This coming weekend Grace Chorale of Brooklyn will present two performances, on Saturday, May 14 at 7:00 PM and on Sunday, May 15 at 3:00 PM, both at St. Ann & the Holy Trinity Church, Clinton and Montague streets (enter at Clinton) of Benjamin Yarmolinsky’s secular oratorio, accompanied by chamber orchestra, “The Constitution.”
Aside from the Declaration of Independence, no text epitomizes American ideals as much as the Constitution. Acknowledging the Constitution’s embodiment of 18th century values and language, the composer Ben Yarmolinsky has chosen a corresponding 18th century musical style, the Handelian oratorio, as the model for his setting of The Constitution. The work comprises choruses, arias, and recitatives, similar to the Messiah, but with a recognizably American sound that combines jazz rhythms, blues, folk, gospel, as well as Handelian flourishes to give voice to the Constitution’s iconic words in a clear, vigorous, and highly singable style. People might leave our performances humming an amendment or two!
Tickets start at $!5; there’s more information, and purchase tickets here.
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