(April 14, 2015)

Centenary College Camerata presents Madrigal performance

SHREVEPORT, LA — The Centenary College Camerata choral ensemble will present its final performance of the year, Madrigals, on Thursday, April 23, at 7:30 p.m. in Anderson Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public.

Madrigal
Centenary College Camerata presents Madrigal performance

"This concert explores the rich treasures of the madrigal genre," said Visiting Assistant Professor of Music and Camerata conductor Dr. Cory Wikan. "Starting with early Italian Renaissance composers, Arcadelt, Rore, Marenzio, and Verdelot, we trace our way through works by later Renaissance composers, Gesualdo and Monteverdi. Next, we jump to England, singing the English madrigals of Morley and Weelkes. The concert will close with modern American madrigals from Ross Lee Finney's Spherical Madrigals."

Wikan further explains that Renaissance madrigals were written for three to six voices, with one singer to each part. For this concert, Camerata has been divided into smaller groups to observe the traditional performance practice. Wikan's goal for this semester is to give students greater responsibility in the preparation element of music making, which is an essential skill for professional musicians.

"Although I guided them during regular Camerata rehearsals, each group was largely responsible for learning, rehearsing, and refining their assigned madrigal," said Wikan. "Madrigals are a highly stylized, expressive form of secular music; the performers' understanding and communication of the complex meanings of the text and music are integral to the genre. A significant amount of creativity emerges during the interpretive process. In addition to the gorgeous music, an exciting element of this concert will be witnessing each group realize a collective interpretation of their piece."

Camerata, founded in 1983, is the primary academic choral ensemble from the Hurley School of Music. This group is dedicated to quality artistic performances of choral repertoire from all historical periods to the highest musical standards. The composition of the group is primarily voice majors, though membership is open to all Centenary students by audition.