News
Hill College to Host Heinavanker
10.27.14
The Renaissance painter Hieronymos Bosch from the Netherlands created pieces with graphic images of scenes depicting the weakness, sinfulness and helplessness of man and his eternal destiny, considered by some to be influenced by his contemporary Erasmus, a Catholic priest who fought against what he perceived as impurity in the music and worship practices of the church. One of these paintings, Haywain Triptych, features in its central image a large wagonload of hay being carted through the countryside as the people around it labor to obtain more material possessions, ultimately to their own destruction. Musicians perform as the wagon progresses with a demon and an angel attempting to gain control of the music. One interpretation of this scene reflects the struggle at that time between those who wanted to maintain the old Gregorian chants of the ancient church (including Erasmus) and those who wanted a more contemporary music in the church.
In a similar fashion, the Estonian a capella vocal ensemble Heinavanker (the Estonian version of “Haywain”), struggles to balance their love for ancient runic song and folk hymns with the desire to perform music with a more contemporary sound. Performing under the baton of composer Margo Kõlar, this group performs a program consisting of ancient music such as the chants of the Catholic church, music of Hildegard of Bingen and runic song from the area later to become Estonia; English renaissance music by composer such as John Taverner, Walter Frye and Thomas Tallis; Estonian folk hymns with texts largely drawn from the Lutheran tradition; and mass settings by Johannes Ockegehm.
Composer and conductor Margo Kõlar obtained his masters degree in music from the Estonian Academy of Music in 1999. He then became docent and director of the electronic music studio at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre (a position he holds to this day) where he received his doctoral degree in music in 2006. Though electronic music represents a large part of his oeuvre, he also writes for various chamber ensembles, orchestra and choral groups. His work is characterized by experimentation in sound, humor and a playful interaction in the musical material, though his sacred works are of a more serious tone.
The performance will take place at 7:30 pm in the Vara Martin Daniel Performing Arts Center, just behind the Texas Heritage Museum on the Hillsboro Campus and is free and open to the public. A reception hosted by the Hillsboro Garden Club will follow this event.
If you would like to support the Hill College Performing Arts Series, you are invited to become a BENEFACTOR ($100), a SUSTAINER ($50), a PATRON ($25), or a SUPPORTER ($10) of the Hill College Performing Arts Series. Also, for a donation of $1,000 or more you can become a LIFETIME BENEFACTOR. Names of lifetime benefactors, benefactors, sustainers, patrons and supporters appear in each program. You may send your donation to: Hill College Music Dept., Attention: Phillip Lowe, 112 Lamar Dr., Hillsboro, TX, 76645. Go to www.hillcollege.edu/performingartsseries for more information on the Performing Arts Series.