For those with special someones who prefer Mozart to spaghetti and meatballs or are just tired of the traditional dinner and a movie, Las Cantantes, the UNM women's choir will be performing a special Valentine's Day concert.
The concert will feature several pieces by Libby Larsen composed specifically for the choir.
"This is a new idea for us," said choir director Brad Ellingboe. "Partly because a great composer wrote us a piece called 'Jack's Valentine.' It made me think it would be fun to do a Valentine's Day concert."
The Jack in "Jack's Valentine" is actually the famous beat poet Jack Kerouac. The piece centers around one of Kerouac's girlfriends, Aldeen Humphreys.
"It's actually a very witty piece, almost ironic," Ellingboe said. It's written in that beatnik poet style. 'Hey you! I love you. I love you a lot.'"
"Jack's Valentine" is one of five pieces written by Larsen for Las Cantantes. The others are "Spring," "She Piped for Us," "If I Can Stop One Heart from Breaking" and "Touch the Air Softly."
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"Music is used to generate emotion," Ellingboe said. "(Jack's Valentine) generates a sort of raw humor. Her other pieces are much more tender."
Las Cantantes will also perform several other pieces. Ellingboe's piece, "Magnificat," has actually been performed before when the choir went on tour in 2000. He wrote the song in 1998 over a span of two months.
Magnificat in Latin means my soul magnifies the Lord. Mary said this upon receiving news that she was to bear the son of God, according to Ellingboe.
"The best music for choir is religious music," Ellingboe said. Thus, the concert will not only cover romantic love but also religious, familial and plutonic love.
In addition to Larsen and Ellingboe, the choir will perform several pieces by Benjamin Britten, RenÇ Clausen, Billy Joel, Morten Lauridsen, James Mulholland, as well as their trademark, "Ave Maria."
The concert will open with the short and energetic "Psalm 140," before leading into the short traditional mass.
"It's designed to kind of say, 'Hey everybody, wake up! We're on stage now!' before leading into the slower 'Missa Brevis,'" Ellingboe said.
The choir, Las Cantantes, itself has existed for 10 years, fluctuating between 16 and 20 members each year. They have been rehearsing this concert for four weeks.
"It's a little bit of a push for the ladies of the choir to do a concert after only four weeks of school," Ellingboe said. "But I think they've come together beautifully."
The Valentine's Day concert offers a unique and refreshing change from the traditional dinner and a movie. Not only will the audience hear the beautiful ethereal music of the church, but also the candid humorous piece "Jack's Valentine." The show will be a little more than an hour, so dinner and a movie is still an option for those die-hard Valentine's Day traditionalists.
What: Las Cantantes Valentine's Day Concert
When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Keller Hall
Price: $3 students, $7 general admission
Ticket Info: 277-2126
