The University Chorus and the Chamber Orchestra of Albuquerque have peace on their minds.
In honor of that notion, the two performed "Dona Nobis Pacem," translated to "give us peace," by Ralph Vaughan Williams free Tuesday night at Popejoy Hall.
"Vaughan Williams is one of the greatest composers of chorus music and I was afraid that the topic of the piece might be appropriate and it was," said Bradley Ellingboe, professor of music at UNM and coordinator of the University Chorus.
The 140-member chorus was accompanied by the Chamber Orchestra of Albuquerque, plus two UNM graduates, all conducted by Ellingboe. Jill McMahon and Scott Gregory sang solo pieces written by poet Walt Whitman.
As for directing 140 singers and the entire chamber orchestra, Ellingboe was up to the task.
"It's wonderful - it's really exciting," he said. "I am not making the music per say, but trying to guide them into my vision. It's sort of like playing a gigantic organ."
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The University Chorus is composed of a non-auditioned oratorio society of students, faculty, staff and community members. Ellingboe and the chorus feel that they reach out to the community by performing low-cost or free concerts throughout the year.
The chorus was the first at UNM and has been at the University for the last 70 years. About 35 UNM students and 11 staff members take part.
"I thought the chorus did beautifully," Ellingboe said.
In the first half of the concert, The Chamber Orchestra performed "Symphony No. 49 in F Minor La Passione" by Frank Joseph Haydn. This piece was conducted by David Oberg, UNM graduate and conductor of the Chamber Orchestra. The University Chorus performs one concert a year with the orchestra, usually in the spring.
The performance was a somber occasion as Whitman's poetry from the Civil War was applicable to the problems the nation faces at this time, over 100 years later.
Besides Whitman, the chorus performed verses from John Bright, a political activist during the Crimean War and adaptations from the Bible.
"Peace was on Walt Whitman's mind when he wrote the poetry during the Civil War, it was on the mind of Ralph Vaughan Williams when he wrote music on the eve of World War II and it is on our minds today," Ellingboe said.
Ellingboe added that the University Chorus has future plans to develop endowed educational scholarships and internships for UNM vocal students and young conductors. They also plan on collaborating with Albuquerque Public Schools for musical workshops.
