Scott Perkins – A New England Requiem a new masterwork
By Ralph Graves
Any composer can write for choir. But not everyone is a choral composer. Scott Perkins certainly is a choral composer.
He began his career as a tenor, and he thoroughly understands the potential of the human voice. More importantly, the potential of combined human voices.
Bottom line: this is an exquisitely beautiful album of contemporary choral music. If you like Eric Whitacre, Bob Chilcott, or Morten Lauridsen, you will find much to like here. Perkins, like the aforenamed, has created his own tonal language that sounds both timeless and contemporary.
The Da Capo Players and Choir are at the top of their form, making Perkins’ beautiful creations sound even more so. The major work on the album is “A New England Requiem.”
This is indeed a requiem mass in form. The text blends the traditional Latin with New England poets — Emily Dickinson, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Lydia Huntley Sigourney, Nathaniel Hawthorne.
Perkins’ small ensemble is supplemented with organ. The overall ensemble sound is light and open, almost Coplandesque. The slight American flavor of the music serves the texts well. And does so in subtle ways.
This is a serious, spiritually deep contemplation on death and life. Perkins’ blend of texts connects the past with the present — and gives the work a strong sense of place. It’s difficult to describe, but this sounds like New England.
The rest of the album features some of Perkins’ shorter sacred works. My personal favorite is “The Beautiful Land.” In my opinion, it’s just a perfect choral work. If you’re in a church choir, please lobby your director to give this a try. Really.
Scott Perkins: A New England Requiem
Sacred Choral Music
Da Capo Players and Choir; Tom Mueller, organ
Brett Alan Judson, conductor
Gothic G-49322
