The Southern Maryland Encore Chorale was in concert at The Great Hall in Lusby on Saturday, May 4. The Encore Chorale was conducted by Krystal Rickard McCoy from St. Mary’s College and accompanied by Erin Tennyson, on the piano. Encore is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing an artistic environment for adults age 55 and older, regardless of experience or ability. It is for adults who seek performance opportunities under a professional artist. The concert opened with Ching-A-Ring-Chaw composed by Aaron Copeland. “Ching-a-Ring Chaw” was originally a minstrel song with a text in dialect that Copland felt had to be rewritten. He explained, “I did not want to take any chance of it being construed as racist.” “Ching-a-Ring Chaw” is a jaunty ditty, filled with syncopation and quick syllabic treatment. The accompaniment is often characterized by afterbeats, string pizzicato and trombone solos. “Simple Gifts” is the most familiar of the tunes that Copland uses for his Old American Songs; it is of course the cornerstone melody of his 1944 ballet, Appalachian Spring. “Simple Gifts” is a Shaker hymn from 1848, the words and melody written by Elder Joseph Brackett, which was later quoted by Edward D. Andrews in his book [...]
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