Spent the afternoon recently working with the Shawnee Mission West High School Chorale. They commissioned a new a cappella piece in commemoration of their appearance at the 2012 Kansas Music Educators Association In-Service Workshop (the state convention for all us music teachers). Their director, Laura VanLeeuwen, is an amazing musician and probably one of the best teachers I've ever seen work a group of kids. When I showed up to listen to my piece and they were warming up, I knew it would be awesome.
And they didn't disappoint.
Laura asked me to set the King James Version of Solomon 8:6, the famous "Set me as a seal" passage from the Old Testament. Most of the versions of this setting see it as something joyful, or praiseful, but I didn't read it that way. Rather, I envisioned more of an imploring, almost begging, for forgiveness. So, being the weird little composer that I am, I wrote it to that end. And those kids are just singing the crap out of it! Superb intonation, amazing articulation, and more importantly to me, they really, really get it!
So, "BRAVA" to you Ms. V! And "BRAVO, BRAVA!" to the members of the SMW Chorale. I look forward to your performance at KMEA!
Until then, all y'all....
Peace,
Jeffrey
