Great Auditorium. Music of the Spirit concert. August 26, 2018. Paul Goldfinger photograph © Click to enlarge.
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger.net Crank up the volume for the video below.
The video below is from the final part of this 6 part composition—Songs of Faith. It is called “Where Moses Stood.” This section includes choir, organ, brass and percussion. The words from the last two stanzas are:
“Oh, Mary, oh Mary, oh Mary. No! No! No! No! No! No!
“Don’t you weep and don’t you mourn.
“If I could, I surely would stand on the rock where Moses stood.
“Pharaoh’s army got drownded, oh, Mary, don’t you weep, don’t you mourn.”
August 26, 2018. Ocean Grove, New Jersey. Concert Review:
The Songs of Faith is like an exciting 6 chapter short-story book that unfolds with beauty, grace, emotions, unexpected plot twists, and wonderful melodies. Each part captures your mind in a way that as each one draws to a close, you wish it would stay a bit longer but you also anticipate the next surprise.
Composer Gwyneth Walker borrows from time-worn hymns and gospel tunes while punctuating them with lively and modern hooks and tempos.
It is a great privilege for the audience last night that this piece was performed in the Great Auditorium of Ocean Grove, and the OG Camp Meeting Association deserves high praise for their willingness to sponsor such an original commission, in association with the Summit Music Festival in Summit, New Jersey. And to present this production at no cost is remarkable indeed.
The presentation included the 120 voice OG Choir, the MidAtlantic Brass Ensemble with percussion, Gordon Turk on the Hope-Jones Organ, and soloists including Monica Ziglar (soprano) Katherine Pracht (Mezzo-Soprano,) Justin Beck (Baritone Soloist) and Ronald Naldi (Tenor Soloist.)
Jason Tramm conducting.
They were all marvelous, and JoAnnn Lamolino (trumpet soloist in Part 4) was so good with her rendition of “Were You There” performed with Gordon Turk that she received an expansive round of applause–well worth the acclaim.
After the concert, I bumped into soloists Ronald Naldi and Justin Beck walking briskly outside, on the dark tent side of the Auditorium. Beck was already in shorts, while Naldi had loosened his tie. They were chatting amiably and smiling as they downed some well-earned soft drinks.
As they breezed by I told them that their concert was terrific, but their smiles and pace indicated that they knew the event was a success—and so it was.
As usual Blogfinger, you are so clear and so right about the magnificent Sunday evening performance. Frankly great music and great performances create an ecumenical setting for those who can appreciate and enjoy such fine music and fantastic talent.
The Great Auditorium is a major contributing venue for such efforts. Add to that utilization, Thursday night “Summer Stars” finale with orchestra and vocalist.
The only downside as your next pictorial segment illustrates: too many empty seats. The Camp Meeting Association needs to create
a marketing plan that relates to a diverse sporadic summer crowd—-as well as gaining additional support and rewarding year-round inhabitants.
It’s a simple task. It takes advantage of existing resources: both volunteers and budget. Hopefully it would be considered within “its mission.”