CWU Chamber Choir/Gjeilo: "Serenity" with piano improv

“Serenity” (Ola Gjeilo) is sung by The Central Washington University Chamber Choir (Gary Weidenaar, director) with an improvised accompaniment played by the composer and joined by John Michel, cellist (CWU string faculty member).
TEXT:
O magnum mysterium, et admirabile sacramentum. Ut animalia viderent Dominum natum, iacentem in praesepio: Beata Virgo, cujus viscera meruerunt portare Dominum Christum, Alleluia
TRANSLATION:
O great mystery, and wonderful sacrament, that animals should see the new-born Lord, lying in a manger! Blessed is the Virgin whose womb was worthy to bear our Saviour, Christ. Alleluia!
ABOUT THE WORK:
(the composer’s words) Serenity was written for solo cello and otherwise unaccompanied choir. I had in mind as I wrote it a big, lush sound that gives a sense of space, but can still be somehow intimate.
(the conductor's words:) I was thrilled to be able to work with Ola improvising at the piano again. We had collaborated on his Ubi Caritas and Northern Lights in previous sessions. Ola uses just the right texture at just the right time - with an uncanny ability of knowing when to add fullness and/or fade to the background.
It's a special sensation to be leading a 30 voice choir while the accompaniment is being created as you perform the piece!
ABOUT THE COMPOSER:
Ola Gjeilo was born in Norway in 1978 and moved to the United States in 2001 to begin his composition studies at the Julliard School in New York City, where he currently resides and works as a full-time composer.
Ola’s recordings include the Decca Classics albums Ola Gjeilo and Winter Songs, featuring Tenebrae, Voces8 and the Choir of Royal Holloway. His choral works and piano pieces are published by Walton Music, wind band works by Boosey & Hawkes.
For more information, please visit olagjeilo.com or find Ola on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
ABOUT THE CHOIR:
Since 2009, the CWU Chamber Choir has held annual recording sessions to create videos specifically designed for UA-cam. All are under the baton of Dr. Gary A. Weidenaar, who has been the director of the choir since 2006.
As of 2017, there are more than 30 videos. Twelve of those feature the music of Ola Gjeilo and are the result of working with Mr. Gjeilo in 4 recording sessions over a 7 year period. The choir has videos of Gjeilo’s Sanctus, Across the Vast Eternal Sky, Contrition, Unicornis Captivatur, Luminous Night of the Soul, Dark Night of the Soul, the Ground, Ubi Caritas I and II, and Northern Lights - as well as his arrangement of Away in a Manger.
Ola improvises an accompaniment to Ubi caritas
• CWU Chamber Choir/Gjei...
and Northern Lights
• Ola Gjeilo w/the CWU C...
and talks about improvisation
• Gjeilo/CWU Chamber Cho...
GJEILO and the CWU CHAMBER CHOIR
This was Ola's fourth time on CWU's campus. His first visit was in the spring of 2011 and yielded 5 videos of his music, a wide-ranging interview with the composer and other bonus material. It also resulted in a DVD entitled "In the Moment", available for purchase at goo.gl/Xld0o.
The CWU Chamber Choir also has recorded videos of music by Byrd, Gretchaninoff, Monteverdi, Muehleisen, Singh, Victoria, and Rautavaara.
To follow the choir on Facebook (page includes selected audio clips and URL's to all videos):
/ cwu.chamber.choir
OR - -
A complete listing of the videos of the CWU Chamber Choir and other CWU Music Ensembles can be found at:
/ cwumusicdept
ABOUT THE VIDEO:
It was filmed on April 7, 2017 in the CWU Concert Hall with the composer in attendance.
Camera/editing/producing were: Chris Smart, Allen Larsen, Rick Spencer
All CWU Chamber Choir videos found on UA-cam are posted only after an agreement is reached or a contract is signed with the composer and/or copyright holder(s) of the piece(s). This is with permission of Mr. Gjeilo and Walton Music.

[@gercat9066]

Grand merci Ola, pour tes chants superbes et ce cadeau. je chante Ubi caritas et Northern lights avec mes copains choristes, et je souhaite que ce message te soit transmis. Une choriste de LS (près de Toulon, France)

[@denissungho1092]

Beautiful

[@HarveySidney-r7o]

Walker Kimberly Jones Donna Davis Susan

[@microroentgen]

No need to make so much vibrato on cello.

[@johnjuerjens1314]

Amazing... If love had a sound, it would sound like this.

[@jilloxendine9396]

This is incredible ... the improvisation enhances an already wonderful piece. Thank you.

[@augustagloria4850]

So beautiful, serene and intimate! Congrats. Love your work!

[@alanburnham9832]

Great choir, incredible improv!

[@SteveMatthewsCareerCoachYVR]

Amazing!! Thanks for sharing.

[@davidheaton9332]

Stunning.

[@KJ7JHN]

with times being as such, will the choir concert on 17th be open to the public? if so, which building will it be held in? Thanks.

[@phonodiavocalensemble1034]

Ευχαριστούμε!