Undivided (SSAA work for electronic enhancements and processed choir)
Written by: Benjamin Martinson (www.benjaminmartinson.com)
Conducted by: Daniel Paulson (www.dpmusic.net)
Ensemble: Vox Musica (www.VoxMusica.net) & 
Portland-based singer and electronic producer, Natasha Kmeto (www.natashakmeto.com)


Undivided was written in 2011 for Vox Musica, by Benjamin Martinson. As a composer who specializes in choral and electronic music, Benjamin jumped at the opportunity to combine these media, and to work once again with Vox Musica. The goal of the electronic sounds in this piece is to emphasize and enhance what makes the choir essentially choral, rather than contrast or subvert it. The computer brings no new sounds to the piece, but rather processes the sound of the choir in real time. The poetry speaks for itself.

- Benjamin Martinson

Text:

All is undivided.

We are each a stroke of color, 
a single note,
A sun-fleck on the ocean;

A burst of light,
A hanging torrent,
A final breath of wind 
Within a single drop of rain.

We are sung by our music, 
Shaped by our clay, 
Imagined by our dreams;

We exist with our hands;
We give life for life.
We are turned to polished glass 
Within the mind still wet with paint.

The real moon is in the lake,
The deepest well behind the eye,

And all is blurred to beauty.


Undivided - Vox Musica, Natasha Kmeto, Daniel Paulson, Benjamin Martinson

Lo, How A Rose E’er Blooming 
arr. Daniel Paulson
conducted by: Daniel Paulson (www.dpmusic.net)
ensemble: Vox Musica (www.VoxMusica.net)
 

Originally published in the 1580’s, this 19-stanza Catholic hymn focuses on Mary’s experience comparing her to the mystical rose praised in the Song of Solomon 2:1. It is unclear whether Ros’ (rose) or Reis (branch) was the original reading of the first line. This revision first appeared in Michael Praetorius’ (1571-1621) Musae Sioniae in 1609. Because of this Praetorius is occasionally mistaken as the author. In his arrangement of this carol, Paulson breaths life into the text by using dissonant textures that push downwards as if it were the “rooting” of the Jesse tree, and bright lush chords that are built upwards to emulate the blossoming of a rose.

Translation and Text: 
Lo How a Rose E’er Blooming, from tender stem hath sprung, of Jesse’s lineage coming, as men of old have sung; It came, a flow ’ret bright, amid the cold of winter, when halfspent was the night. Isaiah ‘twas foretold it, the Rose I have in mind, with Mary we behold it, the virgin mother kind; To show God’s love aright, she bore to us a Savior, when halfspent was the night. O Flower, whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air, dispel with glorious splendour the darkness everywhere; true man, yet very God, from Sin and death now save us, and share our every load.

Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming - arr. Daniel Paulson

Credo
composed by: Daniel Paulson (b1977)
conducted by: Daniel Paulson (www.dpmusic.net)
ensemble: Vox Musica (www.VoxMusica.net)

Paulson’s Credo, which was especially written for this concert, is a compelling and emotional setting that juxtaposes credo(creed) texts drawn from the Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish liturgies Excerpts from various creeds are interwoven through out the music and are sung in their original languages of Latin, Hebrew and English. The blending of language and text allows for the underlying themes of peace and unity to transcend through the lush and powerful harmonies.

Text & Translation:
 I believe in one God. 
I believe in Jesus Christ. 
I believe in the Holy Spirit. 
Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One.

Credo - Daniel Paulson

Aether
composed by: Daniel Paulson & Natasha Kmeto 
conducted by: Daniel Paulson
ensemble: Vox Musica, Natasha Kmeto
orchestrated by: Natasha Kmeto

Aether was born from a conceptual place but soon became very a spiritual one. We both
knew that we wanted to collaborate on a fresh new composition to feature at our concert. While driving in a tour van across the east coast of the U.S. Natasha challenged herself to create an inspirational starting point for Daniel, created only from “found sound”. She was able to create a base harmony and rhythm from odd things like air blown through a straw and bottles falling on the floor. This brought Daniel to the place of space and seeing the sun from an astronaut’s perspective. He then created a beautiful harmony and set it to his own text, inspired by several astronauts’ solar accounts. Natasha was quickly inspired by the notes and words and painted it with ethereal tones and driving rhythms. The work has been transformative for them both.

Text:
Shining Stretching Paving Glowing Lightening Clearing
Shadowing Exchanging Radiating Coloring
Sixteen Sunsets Sixteen Sunrises.
Building Curving Deflecting Transitioning Shimmering
Falling Rippling Unending Illuminating Dissipating
Light in the silent ether, immense, frozen, and majestic. Silent bands of color,
brilliant moments of the divine.

Aether - Daniel Paulson, Natasha Kmeto

Tahoe Symphony Orchestra and Chorus performs J.S. Bach's St Matthew Passion.  March 2013.  Daniel Paulson, Tenor (Evangelist) performance excerpts.

Daniel Evangelist St Matthew Passion 2013 Part A

Daniel Evangelist St Matthew Passion 2013 Part B

Daniel Evangelist St Matthew Passion 2013 Part C

Tahoe Symphony Orchestra and Chorus recording session of G.F. Handel's "Messiah."  Daniel Paulson, Tenor singing Comfort Ye & Every Valley Recitative and Aria. 

Daniel Paulson, Tenor - Comfort Ye & Every Valley

Daniel Paulson sing Autumn Evening by Roger Quilter (1877-1953).

Daniel Paulson, Tenor - Autumn Evening - Roger Quilter

Last Nights Rehearsal with Toccata for my performance of Bach's "Ich Habe Genug" (BWV 82a). 

Outside of our Sierra performances, Thursday, June 20, at 7:00pm (Incline Village), Friday, June 21 at 7:00pm (Reno), and Tuesday, June 25 at 7:00pm (South Lake Tahoe).  TOCCATA takes a production for the first time to Sacramento, appearing on Sunday, June 23, 5:00pm at St. John’s Lutheran Church, (located at 17th and L Streets). 

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