On this special Choir Sunday on April 14, 2019, the Unity Temple Choir under the direction of Marty Swisher, Unity Temple Music Director, performs John Kramer's "The Immigrant Experience," a choral cantata in seven movements. Scored for full chorus, soprano, baritone and tenor soloists and chamber ensemble, the work describes the journey and struggles of immigrants coming to America to realize the promise of freedom. The work features texts by our U.S. founding fathers establishing our country as a place of welcome for immigrants. The musical offering is preceded by a reading from We Crossed a Bridge and It Trembled: Voices from Syria by Wendy Pearlman.
John Kramer serves as Music Director at the Winchester Unitarian Society in Winchester, Massachusetts. The performance includes guest vocalists tenor John Concepcion, baritone Keanon Kyles and soprano Rosalind Lee. They are accompanied by Peter Engel-Storms on piano, Jean Hatmaker on violoncello, Meg Lanfear on violin and Daniel Williams on clarinet.
Those wishing to follow along with the text of "The Immigrant Experience" while listening can find it at http://www.unitytemple.org/sites/default/files/The%20Immigrant%20Experience%20Text.pdf. Additionally, the composer's program notes can be found at http://www.unitytemple.org/sites/default/files/Program%20Notes%20by%20the%20Composer.pdf.
The theme for April is what it means to be a people of wholeness. To read about our theme-based ministry, please visit http://www.unitytemple.org/faith-development/soul-connections