Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
The opportunity to hear a 55-piece orchestra, a 175-person choir comprised of students and faculty from two rivalry schools and a classical sound that dates back to the 1700s does not come to Portales often and it's free, says Eastern New Mexico University Associate Professor of Music Jason Paulk.
Paulk told ENMU choir members to give the piece "Praise His Holy Name" soul, a more upbeat song of their Mozart's Requiem program when they rehearsed Thursday.
Paulk says the concert is a big deal because not only are the ENMU choirs tackling such a difficult piece, they will combine their talents with the West Texas A&M University choirs and orchestra. The choirs will sing today at WTAMU and Saturday at ENMU.
Christina Calloway: Portales News-Tribune
Eastern New Mexico University choir members rehearse their Mozart's Requiem program Thursday prior to leaving for West Texas A&M University.
Paulk says ENMU and WTAMU are known for being competitive in their athletic programs, but he says this piece is about bringing people together to create a harmonious sound.
"I'm thrilled 175 singers are going to collaborate to deliver something of lasting aesthetic value," Paulk said. "It's a collaboration that will bring the best out of everyone. We use each other's gifts to make something incredible."
According to Paulk, Mozart's Requiem was commissioned secretively in early 1791 by Count Walsegg-Stuppach, an amateur composer who wished to claim the work as his own and present it as a memorial for his deceased wife.
"Mozart, who was in failing health, fully composed and orchestrated the first movement, and left sketches of the voice parts and figured bass line for the second movement, most of the third movement and part of the fourth movement before he died in December of 1791," Paulk said.
Paulk says there are two songs in the program that they are dedicating to the memorial of those who died in recent events, including the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Connecticut and the Boston Marathon bombings earlier this week.
"The world would be a better place if people sang in a choir or joined a band or orchestra because you're working for the creation of beauty," Paulk said.
Emily Vickers, an ENMU senior from Ruidoso, said members of the choir jumped at the opportunity to honor the victims of recent tragic events.
"It's so touching to share through music when our nation is having this unbearable experience," Vickers said.
Her favorite piece is "Praise His Holy Name" because of the jazzy sound and rhythm.
Senior Vincent Romano of El Paso, Texas, will be the soloist for "Ezekiel Saw De Wheel."
Romano said his peers are great motivators for his performance, but the pressure he feels is what he puts on himself.
Christina Calloway: Portales News-Tribune
ENMU's University Singers do warm-up exercises Thursday in the choir room prior to running through the program.
"Do I have enough breath? Can I hit this note? You tend to question yourself," Romano said.
But once he's on stage, Romano describes soloing as a wonderful experience.
"It's really good for your confidence," Romano said. "The feeling of soloing before a big choir, it's like free-falling."
Roberto Garza Jr. says he attended WTAMU for one semester and is excited to reunite with his former friends for this performance.
Garza, a senior from Hereford, Texas, says there's no bad blood between the two choirs but does feel that ENMU has been a better fit for him. He feels the sound the WTAMU choir and orchestra will provide will add a rich harmonious tone.
"They're going to bring the enthusiastic style that Mozart requires and great musicality," Garza said.
Chelsea Morse, an ENMU sophomore from Clovis, encourages Portales and surrounding communities to attend the concert for an experience they'll never forget.
"It's just so powerful when you sing it," Morse said. "It's like the sound takes over. It's just so beautiful."
