Grammy Award-Winning ensemble visits Notre Dame for the first time in 15 years
Notre Dame’s DeBartolo Performing Arts Center (DPAC) hosted the Grammy Award-winning vocal ensemble Chanticleer on October 9, marking Chanticleer’s first performance at DPAC in 15 years. Chanticleer performed a program titled, “Our American Journey,” which celebrated 250 years of American independence.
Founded in San Francisco in 1978, Chanticleer is an all-male vocal ensemble famous for its a cappella performances. Dubbed “the orchestra of voices,” Chanticleer began by performing and recording motets of the Renaissance, although its current work extends far beyond to other genres.
DPAC Senior Executive Director Sean Wilson was responsible for inviting Chanticleer to Notre Dame. “The artists we select to perform at DPAC perform at the highest caliber in their respective fields. Chanticleer’s performance was no different,” Wilson told the Rover. He continued, “They performed with insane precision and flawless intonation. These are attributes any choral musician, especially those student musicians in the audience, can admire.”
“Our American Journey” was a tribute and synthesis of American choral works. In a comment to the Rover, Chanticleer associate Abi Mohr wrote, “Through the diverse voices, songs, harmonies, and rhythms of the nation’s musical heritage, this program traces the evolution of the national sound.”
The program began with Renaissance music of New Spain before transitioning to early American Protestant hymns. These included songs such as “Kittery” by William Billings and W. E. Glanton’s “My Home Above.”
These were followed by African American spiritual hymns such as “There is Balm in Gilead” and “Happy Shore.” Mohr explained, “The program’s cornerstone is a new commission from Trevor Weston, exploring the relationship between traditional American hymnody and African American spirituals.”
The responses to the performance were generally positive. Senior Elliott Kirwan told the Rover, “My favorite performances from the Chanticleer concert were probably the two spirituals that they did because of the depth of emotion. What makes that group so incredible is not just their individual talent which is outstanding but also the way in which they are totally on the same page in everything from the rhythm, to the pitch, to the style.”
Some other hits of the program included “The Un-Covered Wagon,” a reflection from the Native American perspective of America’s pioneering past, and “Hee-oo-oom-ha,” a textless piece that featured yodeling and other vocal techniques. The program concluded with 19th and 20th Century folk music that included songs by Irving Berlin and Stephen Foster.
The day before the concert, Chanticleer had the opportunity to work with the Glee Club of Notre Dame. In a comment to the Rover, Brady Olson, a freshman member of the Glee Club, reflected on the club’s experience with Chanticleer. “They did a masterclass with us where we essentially sang them a couple of songs and then walked us through it, breaking it down bit by bit. What they might do to attack that song and really bring it to their expert level. It was just super incredible to be able to work with such talented people and to hear the thoughts that go through their mind. Both working on songs like that and bringing their perspective to the table, it really helped us grow as a club.”
Brady continued, “Their technique is just fabulous, and it’s really inspiring to see such great voices come to Notre Dame perform in the hall at the Glee Club does our practices in. It was just fantastic to see them up on that stage that I’m up on almost every day and just really inspiring overall.”
Chanticleer member Vineel Garisa Mahal, who occupies the Tenor Chair of the ensemble, spoke to the Rover about Chanticleer’s visit to Notre Dame: “We worked with the choir and the Glee Club and it was truly a remarkable sound. The fact that you all are able to have such a beautiful hall and that you all were able to have us is amazing. We are honored that you could have us here.”
The next DPAC performance will feature the Glee Club for their Fall Concert on November 7 in Leighton Concert Hall. Tickets can be purchased on DPAC’s website.
Benedict Althoff is a freshman studying architecture at the University of Notre Dame. Though he strives to sing like Chanticleer at Sunday Masses, he cheers too loud at the football game the night prior to do so. You can reach him at balthoff@nd.edu.
Photo Credit: DPAC Instagram
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