It was fitting that the sun shone warmly on the afternoon of Sunday, April 26th, setting the mood for St. Peter’s Music Ministries Spring Concert.
A joint presentation by the St. Peter’s Parish Choir and St. Peter’s Handbell Ringers, this program combined classical, liturgical and contemporary selections to create a heartfelt and uplifting afternoon of music.
As Master of Ceremonies, Lori Dolloff, who has been part of our Music Ministry for 50 years, guided us through the program with a combination of informational insights and personal recollections relevant to the performers and the musical pieces.
From Classical to Polka and Back Again
The program began with Mozart’s Kegelstatt Trio featuring Mark Materson on clarinet, guest musician Bill Chambers on viola, and Walt Lemiski on piano.
The Handbell Ringers, under the direction of Mark Materson (who wears many musical hats at St. Peter’s), then presented two contemporary handbell arrangements. Intrada Festiva! by Ronald Kauffman recreated the joy of the Palm Sunday entry to Jerusalem.
Three Sketches, by Cynthia Dobrinski were tone poems on the themes of Fiesta, Cathedral Windows, and Danse.
St. Peter’s Parish Choir followed with Healy Willan’s Rise, Crowned with Light and We Rise Again by Leon Dubonsky. Our Director of Music Walt Lemiski conducted, Lori Dolloff played organ and Daniella Tesodoro-Dier was soloist.
Then Lori introduced Thomas Reid, one of her organ students whose impressive musical accomplishments include the accordion. Thomas had us tapping our toes to the Beer Barrel Polka, followed by Shotakovitch’s darkly romantic Waltz No 2 in C Minor- which Lori reminded us was featured in the film Eyes Wide Shut.
The Handbell Ringers returned with Anthem on Aberstwyth by Robert James Lamb and The Call by Ralph Vaughan Williams, arranged specially for St. Peter’s Ringers by Mark Materson.
Oscar Peterson’s Anthem and East Coast Shanties.
A nostalgic highlight of the afternoon was the Choir’s spirited performance of Oscar Peterson’s iconic anthem Hymn to Freedom. Written by in 1963, Oscar Peterson gave St. Peter’s choir the honour of premiering the song in our church. Lori Dolloff fondly remembered Mr. Peterson’s many years as a parishioner at St. Peter’s and his friendly presence on Sundays in the south side pew toward the back of the church.
The mood switched up to recapture the fun of a Nova Scotia ceilidh as the Choir enthusiastically launched into Song For the Mira and Here’s to Song, both by Allister McGillivray. Soloists Amy Colson, Mark Materson and Thom Wigle stepped out to lead verses, supported by their choirmates in the rousing choruses. Jennifer Pierson added flute accompaniment to Song for the Mira.
As the musical afternoon came to a close, the Handbell Ringers changed the pace completely with African Alleluia, a highly rhythmic piece supported by authentic percussion instruments and shakers.
A Let It Be Singalong.
Mark Materson then invited the audience to sing along with the Ringers as they played the Lennon/McCartney ode to peace, Let It Be. It didn’t matter that some of us didn’t know all the words. We knew the chorus and the theme, and the sweet sounds of our blended voices was a tender and much-needed balm in these uncertain times.
The concert concluded as Choir, Ringers and audience sang together The Day Thou Gavest, words by J. Ellerton.
To the St. Peter’s Handbell Ringers, to the Parish Choir, to our Musical Director Walt Lemiski, to Handbell Director Mark Materson, to young Thomas Reid, to guest musicians Bill Chambers and Jennifer Pierson, and guest soloist Danielle-Tesodoro-Dior, and to our MC Lori Dolloff – we offer tremendous thank yous and prayerful thanks for the blessing your music brings to St. Peter’s Erindale.