International Relations

The English choral sound is different than what one hears in this country. Young boys whose voices haven’t matured replace female sopranos, and male altos (often called “countertenors”) replace female ones. The result, says Philip Brunelle, artistic director of VocalEssence, is “a purer sound, without much vibrato.” The 103-year-old Westminster Cathedral Choir, a preeminent practitioner of this tradition, brings this unique sound to the Twin Cities when it performs a concert this month copresented by VocalEssence and Minnesota Public Radio.

The concert’s program includes pieces by English composers, as well as the world premiere of a work by Minneapolis composer David Evan Thomas. Last year, Thomas finished a set of three motets, including a setting of a work by nineteenth-century English pastoral poet John Clare. Thomas sent that motet to Brunelle, hoping for some feedback—“any response at all,” says Thomas. “Out of the blue, Philip suggested [Westminster] do it.” Though Thomas didn’t compose the piece specifically for the choir, he thinks it’s ideally suited for its sound. “The work is full of close harmonies that rely on the beautiful blend that they can produce,” he says.

Thomas credits Brunelle’s “extreme generosity” for the opportunity to have his work premiered, but Brunelle says he was happy to do it. “David is a wonderful vocal composer,” he says. “[This is] a fascinating piece.”

This is not the first time that Brunelle has championed an international collaboration. “Whenever we’ve invited English choirs, I’ve always asked them to do a piece by a local composer and they have always agreed,” he says. “My hope is always that they will take the piece back to England and perform it there. So far, that has always happened.” Oct. 19. Cathedral of St. Paul, 239 Selby Ave., St. Paul, 612-673-0404

Reach William Randall Beard at randybeard @hotmail.com.