A Time for Healing
Selections from Songs of Love and Remembrance for 3 voices (mezzo soprano, tenor, and baritone) and piano + An AIDS Requiem for chamber orchestra and chorus. Performance length 70 minutes plus intermission.
“A Time for Healing” is a packaging of selections from Songs of Love and Remembrance, and a complete performance of An AIDS Requiem as an AIDS Benefit. In a review of the Grand Rapids concert in a local paper, after noting the “rich harmonic fabric” of both works, and the “glorious sounds” of the Requiem, Wes Ball, a Professor of Music at Hope College goes on to say that:
“A Time for Healing” is a packaging of selections from Songs of Love and Remembrance, and a complete performance of An AIDS Requiem as an AIDS Benefit. In a review of the Grand Rapids concert in a local paper, after noting the “rich harmonic fabric” of both works, and the “glorious sounds” of the Requiem, Wes Ball, a Professor of Music at Hope College goes on to say that:
“Songs of Love and Remembrance, together with An AIDS Requiem succeeded in offering us ‘A Time for Healing’ - a time to reflect on the meaning of life, love, and specifically, the tragedy of AIDS. And to this end, Hirsch’s music provided the ideal medium - music, embodied with artistic dignity, human insight, and unapologetic acknowledgment of deep love for a life partner, whose life was taken by AIDS. ... The performance was truly memorable; the music, deserving of a place in the repertoire of ‘serious’ vocal/choral compositions."
Audience reactions:
"I was very moved. I can only hope that in the course of my life I should touch someone so deeply that they would be inspired to produce such a creative and heartfelt work."
"What do I say. Powerful, exciting, beautiful, awesome, sad, glad, remarkable."
"Though I came partly to support you, I came away knowing I was also there for me, to work through some of my own grief of having lost a partner. It affected me deeply!"
"I was worried because I don't normally like classical music. But it was so beautiful. I loved it!"
For descriptions and sound samples of Songs of Love and Remembrance and An AIDS Requiem, go to those pages on this website. NOTE:: “Overture” and “Nighthawks” are not included in the selection from Songs used in A Time for Healing.
Audience reactions:
"I was very moved. I can only hope that in the course of my life I should touch someone so deeply that they would be inspired to produce such a creative and heartfelt work."
"What do I say. Powerful, exciting, beautiful, awesome, sad, glad, remarkable."
"Though I came partly to support you, I came away knowing I was also there for me, to work through some of my own grief of having lost a partner. It affected me deeply!"
"I was worried because I don't normally like classical music. But it was so beautiful. I loved it!"
For descriptions and sound samples of Songs of Love and Remembrance and An AIDS Requiem, go to those pages on this website. NOTE:: “Overture” and “Nighthawks” are not included in the selection from Songs used in A Time for Healing.