Sacred Heart University will present its fall a cappella concert, “Songs of the Open Road,” at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23, in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit.
The concert brings together a wide variety of voices and musical styles that reflect the strength of the university’s choral program. It highlights three ensembles: the SHUpermen, made up of tenor and bass voices, Sacred Harmonics, the student-led a cappella ensemble, and Blended Hearts, the advanced treble ensemble.
Source: Instagram, @shuchoirs
The theme comes from Walt Whitman’s poem “Song of the Open Road.” The idea centers on movement and travel. John Morrow, assistant director of choral programs, said the program focuses on leaving, arriving, and the path between those points.
“It’s a great metaphor for not only the joy of traveling, but for the journey of life itself,” said Morrow.
The concept also connects to the emotional and personal journeys that students experience during their time at the university.
The a cappella music was chosen to reflect those themes. The program includes songs about physical and metaphorical travels and journeys going from place to place.
“There’s an adventurous song in which Blended Hearts imitates a train, whistle, steam engine, and all,” said Morrow.
This effect adds variety to the program and allows the singers to experiment with new vocal techniques.
The styles in the program cover a wide range. The concert includes classical music by Schubert and Vaughan Williams. It also includes spirituals, Finnish folk material, and contemporary selections by Elton John and Justin Bieber.
The variety highlights how an a cappella performance can connect music from different eras and cultures. All pieces are performed without instruments except one traditional song about journeying home.
The groups have approached the rehearsal process with steady work and focus. Blended Hearts faces challenges because of the variety of lengths and styles. Some pieces are short. Others run six minutes.
The group has worked to stay in tune and maintain consistent sound throughout each style.
“The focus and intonation work is challenging, but they are rising to the challenge, as always,” said Morrow.
The SHUpermen learned music in German this semester. They also performed an a cappella version of the slow theme from Antonín Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9. The work required careful attention to tone and phrasing.
“They have shown with this process that they can really sing anything,” said Morrow.
Students also described their experiences preparing for the concert.
“One of my favorite experiences in choir is performing in concerts. It’s very rewarding to see all our work pay off,” said junior John Wassersug.
Fellow junior Tamyra Lorthe described the ensemble’s close teamwork.
“Singing in an acappella ensemble feels more intimate to me since we have to put a lot more trust in not only our peers, but also ourselves,” said Lorthe.
She also spoke about performing material that carries personal meaning.
“I feel like the most rewarding part of preparing for this concert is feeling like I’m able to tell a story and share it with the audience,” said Lorthe.
Morrow said the message behind the program shows how music highlights shared human experiences.
“In finding those connections that we all share, we can be travelers that honor and appreciate each other while we are on the ‘road’ together,” said Morrow.
Tickets are available through the Edgerton Center website at https://edgertoncenter.org/.
