Americans may know composer Aaron Copland for his frequently performed symphonies, which are also commonly heard in films and on television.
But he’s also arranged some of the country’s best choral music, and the Waukegan Concert Chorus will perform this preeminent work at its concert, “Aaron Copland and Friends,” May 14 at the Schornick Theatre at the Jack Benny Center for the Arts in Waukegan.
“There’s just a distinctly American flavor to the concert, which is the point in choosing Aaron Copland in the first place,” said Music Director Randy Casey.
He chose the program to highlight Copland as well as others that are considered mainstays in the traditional choral repertoire.
“Most of the pieces on the program are staples of American choral literature,” he said. “These are pieces that I think people who like to think of themselves as legitimate singers should have sung at some time in their lives.”
The Waukegan Concert Chorus was established in 1976 as an independent sister organization of the Waukegan Symphony Orchestra. Casey first became involved with it as an accompanist in 1998, and he took over as music director about eight years ago.
“We have a wonderful time, and Tuesday night (practice) has become a highlight of my week because I enjoy the singers so much,” Casey said. “The good news is also that they’re excellent singers. I guess one way to put it is that there’s no deadwood in the choir. Everyone can keep up and do their part.”
This performance will start with “Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair” by Stephen Foster, an American classic first published in 1854. Following that will be “Three Mountain Ballads” by Ron Nelson, which will be sung by the women’s chorus. “These (ballads) are a staple of American choral literature, and they are absolutely beautiful,” Casey said.
Next comes “If Love Should Count Me Worthy” by James Mulholland, which “wallows in sentiment,” Casey said with a laugh. It’s followed by “Yonda’ Come Day,” a traditional spiritual arranged by William Appling.
The final anthems are all from Copland’s “Old American Songs,” a group he arranged in 1950 and 1952. Those being performed include “I Bought Me a Cat,” “Ching-A-Ring Chaw” and “Zion’s Walls.”
“If you’re American and you’re a choral singer, you want to sing these pieces, in my humble opinion,” Casey said. “‘I Bought Me a Cat’ is probably one of the top three pieces of secular choral music ever written by an American.
“It’s superb; people love it,” he said. “It’s nothing but fun from A to Z, and every legitimate choir director in the United States will have heard of ‘I Bought Me a Cat.’ It’s just a staple of American choral literature.”
He’s hoping that fans of choral music will find as much pleasure in the concert as he has had in creating it.
“The whole program is designed to be enjoyable to sing and enjoyable to listen to,” Casey said. “Why should people come to a choir rehearsal if they’re not going to be singing something they enjoy?”
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Waukegan Concert Chorus ‘Aaron Copland and Friends’
When: 4 p.m. May 14
Where: Schornick Theatre at the Jack Benny Center for the Arts, 39 Jack Benny Drive, Waukegan
Tickets: $10-$15; Students 18 and under are free
Information: 847-360-4740; waukeganparks.org/wsocc/
Jeff Banowetz is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.