The 12 members of Quarantones Male Chorus along with musical director Denise Marquette and accompanist Kelly Thomas return to the stage for two matinee performances of Brothers Sing On, on Feb. 24 at the Comox United Church and on Feb. 25 at Campbell River’s St. Peter Anglican Church.
Marquette has arranged an engaging program of music from a wide range of genres and eras.
“From madrigals to drinking songs, spirituals, ballads and pop songs, the Quarantones’ repertoire is sure to delight our audience,” Marquette said. “The songs spotlight the rich, resonant sound of the male chorus and showcase the diversity, range and skill of this ensemble. Love and longing, hope, fellowship, and fun are central themes of the concert.”
The Quarantones beseech Sherry to “come out tonight,” lament that they “really must go” in Goodnight, Sweetheart, compare tempestuous love to the weather in Springtime in Alberta and get stood up by Madeleine. The title song Brothers Sing On! and Vive L’amour are rousing anthems of male choruses. The madrigal Sing We and Chant It gives a glimpse of 16th century Renaissance England as the audience is encouraged to enjoy the material pleasures of life while they can for “not long youth lasteth and old age hasteth.”
The Quarantones will also channel their inner James Bond, explore counterpoint, a melody running against a second melody – think mash up – in Play for Me a Simple Melody and gleefully dump on Ontario, proclaiming that “your scummy lakes and city of Toronto don’t do a damn thing for me” in Stan Rogers’ Watching the Apples Grow.
The Quarantones will also sing the traditional South African Siyalabolo in the Swazi language, the beloved spirituals He Never Failed Me Yet and Shine on Me and Rest, a modern composition by the young black composer Remel Derrick. “I am thrilled to feature these songs that honour my heritage and highlight February as Black History Month” Marquette said. “Beyond their melodic beauty, these powerful pieces instill hope, promote understanding and offer comfort.”
Bob Udell and Kevin Marquette conceived the Quarantones, originally an informal, backyard barbershop quartet as a way to continue singing safely through COVID. They expanded to eight voices early on and then spent the months in isolation learning songs remotely. As restriction eased, the Quarantones cajoled Marquette into leading them and Thomas into accompanying them in their debut concert, Sea Shanties at the Anderton Gardens.
As Bob Udell explains, “Over the last two years, we have added more singers, expanded our repertoire and presented a series of well-received concerts. Last summer, we reprised our sea shanties with two rollicking concerts in Comox and Campbell River. We will do so again in June, so watch for them!”
Tickets are $25 and are available at the Blue Heron in Comox, at the Laughing Oyster in Courtenay, at the Music Plant in Campbell River and at the door. The doors open at 2 with the performances starting at 2:30.