Beauty by Beauty (2023) by John Rommereim - Cantori New York premiere

Performed on November 5, 2023, as part of Cantori New York's fall concert series at Church of the Holy Apostles, 296 9th Ave, NYC.
Beauty by Beauty sets texts by Native American author Joy Harjo, a rare 3-time U.S. Poet Laureate. Written for chorus and vibraphone, the piece presents a gentle meditation on the fleeting human experience amidst the Earth’s enduring natural splendor.
====
BEAUTY BY BEAUTY
by John Rommereim
Text by Joy Harjo
World premiere of revised version
00:00 Beauty by Beauty
06:05 Applause
Lyrics at: cantorinewyork.com//s/Ochre-N...
====
I was inspired by the way this poem by Joy Harjo draws our attention to the wonder and mystery of the living presence that continually transforms and rearranges the world, ‘thought by thought, beauty, by beauty.’ I can’t explain how it is that the call to cast away fear that abruptly appears in the last four lines grows out of this encounter with beauty in the poem’s beginning; nonetheless, it feels completely right.
This piece was written to honor the life of our dear friend Jean Ketter, a member of Vox Feminae, the choir that premiered it, and a long-time colleague of mine at Grinnell College. Jean was both a gentle and a courageous person, and I hope that this piece has some of her spirit in it-an openness to beauty, and a refusal to let fear govern one’s life.
-Notes by John Rommereim
====
Featuring:
Jared Soldiviero, vibraphone
Audio: Swan Studios NYC / Andreas Meyer
Video: Jacob McCoy / Richard Berg
====
Cantori New York is an acclaimed chamber chorus specializing in new & neglected music.
cantorinewyork.com
Mark Shapiro, Artistic Director
This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in Partnership with the City Council.
This program is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.
This program is supported, in part, by the National Endowment for the Arts.

[@djnorm98]

Lovely!

[@melindawestphalen6234]

that was beautiful. Congratulations John.