Longest Choir Piece Ever?

Story by Bree Moore »

The Eudora Cardinal Choirs will be performing a 45-minute piece during their winter concert on Dec. 14. The singers have been working during class and outside of class for the past two months, practicing a song in a Latin, which is a new style of music for them.

Matthew Beckham, Jr. is in Primo Voci this year and loves singing with his class.

“I haven’t been in choir since 8th grade,” Beckham said, “and I finally wanted to try out because I missed singing.”

It’s been quite a change for Beckham with more difficult songs and having to practice more outside of class, but he enjoys every second of it.

The Latin hymns that Primo Voci and Cantorei are performing is titled “Gloria” and is one of the longest pieces they have sang in years – at 45 minutes long with no stopping.

Beckham feels that this is a longer piece than he has sang in the past, but thinks it’s something totally different and unique for EHS/EMS Choir Director Ashley Coffman to have them do.

“I think that we can definitely pull this song off,” Beckham said, “I think it will be a little tricky, but I think if enough of us practice at home and focus in class, it will turn out great.”

The composer of the piece, Antonio Vivaldi, was an Italian Baroque composer (1678-1741).  He is known for his innovative ability to compose rhythmic structure, harmonic contrast, theme, and melody.  The masterwork that they are performing, “Gloria”, is a setting of the hymn “Gloria in Excelsis Deo”.

“I have wanted to conduct and teach a large work since I began teaching nine years ago,” Coffman said. ”I have worked with the majority of the individuals in Primo Voci and Cantorei for at least four years if not six.  When I made the decision to begin this project, I felt strongly that this group of musicians was the right fit for Vivaldi.  We have many upperclassmen and a strong ensemble to perform the parts efficiently and stylistically true to the composer.”

The goal with the performance, according to Mrs. Coffman, is to create an enjoyable, cultural, and challenging experience for the musicians. At this point in the rehearsal process, Coffman says that the students are in good shape.

“I’m looking forward to seeing how we continue to learn the repertoire,” Coffman said, “However, on Dec. 14, we are going to give one heck of a performance!  I am so excited to present this to our Eudora community.”