Grace Chorale of Brooklyn (Jason Asbury, Music Director), in collaboration with Vertical Player Repertory (Judith Barnes, Artistic Director), presents the in-person premiere of The Constitution, a Secular Oratorio by Benjamin Yarmolinsky, a musical performance of our nation's foundational document, accompanied by a chamber orchestra on Saturday, May 14, 2022 at 7pm and Sunday, May 15, 2022 at 3pm at St. Ann & The Holy Trinity Church, 157 Montague Street, Brooklyn Heights, NYC. Tickets are $15 for students and seniors, $25 general admission, with the option for a special $45 ticket donation to celebrate Grace Chorale of Brooklyn's 45th Anniversary, and can be purchased at eventbrite.com/e/the-constitution-a-secular-oratorio-tickets-319185090197. View an excerpt: https://youtu.be/82b-EEFijSg
Aside from the Declaration of Independence, no text epitomizes American ideals as much as the Constitution. Acknowledging the Constitution's embodiment of 18th century values and language, the composer Ben Yarmolinsky has chosen a corresponding 18th century musical style, the Handelian oratorio, as the model for his setting of The Constitution. The work comprises choruses, arias, and recitatives, similar to The Messiah, but with a recognizably American sound that combines jazz rhythms, blues, folk, gospel, as well as Handelian flourishes to give voice to the Constitution's words in a clear, vigorous, and highly singable style. People might leave the performances humming an amendment or two!
About Benjamin Yarmolinsky
Benjamin Yarmolinsky has lived and worked in New York since 1982. He has composed hundreds of works, including operas, chamber music, choral music, musical theater works, orchestral music, film scores, and songs. He is also a classical guitarist and singer and has performed extensively in those capacities. His most recent works include The Constitution: a secular oratorio; Pentagrams, a chamber work for flute, guitar and piano; The Trial of Anna, an opera based on the 2015 trial of Dr. Anna Stubblefield; The Yarmolinsky Variations, a 50-minute video; and Americana, a program of American folk song arrangements for solo guitar. Before graduating from Harvard University in 1977, Yarmolinsky spent two years in Paris, studying with the legendary Nadia Boulanger. From 1978 through 1982, he lived in Morocco where he taught music at the American School of Tangier, immersed himself in the local music, and was friendly with composer Paul Bowles. On returning to New York, he studied at the City University of New York where he earned his Ph.D. in music composition. In 1989, he was one of the founders of Friends & Enemies of New Music. He currently holds a position of Professor of Music at the City University of New York's Bronx Community College campus.
About Vertical Player Repertory
Vertical Player Repertory creates ensemble-driven opera theatre in extraordinary venues, bringing theatrical integrity and an unconventional spirit to an eclectic mix of repertoire, in settings that have ranged from a factory courtyard on the Gowanus Canal to the last active shipping port in Brooklyn. A pioneer of the indie opera movement, VPR's unique vision and adventurous use of place invite both performer and audience to re-imagine the great possibilities of opera.
About Grace Chorale of Brooklyn
Grace Chorale of Brooklyn (GCB) is a 90-member community chorus with a number of significant missions: presenting great choral music to the communities of Brooklyn, providing amateur singers the opportunity to study and perform works drawn from choral music's rich tradition, and commissioning new music from up-and-coming composers. GCB is celebrating its 45th anniversary this year, and, under the leadership of Music Director Jason Asbury, our membership, musical partnerships, and range of repertory continue to grow in socially relevant programing, and meaningful collaboration with other musicians, choruses and composers, both local and national. For more information, please go to www.gracechorale.org.
