Awaiting Golden Light Voices of Concinnity

• Eric William Barnum (b. 1979): The Sweetheart of the Sun:
• 1Barnum: The Sweetheart of the Sun05:33
• Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872 - 1958): Sweet Day:
• 2Williams: Sweet Day01:57
• Edie Hill (b. 1962): Alma Beata et Bella:
• 3Hill: Alma Beata et Bella05:52
• William H. Harris (1883 - 1973): Bring us, O Lord God:
• 4Harris: Bring us, O Lord God04:08
• Brian Jones (1942 - 1969): It May Be:
• 5Jones: It May Be05:13
• Gustav T. Holst (1874 - 1934): I love my love:
• 6Holst: I love my love04:30
• Eric Whitacre (b. 1970): Sleep:
• 7Whitacre: Sleep05:23
• Cheryl B. Engelhardt: The Breadth of Blossoms:
• 8Engelhardt: The Breadth of Blossoms03:46
• Kerensa Briggs (b. 1933): Media Vita:
• 9Briggs: Media Vita03:14
• Dan Forrest (b. 1978): Good Night, Dear Heart:
• 10Forrest: Good Night, Dear Heart03:53
• Steven James Brown (1954 - 2024): Sing to the Moon:
• 11Brown: Sing to the Moon03:29
• Reena Esmail (b. 1983): We Look For You (Evensong):
• 12Esmail: We Look For You (Evensong)03:55
• Edward C. Bairstow (1874 - 1946): I sat down under his shadow:
• 13Bairstow: I sat down under his shadow01:41
• Melissa Dunphy (b. 1980): Halcyon Days:
• 14Dunphy: Halcyon Days04:07
• Total Runtime56:41

Info for Awaiting Golden Light

Voices of Concinnity finds connection through universal experiences on AWAITING GOLDEN LIGHT. Based in Connecticut, the inclusive professional vocal ensemble melded each singer’s unique vocal qualities into the richness of choral sound for this project. Seeking connection through the isolation of a global pandemic, their members took inspiration from gazing at the glowing moon, experiencing the renewal of a new golden sunrise, anticipating wonder at the perseverance of a bulb blooming in spring, and finding solace in shining stars after the loss of a beloved. With this Navona Records release, the ensemble invites listeners to draw their eyes up toward the heavens and out beyond the horizon to find meaning.

AWAITING GOLDEN LIGHT is Voices of Concinnity’s debut album where we are honored to share our distinctive choral sound with the world. Concinnity is an inclusive ensemble where singers are encouraged to perform with their true voice, infusing their unique timbre with the whole to create a luminous and vibrant quality to the choral sound.

The music collected in AWAITING GOLDEN LIGHT represents a prevailing theme woven through our choral programs over the last few years — seeking connection through universal experiences. The evolution of this theme was likely influenced by the silencing of communal singing at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. To combat the yearning experienced at that time, singers like ourselves began pursuing connection through moments common to everyone, such as feeling awe while gazing at a glowing moon, experiencing renewal of a new golden sunrise, anticipating wonder at the perseverance of a bulb blooming in spring, and finding solace in shining stars after the loss of a beloved. Singers were not alone in this pursuit. Therefore, the songs for this album were chosen to inspire everyone to draw their eyes up toward the heavens and out beyond the horizon to find meaning.

This collection includes two songs that were composed specifically for Voices of Concinnity, The Breadth of Blossoms by Cheryl B. Engelhardt and It May Be by Brian Jones, as well as many newer compositions by living composers also ready for a place in the choral canon.

A frequent audience member commented on the emotions our performances evoke by saying, “I am always transcended to a place of peace, reflection, or joy.” Our greatest wish for this album is that the honesty of Concinnity’s sound and the songs contained within transport you while you are awaiting golden light. — Sarah Kaufold

Voices of Concinnity

Voices of Concinnity
Described by audience members as “silky smooth butter in musical form” and “voices like I imagine angels might sound,” Voices of Concinnity is Connecticut’s versatile professional vocal chamber ensemble illuminating the breadth and variety of choral music through innovative and artfully sung programming. Sponsored by Consonare Choral Community, Voices of Concinnity consists of 12 dedicated, seasoned choral artists from diverse backgrounds with a mission to connect with the community through exquisitely crafted, innovative choral programming that fosters inclusion, promotes collaboration, illuminates variety, and ensures affordable access.

Through the performance of choral repertoire dating from the Renaissance to the contemporary, Concinnity is dedicated to including and promoting works by historically excluded and living composers to show that choral music can be reflective of all in the community. Voices of Concinnity was founded in 2018 by Sarah Kaufold to cultivate affordable access for everyone to experience professional-level choral music and to curate an ensemble with flexible rehearsal schedules to include singers with varying career and family commitments. The word “concinnity” means the harmonious arrangement or fitting together of the different parts of something, which encapsulates Voices of Concinnity’s approach to ensemble singing. Concinnity focuses on individual expression within a unity of sound to create a harmonious, artful landscape of voices.

In the past five years, Concinnity has performed over 30 live performances across central and eastern Connecticut despite the pandemic, including on the stage at Carnegie Hall in New York City, and is gaining a robust following on social media from individual song recordings. Concinnity actively supports the creation of new choral music by commissioning composers, premiering new works, and creating the Choral Composer Amplify Project to help composers record their work. In addition to collaborating with many choral ensembles and composers, Concinnity has been the recipient of program grants from the Alfred Nash Paterson Fund, Connecticut Humanities, and the Marjorie Jolidan Fund.

This album contains no booklet.