Distinguished Concerts International - New York

Joint concert directed by Hayes

by Crystal Ligon

March 17, 2011

The Mahomet Citizen

Students performed Hayes' "Cantate Domino," "Danny Boy," "Swingin' with the Saints," "Go Down Moses," "Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee" and "America the Beautiful."

The concert was held at the high school gym.

Hayes, renowned composer, worked with students throughout the day before the concert.

"Being here today is exciting," he said. "It's exciting, because their energy is so palpable. There's nothing like the youth. It's a different kind of excitement than being on Lincoln Center stage in Avery Fisher Hall with a full professional orchestra. That's kind of the real high stakes. But I see what I'm doing here today is really, really valuable, too."

Hayes said those students could go on to sing, train and perhaps perform one day at Carnegie Hall.

Students also were able to submit questions, reflecting musical concepts, to Hayes about his pieces.

Leslie Manfredo, MSHS choral director, said the exercise gave students a chance to "get into the head" of a composer.

"I hope they will learn much about the ‘composer's craft,' the creative process of taking a text and setting it to music for performance by another group or individual, and what he was thinking he hoped would be expressed through his music," Manfredo said in a press release.

Hayes' brand new piece is 31 minutes long, based on the writing of Henry David Thoreau. The piece is called "The American Spirit," libretto by Pamela Stewart. Hayes will conduct the piece at Lincoln Center in Avery Fisher Hall in New York City on May 29, presented by the Distinguished Concerts International New York.

"I knew I wanted to write a major work, so it's different than a four-minute anthem," Hayes said.

He said it also is a departure from his gospel and religious roots that he is known for in his works.

He said it was "through composed," where no rhyme or rhythm was added when arranging the piece. He said the disadvantage and challenge to this is that it can sound like it's wandering and not cohesive.

He commissioned Stewart, who researched Thoreau and wrote the lyrics. Hayes gave her parameters, however, he wanted there to be eight-minute sections.

Once Stewart sent the lyrics, Hayes wrote the music. He would sit and play around on the piano until a melody came to mind.

"Once I had something in mind, I would write it down on my computer and capture it there," he said.

The new piece is for chorus and orchestra.

The M-S combined choirs joined the Parkland College band in playing and singing the National Anthem, entitled "A Patriotic Salute," arranged by James Hosay. The total number of participants was about 230.

The band, conducted by Joseph Manfredo, also performed a variety of standard band music. The Mahomet-Seymour school choirs are directed by Leslie Manfredo and Jill Rinkel.

Hayes has performed at Carnegie Hall in 2007, 2008 and 2009, conducting "Te Deum" and "Magnificat." He also recently conducted the Community and Church Honor Choir at 2008 MCDA Convention and led the Community and Church Honor Choir at the SWACDA Regional Convention in 2010, featuring his "Gloria."

For more information, visit www.markhayes.com.