Once again Michael Teolis has uncovered some real gems to present at the May 7 Michael Teolis Singers concert in Oak Park. This time, he’s featuring works by 17 American women composers — some well-known and others lesser-known, but all with interesting stories and well-written music that Teolis said he’s excited about directing in front of an audience. He’s calling it the Grand Dames of American Music.
Nancy Greco, the group’s manager and founder, said she’s sung works by some of these composers, and “they didn’t’always have the chance to be showcased. Many of them have studied with some very famous people and worked for famous people.”
One of those composers is Kay Swift, who was born in 1897 and died in 1993.
Teolis, through his archival research, discovered a piece Swift wrote that as far as knows has never been performed.
“It’s called ‘God Is Our Refuge,’ he said. “The choir is excited about us doing it. It’s supposed to be published after we perform it.”
Swift wrote the piece for a competition in 1962 under a pseudonym, Teolis discovered. “It’s a fascinating piece. It reflects the show tune cadences and melodies, but she also ties it into a classical form,” he said. “She was very good friends with George Gershwin. She worked with him at his elbow for the last 10 years of his life, and he used her as a musical resource. He knew she was so well-trained, that she had attended Julliard and she knew composing and form and arranging. She was there with Gershwin when he was writing ‘Porgy and Bess.'”
Swift also wrote a ballet for George Balanchine, an American ballet choreographer, Teolis said, “and had a musical hit of her own called ‘Fine and Dandy.'”
Another featured composer is Marion Bauer, who was born in 1882 and died in 1955.
“She was a fascinating woman. She spoke fluent French. She was the first American to study with Nadia Boulanger,” Teolis said.
Boulanger was a well-known teacher of composition from France; among her pupils was Aaron Copeland.
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“Marion Bauer didn’t have a lot of money so she worked out a deal with Boulanger,” he said. Bauer taught Boulanger how to speak English, and Boulanger gave her composition lessons.
The choir will sing Bauer’s “Fair Daffodils,” a nature-related piece written in 1912.
Teolis found plenty of fascinating tidbits about American women composers. Katharine K. Davis, for example, penned “The Carol of the Drum,” which became a hit for the Harry Simeone Chorale in 1958. Folks know the song today as “The Little Drummer Boy,” Teolis said.
Greco, who sings with the group, said one of her favorite pieces is by Alice Parker, known for her choral arrangements.
“The text is also enjoyable,” Greco said. “That makes it just as much fun when you get into the lyrics.”
Teolis said he views the choral concerts as historic documents.
“I think we are able to resurrect or bring to light some of those hidden gems and dust them off for people to listen to and appreciate,” he said.
Michael Teolis Singers
What: Grand Dames of American Music concert
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 7
Where; First United Methodist Church of Oak Park, 324 N. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park
Tickets: $18; $12 students and seniors
Information: 708-366-2889; www.mtsingers.org