ABOUT THE HELIOS ENSEMBLE The Helios Ensemble is a 45-person auditioned mixed choral ensemble based in Tucson, Arizona founded in 2014 and directed by Benjamin J. Hansen, DMA candidate at the University of Arizona. His mission for Helios is to create fantastic sound through innovative group vocal pedagogy, to use the drama inherent in the music to improve blend and color, and to empower choristers to sing difficult music. Helios also trains young conductors through The Helios Young Conductor's Initiative by offering conducting pedagogy and rehearsal and concert podium time. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT OF OUR SPONSORS AND DONORS: Anonymous, Frank Albinder, Mareena Boosamra Ball and Bill Ball, Neil and Monica Bauer, Robert Beizer, Bill and Laura Couchman, Carol des Cognets, Elizabeth Evans, Kory Floyd, Mariette and Daniel Francis, Lisa Freeland, Freeport-McMoran Foundation, Karl Haas, Nancy Hummel, Anne Johnson, Judith Kreuzer, Paul Kreuzer, Jeff Ladderud, Irene and Steve Little, Richard Long, Lois Manowitz, Naja McKenzie, Arlis McLean and Michael Melton, Martha Mecom, Suzanne Mohr, David Nix, Dennis Noonan, William Pascoe, Judith Peters, John Pestle, Ed Porembski, Mindy Powell, Cassandra Prescott, Stephen Reitz, Janet and Michael Rowe, Deborah Ryan, Susan Schlaepfer, Linda Sielken, Patricia and John Stocker, Ilse Swihart, Jeremy Tipton, Linda Waugh, AmyBeth Willis, Donna Worland, and Peggy and Dave Young SPECIAL THANKS TO: Jim Click, Jr. Alisha Escoto Ben Hansen Shantell Petty Visual Images
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ABOUTTHEHELIOSENSEMBLETheHeliosEnsembleisa45-personauditionedmixedchoralensemblebasedinTucson,Arizona founded in 2014 and directed by Benjamin J. Hansen, DMA candidate at theUniversity of Arizona. His mission for Helios is to create fantastic sound throughinnovative group vocal pedagogy, to use the drama inherent in the music to improveblend and color, and to empower choristers to sing difficult music. Helios also trainsyoung conductors through The Helios Young Conductor's Initiative by offeringconductingpedagogyandrehearsalandconcertpodiumtime.
WEAREGRATEFULFORTHESUPPORTOFOURSPONSORS
ANDDONORS:Anonymous, Frank Albinder, Mareena Boosamra Ball and Bill Ball, Neil and MonicaBauer,RobertBeizer,BillandLauraCouchman,CaroldesCognets,ElizabethEvans,KoryFloyd,Mariette and Daniel Francis, Lisa Freeland, Freeport-McMoran Foundation, KarlHaas,NancyHummel,Anne Johnson, JudithKreuzer,PaulKreuzer, JeffLadderud, IreneandSteveLittle,RichardLong,LoisManowitz,NajaMcKenzie,ArlisMcLeanandMichaelMelton,MarthaMecom,SuzanneMohr,DavidNix,DennisNoonan,WilliamPascoe,JudithPeters,JohnPestle,EdPorembski,MindyPowell,CassandraPrescott,StephenReitz,JanetandMichael Rowe, DeborahRyan, Susan Schlaepfer, Linda Sielken, Patricia and JohnStocker,IlseSwihart,JeremyTipton,LindaWaugh,AmyBethWillis,DonnaWorland,andPeggyandDaveYoung
BenjaminHansen is the founder andArtistic Director of TheHelios Ensemble and theDirectorofMusicattheCatalinaUnitedMethodistChurch.HansenreceivedhisBAfromYale,singinginTheYaleWhiffenpoofs,hisMMinvoicefromTheCatholicUniversityofAmerica,hisMMinconductingfromTheCollege-ConservatoryofMusicattheUniversityofCincinnati,andiscurrentlyadoctoralcandidateinchoralconductingattheUniversityofArizona.HansenhasconductedsuchworksasBeethoven’sMassinC,Bach’sLobetdenHerrn,Mozart’sRequiem,Howell’sRequiem,Haydn’sLordNelsonMass,Poulenc’sMassinG, andVaughanWilliams’ Three Shakespeare Songs.Hansenhas studied conductingwithBruceChamberlain,ElizabethSchauer,LeoNestor, JerryBlackstone,MarkGibson,EarlRivers,FioraContino,andRobertSund.Hansenwasthedirectorofchoralactivitiesat Cincinnati State College, directing the Cincinnati State Chorale’s performance ofWhitacre’sLuxAurumque, thenationalanthemataCincinnatiRedsGame,andasetofspiritualsfortheWorldChoirGamesin2012.HewasaConductingFellowattheChorusAmericaConductingSymposiumin2010,Houston,TX,andhefoundedanddirectedtheWashingtonCollegium,inWashington,D.C.from2007to2009.
ABOUTASSISTANTDIRECTORSAMSIERRA-FELDMANSamSierra-FeldmanisaseniorattheUniversityofArizonaandisthrilledandhonoredtoserveasAssistantDirectorof theHeliosEnsemble thisyear. Samalso servesasa staffsinger andDirector of Children’sChoirs at St. Philip’s in theHills Episcopal Church, aswellasastaffsingerwiththeTucsonSymphonyOrchestraChorus. Inher“spare”time,Sam enjoys working on a series of children’s books with her co-author and father,Enrique“Hank”Feldman.Togethertheyhavepublishedthreebooks,withmanymoretocome!
Immediately, in the Introit, we find this comfort through impressionistic and chantmaterial that blurs rhythmic and harmonic distinctions. Drawing on the irregularalternation between strong and weak beats in Gregorian chant, Duruflé abandons allanchors,allowingthemusictofloateffortlesslywithethereal9thchordsandrunning16thnotesthatweaveusinandoutofseveralmusicalphrases.The Kyrie shifts from Medieval chant to Renaissance counterpoint. Cascadingsuspensionsand their releasereflect theprofoundstrugglewithdeathand theeternal.Yet,peaceisthefinaloutcomewitharesolutionfrom2to1inthelastmeasure.TheDomineJesuopenswithasearchingorgan introduction,givingway toagroundingchant-likemelody from theAltos. Suddenly, however, a raremomentofdrama comesuponusaschoristerscryout“Liberaeasdeoreleonis,”or“deliverthemfromthemouthof the lion.” Later, angelic Sopranos sing of bringing the departed souls into the light,againfloatinghighandhighertoheavenwithchant-likemelodies.The Sanctus follows in stark contrast, with running 16th notes in the organ creating adivine effervescence. Long phrases and repeated notes on “Hosanna” follow, slowlybuilding in tension toa spectacular climax,a raremomentof fortissimodynamics.TheMezzo-sopranosoloofgreatpersonalangstandintensityfollowsinthePieJesu.Lightandalmostplayfulfiguresintheorganwritingcontrast inthebeginningofAgnusDei, over which the choir delivers a chant-like presentation of the text. Meditationcontinues with the Lux aeterna, featuring irregular meters, solo organ, andunaccompaniedchoralwriting.ThelastdramaticmomentsoftheRequiemareprovidedbytheLiberaMe.Bassesenterfirst with a cry for freedom, followed by Tenors, Altos and Sopranos in counterpointfurther unsettled by an independent organ accompaniment. Solo Baritone interjects“Tremensfactussumego,”or“Iamseizedbytrembling,”followedbychoralexhortationsofthecomingdayofwrath.Finally,Sopranosagainprovideacalmnessthroughthelight,withunisonchoirindarkclosure.Sopranos again offer comfort in the opening of the final movement, In Paradisum. Aspartanly voiced choir follows, getting closer and closer to the infinite, to eternal rest,comfort,andyetstillmysterywithamajor9thchordsoundedbythe lastmotionintheorgan.
ABOUTDOUGLASBLAIRLEIGHTENHEIMER,ORGANISTDouglasBlairLeightenheimerwasappointedDirectorofMusic/Organist forSt.Michaeland All Angels Episcopal Church in Tucson in January of 2013. Prior to arriving inArizona,heservedforfifteenyearsasDirectorofMusic/OrganistforFirstPresbyterianChurch inWilmington,NorthCarolina, the last three ofwhich he also served asMusicDirectorfortheScholaCantorumoftheEpiscopalDioceseofEastCarolina. Priortohisappointment in Wilmington, he served for over twelve years as Director of MusicMinistriesforVenicePresbyterianChurchinVenice,Florida.Dr.LeightenheimeristhedeanoftheSouthernArizonaChapteroftheAmericanGuildofOrganists, having served previously as dean for the Wilmington (NC) and Sarasota-Manatee(FL)chapters. He isapublishedcomposerandarecitalisthavingconcertizedprimarilyontheEastCoast,theMidwestandSouthwest.In2008hewasfeaturedwiththe Wilmington (NC) Symphony Orchestra performing "Symphony No. 3" of CamilleSaint-Saëns and "Symphonie Concertante" of Joseph Jongen on First Presbyterian'shistoric1928E.M.Skinnerpipeorgan(Op.713).PerformancesinTucsonincludetheSt.Philip’s EvensongRecital Series, the CatalinaUnitedMethodist Church Summer Series,andtheMildredFloodMahoneyMemorialConcertsattheUniversityofArizona.HealsohasperformedasorganistfortheTucsonMasterworksChoraleandtheHeliosEnsemble.AnativeofPortsmouth,Ohio,Dr.LeightenheimerholdstheBachelorofMusicdegreeinorgan performance from theUniversity of Kentucky in Lexington; theMaster ofMusicdegree in churchmusic fromWestminster Choir College, and theDoctor ofMusicArtsdegreeinchoralconductingfromtheUniversityofArizona.ABOUTOMARISMALDONADO-TORRES,MEZZO-SOPRANO
Ms. Omaris Maldonado-Torres is a graduate of the University of Arizona and holds amaster’sdegreeinChoralConducting.DuringhertimeattheUniversityofArizona,she
PROGRAMNOTESLasAmarillas“LasAmarillas” is a folk song in the SouthernMexican style of huapango. Huapango isparadoxically characterized by a festive, devil-may-care attitudewhich almost directlycontradictstheprecise,incisiverhythmicpatterns.Thepoemspeaksofpetitebirds,deadtrees,farewells,andmultiplication.Youmaythinkitisnonsensical—andyouwouldbecorrect!Thefocusofthetextin“LasAmarillas”isnotso much the meaning of the words, but the way that they sound, imitating variousinstrumentsandevenbirdsong!Karimatanu Kuicha was composed in 1998 by Ko Matshushita, and The HeliosEnsembleisexcitedtopremierethisworkinTucson.ItfeaturesfolkmelodiesfromtheJapanese IslandvillageofKarimata inOkinawa,andstomps,clapsandcriesallevokingthe jubilant festivalatmosphereofacelebratingvillage.Thework inABA in form,withthemain folk tunewoven throughout the entirework. Polyrhythmicmaterial forms aclosingcodalikesectionthatacceleratestoaspectacularfinish!RequiembyMauriceDurufléhasaspecialresonancetoday:intheseturbulenttimes,wecryoutforpeaceintheworld,inourcommunities,andinourminds.Experiencingthismusic, as a performer or listener, gives us a way to express these desires and to becomforted.Duruflé’sRequiemwascommissionedin1942,completedin1947,andpublishedin1948.It began as an organ composition based on Gregorian chant, but at the urging of hispublisherDurand,wasrepurposedforchoir.Duruflécomposedthreeversions:onefororgan alone; one for organ with string orchestra and optional trumpets, harp andtimpani;andonefororganandfullorchestra.Like Fauré’s Requiem, Duruflé’s Requiem makes use of softer dynamic levels, andalthough there are dramatic moments, the work is filled with meditative material tosoothe thoseexperiencingwhatDuruflédescribesas “theagonyofman facedwith themysteryofhisultimateend.”
Join The Helios Ensemble for Lessons and Carolswith the Catalina United MethodistSanctuary Choir on Sunday, December 17th at 4:00 p.m. Feast on the beauty of thetraditionalformattakenfromKing’sCollege,CambridgefeaturingHowell’sSpotlessRose,GibbsarrangementofGoTellItontheMoutain,andvariouschoral/organworksfeaturingtheQuimbyorganatCatalina!
has been featured as a mezzo-soprano soloist with Arizona Choir, Arizona Baroque,CollegiumMusicum,andtheUniversityCommunityChorus.Ms.Maldonado-TorreshasperformedtherolesinoperascenesofInezinTheGondoliersbyGilbert&SullivanandBradamanteinHandel’sAlcina.Shehasalsobeenfeaturedasamezzo-soloist in Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy and Mendelssohn’s Elijahwith the BachFestivalChoirinWinterPark,Florida.ShehasalsosunginmasterclasseswithRobertBracy,JuliaFoster,andNancyMaultsby.Ms.Maldonado-Torreshas studiedwithCheryseMcLeod-Lewis,ArisaKusumi-Sullivan,andiscurrentlystudyingwithElizabethFutral.
