scannell is playing penny whistle and Laurie Hunter is playing harp. With their help, this music will take listeners to the Scottish Highlands. There also will be a bit of 'mouth music.' It's nonsensical syllables sung with intent to make people dance." Also look for SORS' newly commissioned piece by local composer and Repertory Singers’ accompanist Jodi French. "Angels nor Saints" is a composition based on a text written nearly 2,000 years ago by Irish monk St. Columba. "It's a wonderful little set of words about the Isle of Iona in Scotland," Jodi French says. "I got the idea after visiting an art shop in Scotland and seeing how artists had taken ancient texts and used them in paintings and other art. I put a flowing, Celtic style of music to it and wrote it for a full choir. It's gentle, loving and meant to be played with harp and penny whistle," she says. "St. Columba founded an abbey at Iona that is still standing today. Born in 521, he was someone who was said to have visions and saintly experiences. He hadn't necessarily seen angels or saints, but he had seen this beautiful little island, and that is where his heart was. For him, it was the beauty of God." The Repertory Singers' 30th season will continue with its annual holiday concert, "Sing We Merrily" Dec. 19-20, followed by "Beyond the Stars" Feb. 27-28, and Austrian composer Joseph Haydn's oratorio "Creation" May 21-22. DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Oct. 22, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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