An American Landscape: The Joys of Our Spirit

Our natural world is full of wonders; the gentle flow of streams, the quiet strength of fields, the whisper of leaves, the shimmer of stars… each speaking to the human spirit in profound and unexpected ways. This program celebrates those wonders in a rich tapestry of American choral music, woven from the enduring voices of Aaron Copland and Samuel Barber, the radiant harmonies of Eric Whitacre and René Clausen, and the fresh perspectives of emerging artists. 

An American Landscape offers serene reflection, tender emotion, and stirring exuberance, inviting us to pause, breathe, and connect with beauty that uplifts and surrounds. At the heart of this journey are two poetic voices of extraordinary resonance. Wendell Berry’s The Peace of Wild Things enfolds us in solace and freedom, a quiet embrace of nature’s grace. Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass lifts us in jubilant celebration of life, humanity, and the universal song that unites us all.

Together, these texts and their musical settings shape a voyage of peace, joy, and introspection—a reminder that in the harmony of nature, the song of the heart, and the power of human expression, we discover connection, hope, and the enduring beauty of the world around us.

This program will be performed twice; once on Saturday, October 18 at 7pm at Morningside Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, and again on Sunday, October 19 at 3pm at St. James Episcopal Church in Marietta. Please double check dates to be sure you're purchasing tickets for the correct performance.

Program:

The Pasture, from Where the Earth Meets the Sky (Z. Randall Stroope)

All That Hath Life and Breath (René Clausen)

i thank You God for most this amazing day (Eric Whitacre)

The Peace of Wild Things (Joan Szymko)

Reincarnations (Samuel Barber)

        Mary Hynes

        Anthony O’ Daly

        The Coolin

Autumn (Kevin Memley)

Sunflower (Jacob Narverud)

I am the rose of Sharon (William Billings)

The Lily of the Valley (arr. Wendell Whalum)

My Spirit Is Uncaged (Paul Rardin)

Through All the World Below (arr. Howard Helvey)

From The Tender Land (Aaron Copland)

        Stomp your foot

        Promise of living

Host or Publisher Coro Vocati