As a snowstorm descended outside St. Ignatius Church, inside, the University Chorale of Boston College presented the elements of nature through song this past Friday.
Conversation echoed throughout the church, and the purple interior lighting created a peaceful ambiance.
Without any introduction, the BC Chamber Singers took to the stage to perform the night’s first song, “Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam.” This was setting the angelic tone for “Of the heavens…,” the first section of the concert repertoire, focusing on celestial, divine elements.
Following the last reverberations made by the Chamber Singers, the rest of the members of Chorale streamed into the risers, more than doubling the group in front of the audience.
Approximately half of the pieces in this section were in Latin, reflecting the religious connections and influence that the language is known for.
The last song of “Of the heaven…” was “The Most Holy Name/Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam,” a far different piece than the first. Like a flower, the song unfolded into a stunning, yet brief, musical experience, composed by John Guerra, S.J., who was present in the audience.
After, St. Ignatius’ Artistic Director Allyn McCourt expanded on the significance of the “Elements” theme and what the concert seeks to show the audience. In his introduction, he emphasized the questions that nature arouses in humans and how we might go about answering them.
“We invite you to reflect on the elements’ presence in your own life—the forces that shape you, the questions that stir you, and the hope that guides you forward,” McCourt said.
The middle portion of the performance consisted of “Of the earth…” and “Of the waters…,” which introduced song after song with stunning and innovative sounds.
For Frank Ticheli’s “Earth Song,” BC Ballet, a club formed just this year, joined in on creating an immersive experience for the concert-goers. As the choir’s soft, mournful singing rolled in and out in waves, ballerinas shuffled down the aisles, positioning and stretching their limbs in unison. They added a dynamic visual aspect to the song that enhanced its musical elements.
The final song of this section was a spiritual, “We Shall Walk Through the Valley in Peace,” which featured an explosive moment at a shocking volume on the lyric, “There will be no trials there.”
The penultimate section was called “Of the waters…” and consisted of only two songs, one of them standing out as the most inventive and kaleidoscopic in its composition.
“Trilo,” a Swedish folk song portraying the scene of wives calling fishermen home after a long, taxing voyage, was the peak performance of the night. The tenors and bass singers lined the walls of the church, launching droning backing vocals into the audience and supporting soloists Geneva Miller, LSEHD ’26, and Renee Salvo, LSEHD ’28.
There was an element of improvisation to the piece, as Chorale conductor Dr. Riikka Pietiläinen Caffrey utilized her whole body to gesture back and forth between the vocalists on the risers and those dispersed throughout the church. At the conclusion of the piece, a cacophony of shushing sounds, meant to mimic the ocean, and the unique, weaving melody faded into nothingness.
The fourth and closing section, “Of the air…,” began with a memorable, inventive piece, called “Fire,” that involved Chorale’s wholehearted participation in body percussion and high-pitched yipping. Transforming the imagery and symbolism of fire into music, this particular performance shook the audience’s core, causing their unblinking stares to remain on the singers throughout the song.
The contemporary pop song pick of the night was U2’s “MLK,” soloed by Barry Spoto, MCAS ’26. A fitting song to celebrate Black History Month, “MLK” was made even more whispery and lulling in Chorale’s rendition without losing the transcendent sound or immense meaning of the original.
As a whole, Chorale’s night of performance was memorable for its heartstopping moments of intensity and seldom-seen artistry, which vividly portrayed the elements of nature. Their repertoire perfectly fit the elements they sought to showcase, and the way that they performed elicited wonder from the transfixed audience.
