The First Congregational Church was filled with the music of love on Oct. 26, when the Bakersfield College Choir and Chamber Singers gathered for their first concert of the semester, titled “October Love,” directed by Ronald M. Kean.
Among the eight pieces of music performed was a traditional liturgy of Israel that Kean arranged with local Banshee in the Kitchen band member Jill Egland titled “Avinu Malkeinu.” Translated, it means “loving parent.”
“Jill and I combined to arrange this piece,” said Kean.
“We have like minds when it comes to world music. The first time I heard the song was on a winter CD Banshee and the Kitchen made. I was impressed with what Jill had done with the piece and just knew I had to arrange a version for the choir. It’s spiritual and highly emotional,” said Kean.
According to Kean, directing the choir can be like Michelangelo creating a sculpture.
“You eventually choose a piece of marble you can work with, you chip away things that don’t belong while visualizing what you want and then you get it,” said Kean.
While singing you have to train your ears to know the different sounds of the chords, Kean explained.
Kean believes that it takes experience and the biggest challenge to being successful is getting the choir to listen as a whole.
“It’s a matter of technique to agree on a vocal production that’s healthy and has resonance,” said Kean.
“You have to get everyone to do the same thing. It’s all about balance and dynamics. The choir performed beautifully Friday night.”
Kean has made a personal goal to arrange and/or compose a piece of music every year and has 20 published pieces circulating on a website called Pavane Publishing.
“I don’t have a certain preference in music style that the choir performs or I arrange,” said Kean. “It usually just depends on what we happen to be working on at that time of the year.”
All money earned by the choir performances up until summer 2008 will fund the choir’s tour to Hawaii, where they plan to experience and better understand Polynesian music and culture.