Brahms, Ein deutsches Requiem, 1869
Brahms found himself with the desire to respond to Schumam’s death in 1856, not with a Latin mass for the dead, rather a staunchly vernacular German requiem. That impulse needed a second boost, unfortunately supplied by the death of his mother in 1865. He began to piece together texts in German celebrating the seasons of life, fusing Old and New Testament verses into a unique “Protestant reflection on death, an affirmation of personal faith and courage and of consolation for the living,”
A radiant, joy-filled work about death, it displays beautifully balanced structure – centered by its most famous movement, Wie Lieblich (How Beautiful). This masterpiece has become possibly the choral work most beloved by singers and audiences alike.
Now in her twelfth season with the SF Bach Choir, Artistic Director Magen Solomon has been active in early music as a conductor, singer, scholar, and editor for over four decades. She has been the Artistic Director of the San Francisco Choral Artists since 1995; together, they have premiered over 300 choral works, performed at major choral conferences, released three CDs, and have twice won the Chorus America/ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming.
She has served as Artistic Director of the Oakland Symphony Chorus, Stockton Chorale, and California Bach Society, and has taught and conducted at the University of Southern California, UC Berkeley, Santa Clara University, and Smith and Mount Holyoke colleges. Active across the US and abroad as a clinician, teacher, and guest conductor, Dr. Solomon has directed Pro Coro Canada, the UC Santa Cruz Chamber Singers, and other ensembles, and has collaborated on performances of major choral works with Michael Morgan, Michael Tilson Thomas, Nicolas McGegan, Helmuth Rilling, Kent Nagano, and Christoph von Dohnányi, among others. For 14 years she edited the “New Voices in Research” column in the ACDA Choral Journal and has published an edition of Johannes Eccard’s Newe deutzsche Lieder (1578) with A-R Editions.
Dawn Reyen, pianist and Schola Cantorum’s Assistant Conductor, received her undergraduate degree in piano performance from the College of Notre Dame in Belmont and her master’s degree in Choral Conducting from Loyola University in New Orleans. She has accompanied professionally since the age of 12 and enjoys working in many different musical styles and genres. In addition to her work with Schola Cantorum, Ms. Reyen is the founder and conductor of Palo Alto-based Aurora Singers; music director at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Redwood City; music teacher for pre-K through 8th grade at St. Raymond School; and freelance accompanist/coach.
As Assistant Conductor, Ms. Reyen assists the Artistic Director in rehearsal preparation, acts as Schola Cantorum’s accompanist for both rehearsals and concerts, and leads showtune/standards singalong events, as well as educational outreach programs.