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Healing through music: Zia Singers to sing beatitudes to a broken world in ABQ
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Tuvayhun is the Aramaic word for blessed.
Santa Fe鈥檚 Zia Singers are coming to Albuquerque for the first time to sing beatitudes to a broken world. The concert will take place on Sunday, Feb. 4, at Central 近距离内射合集 Methodist Church.
Penned by the contemporary Norwegian composer Kim Andr茅 Arnesen, 鈥淭uvayhun: Beatitudes for a Wounded World鈥� conveys a message of inclusion, trust, kindness, compassion, humanity and mutual respect.
鈥淭he composer is really big in the choral world right now,鈥� said conductor Aaron Howe.
The Zias performed Arnesen鈥檚 鈥淢agnificat鈥� in 2022.
The piece 鈥渨as so powerful and intoxicating, we all knew we wanted to perform more of Arnesen鈥檚 incredible works,鈥� Howe said. 鈥淔rom the moment I heard the movement 鈥楽ong for Justice,鈥� I was sold on performing 鈥楾uvayhun,鈥� 鈥� he added. 鈥淭he multicultural music and social justice themes dovetailed with my vision for Zia as a choir that promotes community. It was the perfect 鈥� and needless to say 鈥� timely choice.鈥�
As part of the composer鈥檚 message to embrace differences, the piece incorporates sounds from classical, jazz and world music.
Healing through music: Zia Singers to sing beatitudes to a broken world in ABQ
鈥淭uvayhun鈥� librettist Charles Anthony Silvestri said, 鈥渋f we come together 鈥� we might heal the despair and repair the fractures that are threatening our fragile world.鈥�
Two soloists and members of the Albuquerque Philharmonic Orchestra will accompany Zia鈥檚 45 singers, Howe said.
Sevda Choir soloist Willa Roberts will sing in Aramaic, the language of Christ and the Apostles.
鈥淪he鈥檚 singing in the Arabic styles with all the miasmas and quarter tones,鈥� Howe said.
Katherine Garcia-Ortega of Santa Fe鈥檚 Michael鈥檚 High School is the child soloist.
A string section, a solo flute, percussion and an oud, a Middle Eastern stringed instrument, will accompany the singers.
鈥淚t has a Middle East feel, but the chorus sings in English,鈥� Howe said.
The chorus has fans in Albuquerque, he added.
鈥淲e have a lot of people who know of us in Albuquerque,鈥� Howe said, 鈥淎nd maybe they don鈥檛 want to drive up to Santa Fe in the winter.鈥�
Arnesen was an avid follower of MTV and the Cure when he was 10 years old, but he also studied piano, sang as a chorister in the Nidaros Cathedral Boys鈥� Choir and received his music education at the Music Conservatory in Trondheim, Norway. Choral music became his greatest passion. He is one of the most frequently performed contemporary choral composers.
The group will also perform at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 28, at the New Mexico Museum of Art鈥檚 St. Francis Auditorium, 107 W. Palace Ave. in Santa Fe.
