Sacred Profane Chamber Chorus Performs New Work by Michael Bussewit-Quarm

The Sacred and Profane Chamber Chorus performs a cappella chorus music that performs classic secular and sacred works dating back to the Middle Ages as well as contemporary music by emerging composers.  Sunday afternoon at the 222 in Healdsburg, the Sacred and Profane sang works by Sibelius and Ralph Vaughan Williams along with 21st C works from six composers all born in the later half of the 20th C.  The world premier performance of "Now is the Time" by Michael Bussewitz-Quarm was the final and most compelling work on the program.  It wove complex harmonies into a bravado of confluent voices. Artistic Director Rebecca Seeman outlined a defining theme for the program all enbracing dreams to "...realizing a better life."  Seeman directs a repertoire of music that speaks to social justice and socially relevant issues.  Bussewit-Quarm's (BQ) piece "Now is the Time" was commissioned by the Sacred and Profane.  It was being performed for only the third time on our stage.  The piece acknowledges a hope and healing for the world around us.  "Now is the Time" featured four soloists, including a standout performance by tenor Michael Villarreal with his clear and vibrant singing voice.  The hope in "Now is the Time" is for acceptance and finding love.  BQ is transgender and a staunch advocate for the LGBTQ community.   The absence of musical accompaniment was remarkably not needed for the full stentorian sounds with only vocals.  "Visions of Glory" by Trevor Weston (b. 1967) felt incongruent with clapping, snapping and stomping added to the singing.   My second favorite work, "Dreams" was by Scandinavian composer Jacob Muhlrad (b. 1991).  The piece utilized the soprano and alto section to provide a hypnotic humming which elevated the tenors and baritones and created a somnambulant impression.  Muhlrad referenced Langston Hughes text: "Hold fast to dreams For when dreams go Life is a barren field Frozen with snow."   The concert was a powerful blend of old and new with voices rising to embrace the beauty of music expressing our shared humanity,