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The eclectic, Danville-based chorale group Chromatica is gearing up for their annual performance season in the coming weeks, with this year’s shows marking the world debut of brand-new music prepared specifically for the group by two renowned classical composers.
“Transfigurations” was created by Grammy winner Christopher Tin — who was the first-ever recipient of a Grammy award in 2011 for video game music for his work on the “Civilization IV” soundtrack — along with prolific choral composer and lyricist Tony Silvestri, commissioned by former chorus member Dan Peterson following his departure from the group and the San Ramon Valley.
While the six-movement work is brand new, it has been a long time coming according to Chromatica organizers, marking a major step in the group’s evolution since its formation in 2011.
“It has been Chromatica’s dream since its foundation 12 years ago to commission and perform major choral works well outside the normal repertoire for community choruses,” artistic director David Huff said. “It was far beyond our expectations to be able to work with such remarkable composers and lyricists as Christopher Tin and Tony Silvestri.”
“While this will be our third world premiere, it is certainly the most significant and marks a major milestone in Chromatica’s development,” he continued. “Together with the whole of Chromatica, I am enormously excited to bring this work to the public for the first time and hugely grateful to Dan and Maria Peterson for making this possible.”
Following Peterson’s donation of $30,000 to commission an original work for the group amid his move away from the area and during the beginning of the commission process, he became a widower with the death of his wife Maria, with the group proceeding to dedicate the new work and upcoming performance.
“Transfigurations” consists of six movements that embody — as the name suggests — transfigurations from one thing to another, such as life into light, life into dust, transfiguration of gender, the transformation of Christ and the transfiguration of the soul.
“The piece is based on material that Dan Peterson gave Tony Silvestri, basically musing on his life experiences, so Silvestri came up with this six set part of lyrics,” Chromatica co-founder Chris Kenber said. “The piece is called ‘Transfigurations’ and the whole idea behind the piece is the constance of change — everything changes and everything is always changing.”
Chromatica, too, has changed over the years, expanding from seven members at its inception to more than quadruple in size to its 35 members today. The group performs classical works from as far back as the 12th century to the modern day, with its youngest members in their early 20s and its oldest members in their 80s.
The piece and upcoming performances also serve as a return to the Bay Area for Tin, who grew up in Palo Alto and went on to graduate from Stanford University with a bachelor’s degree in music composition and a master’s degree in interdisciplinary studies with an emphasis on film. He left the area in 1999 for a graduate program in music composition for screen at the Royal College of Music in London.
“I’m very honored to be able to work with Chromatica,” Tin said. “I was born and raised in the Bay Area, so getting the opportunity to work with a group so close to my hometown will be a treat. Charles Anthony Silvestri has delivered a truly thought-provoking suite of poems that I’ve diligently set to music, and I’m looking forward to working with the choir to transform them from mere notes on a page to a transcendent concert experience.”
The piece starts off by encapsulating fire, then photons and their transference to heat, vegetation, and other products of sunlight. From there it turns towards the human experience in particular, showcasing the Ancient Greek myth of Iphis, the daughter of Telethusa who is threatened with death by her husband Ligdus if she were to give birth to a girl. Iphis is raised as a boy as a result, then ultimately transformed into a man by the goddess Isis.
“It starts with opera voices and as the transformation starts to occur. it shifts to lower voices and even the meter changes, so as the girl becomes a boy the music changes as well,” Kenber said.
The piece goes on to encapsulate the transfiguration of Christ, then the spiritual lessons showcased by the 14th century Indian poet and mystic Kabir.
“You are the universe and the universe is you, so that’s how the piece works out,” Kenber said.
With Chromatica shows typically attracting between 150 and 200 attendees, Kenber said he estimated that the turnout for the group’s upcoming shows would be approximately the same if not a bit larger.
“Transfigurations” debuts at 7 p.m. in Saint Matthew Lutheran Church at 399 Wiget Lane in Walnut Creek on April 27, followed by an April 28 performance in Peace Lutheran Church at 3201 Camino Tassajara in Danville. Tickets and more information are available at chromaticachorale.org.