New Ensemble to Perform World Premier

The Westmont College Collegium Musicum, a new faculty-student musical ensemble, presents historic church cantatas and the world premiere of a new work by Steve Butler, Westmont professor of music, Sunday, Feb. 5, at 3 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Santa Barbara; Saturday, Feb. 11 at 6 p.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Arroyo Grande; and Sunday, March 4 at 6 p.m. at St. Bede’s Episcopal Church in Los Angeles. The performances are open to the public and free with a free-will offering taken during the program.

The ensemble consists of a string quartet, oboe, flute, keyboard (organ, piano and harpsichord), soprano soloist and baritone soloist. The repertoire includes works by German composers Franz Tunder, Dietrich Buxtehude, Georg Philipp Telemann and J.S. Bach. Butler’s new composition, “Hymns of Divine Love,” is a cantata based on poetry from Symeon the New Theologian, a 10th century Orthodox monk and poet.

“These are all beautiful and powerful works of the historic faith and will bring much joy and a deep spiritual experience to listeners,” says Michael Shasberger, Adams professor of music and worship.

Shasberger says Butler’s compositions for voice, which are in English, are accessible to modern audiences. “His compositional voice is a fresh blend of expanded tonal and minimalist approaches that retain an alluring melodic character while clearly evoking the spiritual qualities of the text,” he says.

The Collegium Musicum performers are: Nichole Dechaine, soprano; Shasberger, baritone; Steven Hodson, keyboard; Chan Ho Yun, violin; Madison Martin, violin; Sarah Shasberger, viola; Rebecca Shasberger, cello; Anne Anderson, oboe; and Madeline Selby, flute.