The Suzzallo Library Reading Room may not have been designed for music, but the room and medieval music are a match made in heaven. Members of the Medieval Women鈥檚 Choir, who sang there last December, unanimously describe the space as 鈥渃athedral-like鈥� 鈥� a good setting for music that was originally written for the church.
Now the group is returning to Suzzallo, this time for two concerts, on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 12 and 13.
鈥淭he Reading Room is a fabulous place to sing,鈥� said Dianne Lattemann, a member of the choir. 鈥淲e all agreed that last year鈥檚 concert there had to be one of the pinnacles of a lifetime of performances.鈥�
Lattemann is one of a number of choir members who work at the University. A research professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, she鈥檚 been singing with the choir for eight years.
鈥淚 had never sung medieval music before and it鈥檚 a fun challenge,鈥� she said.
University Relations writer Joyce Brewster, who likewise had had no experience with medieval music before joining the choir in 1994, has also found it appealing. 鈥淚t鈥檚 almost like time travel,鈥� she said of the music. 鈥淚t takes you to a different place.鈥�
Choir members say they like the freedom of medieval music, which isn鈥檛 as precisely written as music from later periods. The time each note is to be held isn鈥檛 necessarily specified, for example, and parts for different vocal ranges may not be mapped out.
Members describe a rehearsal process that emphasizes interaction and experimentation rather than a written score. Choir director Margriet Tindemans, a former School of Music faculty member, is a medieval music expert and likes to gather the group in a circle, trying out different methods of singing passages until she gets the sound she wants. Several members compared the experience to jazz improvisation.
Math senior lecturer Virginia Warfield is so enthusiastic about the music that she鈥檚 learning to play the medieval fiddle and will play as well as sing at the concert. She鈥檚 one of the choir members who had a head start on the music.
鈥淢y interest began when I took a music survey course as an undergraduate at Bryn Mawr,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 liked the medieval part best, so I went on to take a course in medieval music.鈥�
This year the choir鈥檚 concert, titled Now Make We Joy, will focus on Christmas music from medieval England and Scandinavia. That means they鈥檒l sing in Middle English and Latin, another challenge.
Classics Professor Ruby Blondell is one choir member who has an advantage there. Raised a Catholic who sang Latin plainchant, she鈥檚 been studying Latin since age 12. 鈥淚t鈥檚 great to be in an environment where Latin is appreciated,鈥� she said.
However, under Tindemans鈥� direction, this isn鈥檛 just Latin. There are various forms, depending on where the piece originated. Latin as sung by Danes would be different from Latin sung by Germans, for example.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a challenge but not so daunting that you can鈥檛 rise to the moment,鈥� Lattemann said.
Tickets are $15, $10 for students and seniors, and are available by calling 206-527-2667. The concerts will be at 8 p.m.