By George Basler
Of course, Aimee Backus hopes the Southern Tier Singers’ Collective (STSC) will please the ears of audience members in a concert, “Memories from the Mediterranean,” Sunday (Oct. 20) at St. James Roman Catholic Church in Johnson City. But she hopes for more as well.
The composer and the choir want “to build some understanding and connection through music,” STSC’s board president said.
The composer Backus is talking about is Palestinian-Jordanian-Canadian composer Dr. Shireen Abu-Khader, who has composed the piece “Rumor Mill” after it was specially commissioned by STSC. It will receive its premiere here.
Abu-Khader, who lives in Toronto, heads Dozan World, which preserves the folkloric musical heritage of the Levant region, a historical geographical term referring to a large area in the Eastern Mediterranean region of West Asia. It is the core territory of the political term Middle East.
Backus said she’s fully aware that the Middle East is emmeshed in conflict, but “Rumor Mill” is “more nostalgic than political.” The concert is not “anti-anything,” she emphasized. Its purpose is to bring voices not being heard to public notice and to showcase “things we all share as humans, and music is part of that.”
Besides “Rumor Mill”, the Sunday concert will give a guided musical tour of countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, including Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Spain, Greece and Italy. The music encompasses works ranging from Gregorian and Greek chants to Renaissance compositions, to arrangements of folk music from the region, a STSC release states.
Joining a 24-member STSC will be the Binghamton University Chamber Singers and the Vestal Voices choir from Vestal High School.
STSC was founded in 2018 by William Culverhouse, director of choral activities and associate professor of music at Binghamton University, to perform a distinctive choral repertoire. It draws singers from as far as Ithaca, Oneonta, Elmira and northeastern Pennsylvania.
Sunday’ concert is a celebration of Culverhouse’s expertise in Arabic music, Backus said. He received a Fulbright Scholarship in 2016 to perform in a series of concerts in Jordan. He wants to bring this expertise to the Binghamton community, Backus said.
In composing “Rumor Mill,” Abu-Khader has set to music the poetry of Naomi Shihad-Nye, an Arab American poet, editor, songwriter and novelist. The music is catchy and beautiful, Backus said, emphasizing: “Arabic music is meant to be danced at parties.”
STSC has been rehearsing since late July to prepare for the performance. “We’re very excited. I think it’s a unique concert,” Backus said.
While here for the concert, Abu Khader will do a weekend of workshops with students from Binghamton University and local high schools as part of her residency. The concert is sponsored in part by the Broome County Arts Council, WSKG and the School of the Arts at Binghamton University.
IF YOU GO: The Southern Tier Singers’ Collective will present Memories from the Mediterranean, a concert featuring the world premiere of “Rumor Mill,” at 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20, at St. James Roman Catholic Church, 147 Main St., Johnson City. Admission is free, with tickets on a first-come, first-served basis. Donations are welcome.
