Photo/Laura Hancock In a matter of two short weeks Yvonne Farrow has taught the Chamber Choir how to incorporate a new element called choralography into the show.
Laura Hancock
(541) 962-3585 | lhancock@eou.edu
27 January 2009
LA GRANDE, Ore. (EOU) - The Eastern Oregon University Chamber Choir's next performance promises to be different than any other concert they've presented.
Entitled, "Destinations: A World in Motion," the program will take audiences on a globe-trotting journey that is both musical and visual. Two performances are scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Jan. 30-31 at 7:30 p.m. in McKenzie Theatre in Loso Hall.
While the Chamber Choir frequently incorporates culturally diverse selections into its repertoire, this concert will be unique in that it fuses music with movement.
In a matter of two short weeks, guest artist Yvonne Farrow has taught the choir how to incorporate a new element into the show. It's called choralography, a performance art form that is energizing choirs around the country.
Conceptualized in the 1970s, choralography was defined as choreographed movements performed by a choir while singing. Farrow revitalizes and extends the term for choirs in the 21st century. She defines her work as classic concert choreography designed specifically for choral groups, whereby the singers - who are not dancers, perform movement on or off the choral risers, in any genre, while preserving the choral sound.
Collaboration with Farrow began over a year ago. Peter Wordelman, EOU professor of music and Chamber Choir director, initiated the project and applied for a grant through the EOU Foundation's Visiting Artists Fund to bring Farrow to campus.
Wordelman communicated long-distance with Farrow, who lives in Los Angeles, sending her recordings of the music selections for the performance. Farrow said the first step in her creative process is to listen to the choir sing the work(s) she will be choreographing to.
"It is inspirational and enables me to capture the spirit of the group," Farrow said. "Next, I develop a through-line with the choral director. I then envision the work(s) and lastly, conceptualize the movements for each ballet."
"The purpose of choralography is to support the sound," she said. "My specialization is in choreography for classic choral composition, so it's challenging because the pieces they are singing are very difficult. It is an intellectual and technical process."
The Chamber Choir has experimented with movement before in various forms. Last year, the choir recorded two instructional videos produced by earthsongs music publishing company.
The first is a sign language instructional video produced with the help of American Sign Language Instructor, Julie Colton for, "Ain't No Grave Can Hold My Body Down. The second is for the Navajo war chant, "Naye-e Sin," written by J. Benjamin Jones, a 2005 EOU graduate.
Going through the learning process for these pieces, the choir and conductor saw both physical and vocal transitions take place.
"While the singer becomes more physically involved, the sound and energy that each individual displays is intensified," Wordelman said. "The emotional engagement is increased and the single focus assists in producing a 'whole body learning experience.'"
For this concert, Farrow's goal is to give the choir movement that captures the flavor of each country visited. Destinations include Kenya, China, the Middle East, Ecuador and the Caribbean.
"We're going to visit all of these different countries musically, but how are we going to travel there? Our spirit has to fly," Farrow said.
"There is always a subtext behind the song, and what I've been expressing to the choir is that they need to go deeper and connect to the heart," she said. "The humanity in this show is amazing."
Movement will also be incorporated into the concert through the choreography of Beckie Thompson-Hendrickson. She has arranged a tango to be danced by Erinn Wylam and Fune Tautala. The piece highlights Matt Cooper, professor of music, on piano, accompanied by the choir.
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Farrow is not only a choralogapher, but also an actress and model. She began her career as a dancer in the first graduating class of Duke Ellington High School for the Arts in Washington, D.C. and went on to receive her bachelor of arts from New York University.
Her early experience included working with such dance companies as the Dance Theater of Harlem as an apprentice, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater III, Clive Thompson Dance Company and The Sporting Dolls, Monte Carlo, Monaco.
Dancing was Farrow's life, but when she was 28 she injured her legs. Letting go of the dream was difficult and she struggled to continue her career. When she was able to come to terms with the fact she couldn't dance anymore, she decided to become an actress.
Farrow carved out a niche for herself, appearing in nearly two-dozen film and television productions. She has also had guest spots on "Grey's Anatomy," "Alias" and "Seinfield," to name a few.
With the door to show business opening, Farrow joined her identical twin sister, Yvette Heyliger, in founding a production company called Twinbiz.
"We write, direct and produce original projects for stage, television and film that uplift, entertain and serve," Farrow said. "Twinbiz is about service and everything that Yvette and I do, we try to in some way help the community."
In the last few years, Farrow has focused more exclusively on developing choralography as a part of her business. While she did not invent the term, she does consider herself a trailblazer.
Farrow has come full circle, back to her first love of dance.
"I've never been one to sit around and wait for people to give me an opportunity, so I create opportunity," she said. "When I injured my legs as a dancer, I thought my life was over, but there's always a way. I really enjoy this work because it's meaningful and allows me to express all my talents and abilities."
Farrow will be an exhibitor at the American Choral Director's Association convention in March, presenting workshops on choralography.
Tickets to "Destinations: A World in Motion," are available at Sunflower Books and the EOU Bookstore. Any remaining tickets will be sold at the door. Prices are $8 for adults and $6 for EOU students and seniors. For group ticket information call Wordelman at (541) 962-3352.
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