Choir will perform in Cold Spring on Dec. 7 and 8
Founded by IBM employees in Mount Kisco and now based in Yorktown Heights, a portion of the Taghkanic Chorale’s soul, and part of its future, is in Philipstown.
About 15 percent of the choir’s singers live here, including 15-year-old Christopher Kordaris, the group’s youngest member by far. And nearly every June since 2009, the chorale has hosted Music with a View fundraisers at homes in Garrison and Cold Spring that overlook the Hudson River.
“As long as I’ve been involved, there’s always been a core part of the group from around here,” says Cold Spring resident Priscilla Goldfarb, an alto who joined in 2002.
The group usually performs at venues in Westchester County but this year is bringing Baroque Brilliance: Choral Masterworks for the Holiday Season to St. Mary’s Church in Cold Spring on Saturday (Dec. 7) and Sunday (Dec. 8).
Like the Carmel-based Putnam Chorale, the Westchester group focuses on the classical canon, and the ensembles share the same music director, Jason Tramm. The repertoire ranges from Renaissance to contemporary music, including compositions by Ola Gjeilo, Morten Lauridsen and Gwyneth Walker.
The program at St. Mary’s will focus on “the B-sides, if you will, of famous composers,” says David Watson, a tenor and board member. “It’s nice to flesh out the careers of a Bach or Vivaldi and not hear the famous works on repeat all the time.”
The Magnificat being played is not Bach’s well-known version — this one is from Vivaldi (whose Credo will also be performed). The Bach piece is a Cantata, Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, with words by Martin Luther. The chorale will also perform short pieces by Henry Purcell and Dieterich Buxtehude.
Tramm, the music director, “loves to dig and find lesser-known works,” says Goldfarb. “The Bach is unlike anything of his I’ve ever sung; it’s so interesting. There are fascinating choral bits interwoven with the soloists in the Purcell piece and the Buxtehude is unusual, but like a carol, with a lilting and beautiful flow.”
The chorale has 37 singers and will be accompanied by the church’s digital organ, four vocal soloists and five period instruments (two violins, a viola, a cello and a bass).
Many classical music professionals fret over aging audiences, but last year Kordaris, a sophomore at Kennedy Catholic in Somers, joined the bass section.
The Cold Spring resident enjoys his time with his high school choir but “wanted to sing more,” he says. “My mom and I went to one of their concerts last year; we looked at each other and I said, ‘Oh my gosh, this is so beautiful. I have to give this a try.’ ”
He admits he was intimidated but says he warmed up quickly. “It’s one of the best experiences I’ve ever had,” he says. “I love classical music, and it’s even better the more I learn about the works we’re playing.”
Kordaris credits Tramm and his fellow choir members for easing him into the fold. He plans to take a practical approach to his career and probably go to law school, but for now, singing and learning new music has “helped me expand my voice. I never want to leave and can see myself doing this for at least 20 or 30 years.”
St. Mary’s Church is located at 1 Chestnut St. Both performances begin at 4 p.m. Tickets are $25 ($22 for seniors, $12 for students, ages 12 and younger are free) at dub.sh/chorale-concert-CS. Visit taghkanicchorale.org to watch livestreams of the concerts.
