by Rachel Hunter
The Gouverneur High School presented its winter concert on Tuesday, December 20 in the GHS Auditorium, featuring the talented student-musicians in the Gouverneur High School Strings Orchestra, Gouverneur High School Chorus, and Gouverneur High School Concert Band.
The Gouverneur High School String Orchestra, directed by Victor M. Correa III, performed four selections. The orchestra opened with “Ding Dong! Merrily on High,” a 16th Century French tune arranged by Carrie Lane Gruselle. The tune first appeared as a secular dance tune known under the title "Branle de l'Official" in Orchésographie, a dance book written by the French cleric, composer and writer Thoinot Arbeau, pen name of Jehan Tabourot (1519–1593). The words are by the English composer George Ratcliffe Woodward (1848–1934), and the carol was first published in 1924. Woodward took an interest in church bell ringing, which no doubt aided him in writing it. The macaronic style is characteristic of Woodward’s delight in archaic poetry.
The GHS String Orchestra then performed the ever-popular “Jingle Bells,” by James Pierpont (1822–1893) and published under the title "The One Horse Open Sleigh" in September 1857. The orchestra performed the classic as arranged for the strings by Michael Blackwood.
The next selection was the energetic, dramatic “Viking,” by Soon He NewBold, which transported the local audience into a legendary seafaring adventure.
The GHS String Orchestra concluded with a performance of “Wenceslas” by Deborah Baker Monday. Based upon the classic Christmas carol Good King Wenceslas, the local audience enjoyed the portrayal of historical journey as its depicted the story of how Wenceslas became the "good King." Although dark and foreboding at the start, depicting the evil that was around during his time, the goodness of the King wins out and the piece ended triumphantly with the traditional carol.
The GHS String Orchestra includes the following student-musicians. 1st Violin: Mya Connor, Madison Hopper, Emalyn Kulp, and Turner Sochia. 2nd Violin: Electa Fitzgerald, Jackson Ritchie, Arianna Sibley, Cassidy Chambers, and Norris LaRue. Viola: Allysa Byrd and Raneissa Way. Cello: llydia Blaine, Niciara House-Bowman, and Jesse Farr. String Bass: James Hayden and Ayden Sears. Much applause sounded for these talented student musicians.
The GHS String Orchestra Concert last Tuesday was the last concert conducted by Victor M. Correa III, who resigned from his position at Gouverneur Central School District, effective Dec. 20. The Gouverneur CSD Music Department presented Mr. Correa an appreciation plaque for sharing his passion for music with the local students over the past three and a half years. Thunderous applause sounded in appreciation of Mr. Correa’s time and dedication to the Wildcat student-musicians.
Next up was the GHS Chorus, directed by Renee Powlin and accompanied by Gail Haile.
The GHS Chorus opened with “A Call For Peace,” by Jerry Estes. The local audience was impressed as the students expertly vocalized this timeless call for peace in the world, which was based on a Gregorian chant-like vibe. For this piece, the GHS Chorus accompanied on percussion by Cadin Brown and on piano by Mariah Manning.
The GHS Chorus also performed “Coventry Carol,” a poignant 16th-century English carol as arranged by Audrey Snyder. The carol was traditionally performed in Coventry in England as part of a mystery play called The Pageant of the Shearmen and Tailors. The play depicts the Christmas story from chapter two in the Gospel of Matthew: the carol itself refers to the Massacre of the Innocents, in which Herod ordered all male infants under the age of two in Bethlehem to be killed, and takes the form of a lullaby sung by mothers of the doomed children. Within the pageant, the carol is sung by three women of Bethlehem, who enter on stage with their children immediately after Joseph is warned by an angel to take his family to Egypt.
Next was the performance of “Do You Hear What I Hear?” as arranged by Harry Simeone. The song was written in October 1962, with lyrics by Noël Regney and music by Gloria Shayne. The pair, married at the time, wrote it as a plea for peace during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Regney had been invited by a record producer to write a Christmas song, but he was hesitant due to the commercialism of Christmas. It has sold tens of millions of copies and has been covered by hundreds of artists.
Next was “O Holy Night” as arranged by Jay Althouse, featuring the stunning vocal solos by Jahonna Sloan and Niciara House-Bowman. O Holy Night is a well-known Christmas carol that was originally based on a French-language poem by poet Placide Cappeau, written in 1843, with the first line "Minuit, Chrétien, c'est l'heure solennelle" (Midnight, Christian, is the solemn hour) that composer Adolphe Adam set to music in 1847. The English version (with small changes to the initial melody) is by John Sullivan Dwight. The carol reflects on the birth of Jesus as humanity's redemption.
The GHS Chorus concluded with the ever-popular “A Holly Jolly Christmas,” written by Johnny Marks and as arranged by Greg Gilpin, offering the local audience fond wishes for the holiday season.
Great applause sounded for the talented student-musicians, including the following: Soprano (Kayden Cousino, Jaylynn Dalton, Janaya Fuller, Elizabeth Hamilton, Faith Leader, Briahna McGill, Kati McIntosh, James Moore, Hannah Roderick, Kennadie Sawyer, Arianna Sibley, Sarah Sibley, Abigail Way, Carynn Way, and Raneissa Way), Alto (Olivia Blye-McQuad, Cassidy Chambers, Alyssa Farr, Niciara House-Bowman, Madison Lewis, Mariah Manning, Lillianna Shippee, Jahonna Sloan, and Alyssa Stowell), Tenor (Cadin Brown, Antonio Calbo, Isaiah Garrison, James Minckler, and Zachery Schiszler), and Bass (Kylen Bowman, Hazen Given, Tiamane Hull, Dillian Pankey, and Jackson Ritchie). Great appreciation was extended to Ms. Powlin and Ms. Hale for their time and dedication with the GHS Chorus.
Next to the Gouverneur High School Auditorium stage was the GHS Concert Band, under the direction of Jenelle Yeoman. The first selection was the “Brazilian Bell Carol” by Robert W. Smith, which featured the percussion section and soloists, Ava Bartholomew (alto saxophone), Mariah Manning (flute), Elizabeth Riutta (alto saxophone), Tiamane Hull (flute), Brook Garrett (clarinet), Everett Langille (tenor saxophone), and Sylvia French (slide whistle). The Brazilian Bell Carol thrilled local audiences with an exciting arrangement of the traditional Ukranian Bell Carol, a popular Christmas carol composed by Mykola Leontovych in 1904 with lyrics by Peter J. Wilhousky. The song is based on a folk chant known in Ukrainian as Shchedryk. It was associated with the coming new year, which, in pre-Christian Ukraine, was originally celebrated with the coming of spring in April. The melody was introduced to Western audiences by the Ukrainian National Chorus during its concert tour of Europe and the Americas, where it premiered in the United States on October 5, 1921, at Carnegie Hall.
The next selection inspired both the young and young-at-heart with “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch” by Albert Hague and as arranged by Michael Story. The Christmas song was originally written and composed for the 1966 animated special Dr. Seuss' “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”
Next was Russian Christmas Music, written by Alfred Reed in 1944 and as arranged by Michael Story. Reed was commissioned to write a piece of "Russian music" for a concert in Denver, Colorado. The concert's aim was to improve Soviet-American relations, and as such, it was to include premieres of new Soviet and American works. Prokofiev's March, Op. 99 was supposed to be the Russian work, but it was discovered that the work had already been performed in the United States, and Reed was assigned to write a new piece a mere sixteen days before the concert. The piece was first performed on December 12, 1944, on nationally broadcast NBC radio. The GHS Concert Band performance contained material from all four distinct sections of the piece, which Mr. Reed originally subtitled "Children's Carol," "Antiphonal Chant," "Village Song," and "Cathedral Chorus." The soloist for this performance was Ava Bartholomew on the alto saxophone.
The GHS Concert Band then performed “A Jazzy Christmas” as arranged by Johnnie Vinson. Soloists include Elizabeth Riutta on alto saxophone and Ava Bartholomew on alto saxophone. This selection featured some holiday favorites in a light and appealing jazzy style. This includes: “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” “the Holly and the Ivy” and “Good King Wenceslas.”
Great applause sounded for the talented student-musicians in the Gouverneur High School Concert Band, including the following: Flute (Tiamane Hull, Mariah Manning, Riley Manning, Riley Seaman, and Jahonna Sloan), Clarinet (Carly Bartholomew, Olivia Blye-McQud, Brook Garrett, Cassidy Ingram, Paige Kirby, Tanner Knight, and Katie McIntosh), Bass Clarinet (Nicholas Bloxham), Alto Saxophone (Ava Bartholomew, Chloe Boclair, Janaya Fuller, and Elizabeth Riutta), Tenor Saxophone (Everett Langille), Baritone Saxophone (Sylvia French), French Horn (Kelvin Bice III), Trumpet (Tyler Dean, Matthew Dixson, Bailey Newcombe, Jack Schroeder, Malique Zeller), Trombone (Nelson Bice, Nathaniel Celley, Zorien Fuller, Owen Nichols, and Dillon Storie), Euphonium (Louis Beaver), Tuba (Hayley Burt), Percussion (Destiny Blair, Cadin Brown, Allison Carvel, Gavin Davis, Norris LaRue, and Mason Tribble), and Electric Bass (Allison Carvel). Director Yeoman also extended a word gratitude to Paul Buell of Gouverneur – a celebrated retired high school music educator and longtime supporter of the Gouverneur Wildcat student-musicians – who came to the aid of the GHS Concert Band in the case of a student’s illness.
The mass full orchestra and choir, including Gouverneur alumni and staff then performed “Silent Night,” as arranged by Victor Correa. The popular Christmas carol was composed in 1818 by Franz Xaver Gruber to lyrics by Joseph Mohr in the small town of Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria. The song was first recorded in 1905 and has remained a popular success. Thunderous applause sounded after the performance.
During the concert, the following students were recognized for being selected for Area All State. GHS Orchestra: (Madison Hopper, Emalyn Kulp, Turner Sochia, Llydia Blaine, and Ayden Sears). GHS Chorus: (Hazen Given and Tiamane Hull). GHS Concert Band: Mariah Manning, Brook Garrett, Hayley Burt).
The following students were recognized for being selected for All County. GHS Orchestra (Electa Fitzgerald), GHS Concert Band (Tiamane Hull, Mariah Manning, Carly Bartholomew, Brook Garrett, Ava Bartholomew, Sylvia French, Jack Schroeder, Hayley Burt). GHS Chorus: (Janaya Fuller, Faith Leader, Kati McIntosh, Carynn Way, Niciara House-Bowman, Mariah Manning, Jahonna Sloan, Cadin Brown, Antonio Calbo, Hazen Given, and Tiamane Hull).
The following students were also recognized for being members of the Tri-M Music Honor Society: Madison Hopper, Emalyn Kulp, Raneissa Way, Llydia Blaine, Niciara House-Bowman, Mariah Manning, Riley Seaman, Jahonna Sloan, Carly Bartholomew, Kati McIntosh, Ava Bartholomew, Janaya Fuller, Elizabeth Riutta, Sylvia French, Jack Schroeder, Malique Zeller, Owen Nichols, Hayley Burt, Cadin Brown, Allison Carvel, Gavin Davis, Faith Leader, Carynn Way, Hazen Given, and Tiamane Hull.
For more information about the Gouverneur Central School District, visit gcsk12.org.