April, 2015

Press Release: 

As part of Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend 2015 the Wellesley Choral Society presents the  World Premiere of a new work by Wellesley composer Edward Whalen. The new work is entitled Dialogue - a Choral Song Cycle. It is written for chorus and orchestra and consists of seven songs framed by an instrumental prelude and postlude. The songs are set to poems by various British poets of the 17th century, all belonging to what are called the “metaphysical poets.” The most famous one represented is John Donne (1572-1631). These poets wrote about philosophical and spiritual topics, but approached these subjects with reason and wit, even when they wrote about death. Their poetic style could be called an early form of free verse. Mr. Whalen says: “The cycle came about as the result of thinking about how the metaphysical poets for the most part had little or no connection with one another or with one another’s work. Most of the pieces were selected as a way of setting up a dialogue (hence the title of the cycle) between these writers, most of whom never had a chance to meet in life.”

Mr. Whalen is a composer, classically trained singer and performer, music arranger and the Director of the Upper School choruses at Milton Academy. Since 1994 he has been the Music Director of the Wellesley Choral Society, now in its 68th season. He wrote Dialogue - a Choral Song Cycle specifically for the Society.

The work was written in 2014 - 2015. The world premiere performance takes place on May 16, 2015,  8pm, at Wellesley Hills Congregational Church, 207 Washington Street, Wellesley Hills, MA,  as part of Wellesley Choral Society’s Spring Concert and Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend 2015.