Melodia Women’s Choir of NYC, led by Artistic Director Cynthia Powell, is pleased to present 'Windsong,' a holiday program of evocative choral works inspired by the fall and winter seasons. Selections to celebrate the season include Franz Biebl's popular 'Ave Maria,' composed for sopranos and altos, as well as songs celebrating autumn by Gwyneth Walker and Gordon Jacobs. Three wonderful and wintry pieces with a special theme include Reginald Unterseher's 'First Snow,' Edward Elgar's 'The Snow,' and Alan Bullard's 'Snow.' Continuing the colors and sounds of the season is E. J. Moeran's 'Icicles Hang By The Wall,' as well as pieces by composers Ola Gjeilo, Richard Donovan, Harri Wessman, and C. Armstrong Gibbs. Award-winning pianist Taisiya Puskhar rounds out the program with two works for piano.
The weekend of Melodia's fall season also marks the release of Melodia's first commercial recording project, 'Lullaby,' a collection of beautiful and favorite lullabies selected from among the many rare and special works Melodia has performed over the past 11 years. The dream-weaving pieces for women's voices include works by composers Franz Schubert, Gustav Holst, Sally Lamb McCune (an original Melodia Composer's Commission), Ned Rorem, Eric Whitacre, Charles Villiers Sanford, Veljo Tormis, and Paul Csonka. 'Lullaby' is slated for release November 22, 2014, and will be first available to concertgoers at 'Windsong'. For more information on ordering, visit www.melodiawomenschoir.org or email womenschoir@mindspring.com.
The 25 voices strong Melodia Women’s Choir has established a reputation as the premier women’s choir of NYC through more than a decade of adventurous, fresh and wide-ranging repertoire that explores rarely heard, stylistically diverse and often original and debut works. Called “riveting” by the New York Times and hailed by composers such as Meredith Monk, Melodia is committed to nurturing emerging women composers through commissions, residencies and performances. Founded by Executive Director Jenny Clarke in 2003, Melodia collaborates with and supports women composers, musicians and performers across the musical spectrum.