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Milwaukee Organic - Milwaukee's Eco Friendly Site

Bach and Children - A Natural Match

Hoboken, NJ (PRWEB) February 8, 2006 -- Bach is back at Mustard Seed School (MSS), and the school is eager to share this composer’s music with area students and the community. The Bach Festival will take place at Our Lady of Grace Church in Hoboken, NJ, during the week of Bach’s 321st birthday in March. Students, ages 7 – 15, are invited to audition at the school during the next weeks – Thursday, Feb. 9, and Thursday, Feb. 16, at 4:15 PM. Students should be prepared to play one piece by Johann Sebastian Bach. Reserve an audition slot by calling Heather Fetrow, Music Director at MSS, 201-653-5548 or email her at feathersop@aol.com.

This is MSS’ fifth year of hosting a Bach Festival. The school continues to resurrect Bach’s work for two main reasons. First, there are parallels of purpose between Bach and MSS. Bach, who was a great church musician, said, “All of my music was written to glorify God.” The children at MSS sing with a similar mission. “At MSS, singing is not just about notes and rhythm, it’s about a child’s spirit behind the music; children naturally tap into that spirit,” said Fetrow.

Another reason to perform Bach stems from MSS’ educational pedagogy of the Hungarian composer Zoltan Kodaly. Kodaly said, “Often a single experience will open the young soul to music for a whole lifetime. This experience cannot be left to chance. It is the duty of the school to provide it.” A 6th grade student, Claire Hill, recognizes the difference in Bach’s music: “(Performing Bach) helps us appreciate a different type of music from what we are used to.”

The opportunity to perform Bach will be abundant at this festival; nearly 100 musicians will participate including the MSS choristers (fourth grade), MSS chorus (grades five through eight), the Westminster Conservatory Youth Chamber Singers from Princeton, NJ (high school level), about ten soloists for each of the two performances, and four professional soloists, including Kiera Duffy, soprano and three-time winner of the Metropolitan Opera regional auditions. Performers will range from ages 10 – 30.

While Bach was virtually unknown as a composer in his time, Fetrow explains Bach’s unique approach to music: “Bach was a ‘text painter’ with his music; he found ways to create music that sounded like the feeling or idea in the text.”

Amanda Guerette, a 7th grade MSS chorus member explains what she likes about Bach’s music this way: “I like how the notes flow and how the words go with the notes of the music. I also like how his melodies are simple, yet complicated. I like singing the crescendos and decrescendos.”

Music is a part of the everyday experience for MSS students. Students sing daily in worship. They perform for service by visiting prisons, for celebrations by honoring the church calendar, and for professional development by performing with community choirs.
   
The Bach Festival performance will take place Thurs., March 23 at 7 PM and on Friday, March 24, at 1 PM. For more information, please call Mustard Seed School at 201-653-5548 or go to our website, www.mustardseedschool.org.

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This press release has been reprinted from PRWEB per the terms and conditions of the copyright notice.


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