Hubbard Choir to Present: Rutter's Requiem

Description

The Hubbard United Methodist Church Choir will present John Rutter’s Requiem on Palm Sunday, April 9, at 3 p.m. The concert is open to the community at no charge.
“John Rutter, who was born in London in 1945, composed the Requiem in 1985 in memory of his father,” explained Jennie Anderson, choir director.

Rutter’s Requiem is a musical setting of parts of the Latin Requiem with added psalms and biblical verses in English. Widely recognized as one of the most popular compositions of the last 30 years, it is scored for soprano, mixed choir and orchestra. It was first performed in its entirety on October 13, 1985, at the United Methodist Church in Dallas, TX.
According to Anderson, “Though it necessarily has its darker moments, the Requiem is unmistakably optimistic in its message of hope and comfort, expressed through the beauty of the chosen texts and Rutter’s uplifting music.”

One of the movements is a setting of "Out of the deep" (Psalm 130); one is an anthem, The Lord is my Shepherd (Psalm 23); and a third is Pie Jesu, for soprano solo. In the first six months after publication, Rutter’s Requiem was heard in more than 500 orchestral performances in America alone.

Joining the Hubbard choir will be musicians from the Park Rapids area and beyond. They are: Donna Neumann, flute; Sandy Sprafka, oboe; Alice Anderson, bassoon; Erik Kiesz, timpani/glockenspiel; Terry Greenawalt, piano; and Cheryl Steinborn, organ.
“The Palm Sunday Cantata has become a tradition at the Hubbard church. It is our gift to the community,” said the Rev. Laurie Kantonen, pastor of the church, which was founded in 1890. The current church, built in 2004-2005, sites on the site of the original church, which was moved several blocks to become part of the Long Lake Theater complex in Hubbard.

A reception which will follow the concert in the Fellowship Hall.