Dr. John V. Sinclair – Analog Artist Digital World

I went to an open rehearsal at Knowles Memorial Chapel, Rollins College (1000 Holt Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789). Dr. John V. Sinclair was conducting the Bach Festival Choir and Orchestra. It was composed late in his career after retiring from the composition
of opera. Gioachino Rossini began the work in 1831 but did not complete it until 1841. Rossini used his own librettos and compositions for a portion of the work. Giovanni Tadolini, who composed the remainder with six additional movements. Rossini presented the entirety of the completed work as his own.

I decided to climb a large spiral staircase to get to the upper balconies of the church. From up there I had a god’s eye view of the chorus and orchestra below. Another artist joined me and did an abstract sketch inspired by the music The next concert at the Knowles Chapel is, Insights and Sounds by Paul Moravec. Stephen Tharpe, will be the guest organist. The concert will be February 17th from 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM. Tickets are $20 – $45.

In announcing the release of a new CD, the Bach Festival Society will present more music by the Pulitzer
Prize–winning composer Paul Moravec. Works will include his poignant Songs of Love and War, based on letters from American wars, and his newest creation, Mass in D.
This concert is part of Insights and Sounds, a new series that will focus on individual composers or
genres and provide audiences with concise concerts in which great music
is performed and discussed. These concerts are perfect for classical
music connoisseurs who wish to expand their knowledge and classical
music novices who would like to explore classical music’s significance.

As part of the Bach Festival there was a choral concert at Tiedeke Concert Hall. What was unique about this performance is that the entire audience was given sheet music for Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Requiem. Music stands at the front of the hall divided the audience into three singing sections. The alto’s were closest to where I stood to draw. Dr. John V. Sinclair, the Bach Festival’s Artistic Director, conducted from the stage while lead singers for each section stood around him.

The requiem is absolutely sublime and moving with so many voices raised in unison. This music stands the test of time. Of course having a full orchestra would have made the performance even more stunning, but there is something magical in having so many voices, trained and untrained coming together to perform this piece. The entire Requiem is close to an hour long, but I think only an excerpt was performed on this evening.

Mozart’s health faltered as he worked on the requiem. A famous anecdote from his wife, Constanze, is related in Niemetschek‘s early biography: On his return to Vienna, his (Mozart’s) indisposition increased visibly and made
him gloomily depressed. His wife was truly distressed over this. One
day when she was driving in the Prater
with him, to give him a little distraction and amusement, and they were
sitting by themselves, Mozart began to speak of death, and declared
that he was writing the Requiem for himself. Tears came to the eyes of
the sensitive man: ‘I feel definitely,’ he continued, ‘that I will not
last much longer; I am sure I have been poisoned. I cannot rid myself of
this idea.’

At the time of his death, Mozart had many outstanding debts, but the myth that he was buried in a pauper’s grave is false. His wife arranged to sell his compositions and over time she became financially secure. Mozart’s musical reputation rose after his death with unprecedented enthusiasm for his music. This dark brooding music is the masterpiece of the child prodigy who died far too young at the age of 35. Imagine creating something so beautiful, that people still feel compelled to perform and share it over two hundred years after your death. A toast to art.