Merced College Chorale plans music journey with spring concert

Taking listeners on a musical travelogue is the goal of the UC Merced Chorale spring concert “Songs From the Great American Songbook” Friday and Saturday.

“Instead of having a travelogue where people are transported via pictures or video to exotic places around the world, we’re having a musical time-travelogue when we’ll be traveling back in time to the 1920s through to the 1950s in American popular music,” Director Curtis Nelson said.

“This was a time period when some of the most memorable, and lasting, American pop music was composed and recorded,” Nelson said.

With 100 Chorale singers, a dozen instrumentalists and Merced College drama students, the concert will feature favorite arrangements of classic songs such as “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore,” “It’s De-Lovely,” “You’re the Top,” and “Singin’ in the Rain.”

“In addition to the great music, there will also be video, multimedia and theatrical elements as part of the musical time-travelogue,” Nelson said. “We’re even including a glossary in the program for those under age 50 who might be puzzled by terms contained in the songs, such as ‘flivver’ or ‘het up’ or ‘plebeian.’

“Sometimes I’ve provided translations for texts that were in Latin or Italian, but I’ve never provided a translation for a different generation,” Nelson admitted.

Second soprano Bethany Mergy is excited to participate in a production that is not simply a concert.

“I wanted to take part in something that didn’t just involve me, but involved the hard work of a ton of people that can come together and sing beautifully,” Mergy said.

“We will incorporate pictures and videos of the origins of the music, along with a few things relevant to the time period. It will be a show, not just singing,” she said.

Second soprano Amanda Dominguez likes performing with those who share her passions.

“I enjoy singing and being among others who appreciate the music as much as I do,” she said. “My favorite aspect of the show is when all the harmonies click into place and the choir becomes one voice.”

Nelson said this is one of the most exciting concerts he and the Chorale have done at Merced College.

“For those who want to take a musical voyage to the middle of the 20th century,” he said, “with songs that are firmly woven into the fabric of American musicality, this is a concert that should not be missed.”

Bass Jim Buckley agreed, saying, “We’re singing jazz from the ’20s on, written by very talented musicians and composers. From the music by the orchestra and the choir, to the staging of the effects for the show, they should get a lot of pleasure from it.”

This story was originally published May 14, 2015 at 6:52 PM with the headline "Merced College Chorale plans music journey with spring concert."