The Young People's Chorus of New York CityTM and its Artistic Director and Founder Francisco J. Núñez are currently celebrating the 10th anniversary of Transient Glory®, YPC's groundbreaking commissioning program, with a series of concerts, recordings, and other events culminating in February 2012 with a three-day Transient Glory Symposium presented in partnership with Carnegie Hall.
The centerpiece of this anniversary season takes place on Friday, May 6, at 8 p.m. at the
92nd Street Y with the world premiere of Hijaz, a Transient Glory commission from
Michael Harrison for youth chorus, cello, and just intonation piano, and a retrospective of some of Transient Glory's most significant and influential compositions by
John Corigliano (One Sweet Morning), David Del Tredici (Four Heartfelt Anthems), Paquito D'Rivera (Tembandumba), Gabriela Lena Frank (Picaflor Esmeralda),
Meredith Monk (Things) and
Michael Torke (Song of Ezekiel). Joining YPC for Hijaz are renowned cellist Maya Beiser and longtime YPC pianist Jon Holden, and returning to host the May 6 Transient Glory concert is WNYC's
John Schaefer.
Not only has the Transient Glory series greatly expanded the repertoire for children's chorus, but it has also convinced many composers of the importance and value of composing for this instrument. Transient Glory was initially created in 2001 to spotlight the children's chorus as a serious, and indeed glorious, instrument for making music during that fleeting period of time when a child's voice endows music with a particular poignancy and innocence and to demonstrate that young performers are capable of music-making of the highest quality. Now, a decade later with almost 60 YPC premieres of music commissioned from many of the most visionary composers of our time, including Pulitzer Prize, Oscar, and MacArthur "genius" grant recipients, YPC's Transient Glory is playing a huge role in the ever-evolving fabric of music in the 21st century
Tickets for the Friday, May 6, Transient Glory 10th anniversary concert are popularly priced at $10 and are available at the
92nd Street Y box office or by calling 212-415-5500.
