Lafayette Chamber Singers
Lafayette Chamber Singers (LCS) is a 15-person choir that performs both fully acapella and some instrumentally-accompanied concerts.
On Sunday in West Lafayette, the LCS performed their hour-long concert that celebrated Scandinavian composers and choir music.
LSC welcomes singers from all age groups, but requires an audition for entry. According to Artistic Director and founder of LCS, Clayton Lein, sight reading music - or practicing reading and performing music at first-sight - is very important to remain a member of the group.
"Singers who really can't read (sheet music) very rarely ask to join," Lein said. "We sing between 16-20 pieces in any given concert. To do that, in the few weeks between concerts, you really have to be able to sight-read pretty well."
LCS is celebrating its 49th season this year with two concerts, the Sunday event and one later in May 2023.
"This season is something I've been wanting to do for a very long time," Lein said. "It's entirely devoted to Scandinavian chorale music. And that's something which most people in America don't know well at all.
"...Now I personally think that the Scandinavian chorale tradition is one of the greatest traditions on the planet."
The "Betwixt and Between" concert
The LCS performed multiple songs including more recognizable tunes such as "Ave Maria 1" by Ricards Dubra and less familiar songs like Aftonen by Hugo Alfvén.
Lein himself arranged a few of the included concert pieces.
"Hugo Alfvén is my favorite composer of the whole lot," Lein said. "And he is just a titanic musician in Scandinavian circles...(many of Alfvén's pieces are) not available in English at all. So I made an arrangement of it trying to keep as much of the original that I could.
"And then I made a paraphrased (version by) looking through Norse dictionaries and just seeing the rhythm of the music and trying to capture the main meaning. And I think I've done that."
Bill McInerney, a member of the LCS, commented on how the performance went and the songs within the concert.
"It's absolutely stunning stuff," McInerney said in regards to Scandinavian chorale music. "I told (Lein) after the concert it was one of the first ones that I've done with him where I could not pick out a favorite piece.
"...I thought it went very well."
Best Choir, Lafayette award
In late summer, Lein learned that the LCS had earned the Best Choir, Lafayette award. This was something that came as a pleasant shock to Lein and the rest of the LCS members.
"I was astounded," Lein said in regards to his reaction when he found out about the award. "First off, I didn't really know (about the award). I've see plaques on some businesses...but I didn't know they gave it for this category. We've been around for almost 50 years, so it was really rewarding to get that."
A trophy has been awarded to Lein and the LCS.
What Lein looks forward to
With this season's theme being one that Lein has wanted to do for a long time, this concert series is something he looks forward to.
"I'm looking forward to sharing," Lein said. "We're singing some of the most beautiful pieces for choir...I want the audience to ask 'Why haven't we heard this before?' Because it's just so unbelievably interesting and beautiful."
English (US)