U.S. premiere of “Źródło (The Source)”
A piece in honor of Pope Saint John Paul II by composer Professor and Assistant Chair of Music Ralf Gawlick will have its United States premiere at St. Ignatius Church on February 14 at 7 p.m.
Dedicated to Karol Wojtyła, who became Pope John Paul II in 1978, “ Źródło (The Source)” commemorates the 20th anniversary year of his death, and honors his Polish ancestry.
World renowned soprano soloist Clara Meloni will perform the concert program, accompanied by student members of the Boston College Symphony Orchestra and University Chorale of Boston College.
Presented by St. Ignatius Loyola Parish in Chestnut Hill as part of its inaugural concert series, the event is co-sponsored by the Music Department, Office of Student Involvement, Dean's Office - Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences, Institute for the Liberal Arts, and Church in the 21st Century Center. It is free and open to the public; a $20 donation is suggested.
"For the first time in my 25 years at BC, a work of mine will be performed by Boston College student ensembles,” said Gawlick, whose music has been commissioned by a wide range of artists and organizations, and has garnered international acclaim from audiences and critics.
“I am immensely grateful to my dear colleagues, conductors Anna Witttstruck and Riikka Pietilainen-Caffrey [Symphony Orchestra and Chorale directors, respectively], and the over 200 students from the University Chorale and BCSO, for joining forces to dedicate their spirit and energies to present the U.S. première of ‘Źródło’ along with two profound works by Henryk Górecki, one of the great Polish composers of the 20th and 21st centuries.”
Solist Clara Meloni and Professor of Music Ralf Gawlick.
Meloni is featured on the Decca recording of Gawlick’s oratorio “O Lungo Drom (The Long Road),” and has performed the work numerous times over the last year, including at its U.S. première at the University last April. In addition to the February 14 concert, she will present a masterclass for senior voice students and Chorale members, and a performance of Italian art songs with piano accompaniment by Music faculty member Lindsay Albert on February 19 at 7 p.m. in Gasson 100 (the latter event is free and open to the public).
“The Source” is based on the poem of the same title included in the poetry collection Roman Triptych: Meditations by John Paul Il. The setting of the poem evokes the forest on the slopes of the Tatra Mountains in southern Poland, which the pope held dear, according to Gawlick.
Commissioned by the Moniuszko Musical Society for the 25th anniversary of the visit of John Paul II to Boston and the U.S., "Źródło” was meant to premiere in Boston but instead debuted in Poznan, Poland, a month after the John Paul II's death in April 2005. The upcoming concert of his work is especially meaningful to Gawlick, as he was unable to attend that performance.
Reflecting the poem’s various psychological landscapes, “The Source” begins with a recurring musical motto, first intoned by the flute, that ushers in the poem’s central question: Gdzie jesteś, źródło? (Source, where are you?).
“The orchestra illumes the space, while the choir, the multitude, echoes, reaffirms and accompanies the soprano, the lyrical ‘I,’ on her journey. At first, the motto presents itself as a gentle, unassuming inquiry, but it soon turns from an intimate and vulnerable plea to one that ‘demands’ answers,” Gawlick explained.
“Hushed moments alternate with ever-growing disquietude and restlessness, where impatience and a sense of entitlement bordering on accusatory anger leads to exhaustion colored by the futility of attempting to find/discover the ‘source.' The closing music and the last lines of the poem suggest a reverence that perchance, this search for an answer for Gdzie jesteś, źródło? involves a serenity shaped and acquired by the presence of grace.”
A post-concert reflection will follow.
“It is an immense artistic opportunity for our students to be able to collaborate with such a distinguished soloist and BC artist-in-residence. I would also like to extend my special gratitude to St. Ignatius for generously opening its doors to its beautiful worship space to host this performance as part of the St. Ignatius concert series."
For more on Music Department events, see bc.edu/music or email concerts@bc.edu.