Rach on the Road

From: Tina Antolini
Length: 07:53

A community chorus from rural Maine finds solace and joy in performing a piece of sacred music for the Russian Orthodox Church. Read the full description.

Piece Audio

Playing: Rach on the Road
From: Tina Antolini

When you think of rural Maine, what comes to mind is probably not Russian sacred choral music. But Down East Singers, a community chorus based in the seaside down of Camden, and the Bowdoin College Chorus from Brunswick, have made a name for themselves singing just that. Over the past decade, they?ve performed Rachmaninoff?s Russian Orthodox Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom all over the country, from the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. to rural Vermont. What makes this Russian music resonate with a bunch of Mainers? Radio producer and chorus member Tina Antolini takes us along on a concert tour, to find out.

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Piece Description

When you think of rural Maine, what comes to mind is probably not Russian sacred choral music. But Down East Singers, a community chorus based in the seaside down of Camden, and the Bowdoin College Chorus from Brunswick, have made a name for themselves singing just that. Over the past decade, they?ve performed Rachmaninoff?s Russian Orthodox Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom all over the country, from the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. to rural Vermont. What makes this Russian music resonate with a bunch of Mainers? Radio producer and chorus member Tina Antolini takes us along on a concert tour, to find out.

Broadcast History

5/06: Aired on WRFR Community Radio in Rockland, Maine.

Transcript

***************************************************
[FADE UP RACH. MOVEMENT 4, THE BEATITUDES]
TINA: HILLARY CARR DOESN?T SPEAK RUSSIAN, BUT SHE CAN SING IT. IN FACT, SHE LOVES SINGING IT.
TAPE 03.16.06-1 Track 7 [9:53] This music goes way inside of me. I found it very dark, when I first heard it. Seemed kind of heavy and a little bit unfamiliar, but I really feel it just takes you way inside and there?s kind of this magic connection among all the members of the choir.
HILLARY IS ONE OF A HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN MAINERS, MYSELF INCLUDED, WHO SPEND A LOT OF TIME SINGING RUSSIAN. WE?RE OF EVERY AGE AND PROFESSION, FROM MASSAGE THERAPIST TO COLLEGE STUDENT, TO THE MANAGER OF A FISH PACKING PLANT. BUT AS MEMBERS OF THE RACHMANINOFF FESTIVAL CHOIR, WE REGULARLY SING A RUSSIAN MASS.

SCENE: PRE-TOUR REHEARSAL
FADE UP TAPE: 03.09.2006 Track 5 [rehearsal ambience]
TONIGHT?S THE FINAL REHE...
Read the full transcript

Timing and Cues

SUGGESTED HOST INTRO:
When you think of rural Maine, what comes to mind is probably not Russian sacred choral music. But Down East Singers, a community chorus based in the seaside town of Camden, and the Bowdoin College Chorus from Brunswick, have made a name for themselves singing just that. Over the past decade, they?ve performed Rachmaninoff?s Russian Orthodox Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom all over the country, from the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. to rural Vermont. What makes this Russian music resonate with a bunch of Mainers? Radio producer and chorus member Tina Antolini takes us along on a concert tour, to find out.
***************
AT 7:35, HOST CAN ENTER WITH FINAL CREDITS OR OUTRO.

Musical Works

Rachmaninoff's Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, performed by members of Down East Singers of Camden, Maine, and the Bowdoin College Chorus of Brunswick, Maine.