Experience the wonderful music from what Charleton Post & Courier’s Art Critic Maura Hogan calls a “phenomenal female lineup” of composers including Clara Schumann, Cécile Chaminade, Jeanine Tesori, Undine Smith Moore, Joan Szymko, and more. Presented by Chamber Music at St. Stephen’s with members of the St. Stephen’s Choir and Micah Gangwar (violin), Wayne Helmly (piano), Daniel Mummy (cello), Kimberly King (flute). Narration by Martha Rhodes McLendon, with opening remarks by Joseph Froneberger.
(This is the original version of this concert which took place on 19th November 2023 and was later reprised in May of 2024, when it was selected as an official event for the 2024 Piccolo Spoleto Festival.)
An exploration and exhibition of the music of native Charleston composer Edmund Thornton Jenkins. This concert is headlined by Jenkins’ grand-nephew, Saturday Night Live keyboardist Tuffus Zimbabwe. Accompanying Mr. Zimbabwe are Mark Sterbank (saxophone and clarinet) and Kevin Hamilton (bass).
Detailed notes on the composer and participants:
Edmund Thornton Jenkins: Edmund T. Jenkins was born in 1894 in Charleston to the Rev. and Mrs. Daniel Joseph Jenkins. The elder Jenkins, having been born into slavery in Barnwell District, was well-known as a Baptist minister and founder of the Jenkins Orphanage and its eponymous, internationally-known band. The younger Jenkins first studied piano, clarinet and violin at Atlanta Baptist College (now Morehouse College) before directing the Jenkins Orphanage Band himself. While traveling with the band to perform at the Anglo-American Exposition in London, Edmund remained and enrolled in the Royal Academy of Music at the age of 20. There he was awarded scholarships and numerous awards and prizes for composition, eventually being made an Associate of the Academy. During his time in London, Mr. Jenkins also worked as an orchestral musician in theatre orchestras and dance bands and participated in a number of recordings.In 1924 Jenkins moved to Paris, where he established the Anglo-Continental-American Music Press, while continuing to perform and compose. He died there in 1926 from unknown causes (possibly appendicitis) and after funerals in both Paris and Charleston, was buried at the Humane Friendly Cemetery in Charleston. After years of his music falling somewhat into obscurity, this great son of Charleston is finally experiencing his overdue resurgence, something this program hopes to help further.
Tuffus Zimbabwe: Tuffus Zimbabwe is a pianist, composer, and educator from the Roxbury area of Boston. He completed his Bachelors’ degree at Berklee College of Music and received a Master of Music degree from New York University. Mr. Zimbabwe is a keyboardist in the Saturday Night Live house band, pianist, and assistant musical director for Trilogy: an Opera Company. Music has long been a part Tuffus' family as his grandmother, Mildred Jenkins, was a professional vocalist in the Operatic and Spiritual styles. She studied music at the Sorbonne in Paris and the New England Conservatory. Mildred was also the sister of Edmund Thornton Jenkins, making Tuffus his grand-nephew. Tuffus has spent much time and effort to restore, edit and arrange much of Edmund Jenkins’ music from handwritten manuscripts into printed score, preserving and publicizing his uncle’s music and legacy for generations to come.
Mark Sterbank: Mark Sterbank, originally from Cleveland, attended the Eastman School of Music before graduating with a Master’s in performance from the University of New Orleans, where over the course of his studies he was awarded a National Endowment of the Arts Jazz Study Grant to study with famed jazz educator Ellis Marsalis. After performing with the Harry Connick, Jr. Orchestra, Mark moved to Charleston with his wife, Leah, to begin teaching at Charleston Southern University. He has released three CDs and performs regularly with the Quentin Baxter Ensemble, the Charlton Singleton Quintet and the Charleston Jazz Orchestra.
Kevin Hamilton: Bassist and composer Kevin Hamilton is a celebrated artist in Charleston’s vibrant jazz scene. He has performed internationally with diverse ensembles such as the New Music Collective, Opposite A Train, Dude Lucena, and the Charleston Jazz Orchestra, as well as alongside renowned musicians including Houston Person, Gregory Hines and René Marie. Kevin holds a degree in music theory and composition from the College of Charleston.
This event was made possible by the contributions of two sets of anonymous donors to the Chamber Music at St. Stephen’s series. Thank you.
The Choral Eucharist for The Sunday of the Resurrection: Easter Day, 2024. Featuring music from the full St. Stephen’s Choir plus the St. Stephen’s String Quartet (Micah Gangwer, violin; Mayumi Nakamura Smith, violin; Rachel Gangwer, viola; and Daniel Mumm, cello).
Christmas Eve 2023 Recital and Choral Eucharist. Included in the preludes is “Bishop Ruth’s Lullaby,” arr. by Choirmaster Wayne Helmly for the Rt. Rev. Ruth Woodliff-Stanley, XV Bishop of the Diocese of South Carolina.
Order of Service may be found at: http://tinyurl.com/SSEC23XmasEveBulletin
Service contains:
00:00 Announcements
14:14 Prelude: Lo, how a Rose e'er Blooming (Brahms/Praetorius arr. Helmly)
20:09 Prelude: In Dulci Jubilo Waltz (Brahms, arr. Helmly)
24:11 Prelude: Joseph Dearest, Joseph Mine (Brahms, arr. Helmly)
29:43 Prelude: Bishop Ruth's Lullaby (Brahms, arr. Helmly)
33:52 Prelude: Adeste Fidelis Intermezzo (Brahms, arr. Helmly)
40:13 Prelude: God Rest Ye, Merry and Dance! (Brahms, arr. Helmly)
44:18 Opening Hymn (Adeste Fideles)
48:24 Gloria (Angels we have heard on high)
51:20 Psalm 96 (Sing to the LORD a new song)
55:55 Gradual Hymn (O little town of Bethlehem)
1:03:05 Sermon (Rev. Will Berry)
1:15:11 Welcome & Announcements
1:17:10 Offertory (Gesù Bambino, Pietro Yon)
1:21:40 Doxology (Praise God from Whom all Blessings Flow)
1:22:33 The Great Thanksgiving
1:24:12 Sanctus (Holy holy holy LORD, Mathias)
1:28:14 Fraction Anthem (Jesus, Lamb of God, Mathias)
1:29:25 Music at Communion: Comfort ye (G.F. Handel)
1:32:35 Music at Communion: Ev'ry Valley shall be exalted (G.F. Handel)
1:35:43 Music at Communion: O Holy Night (Adolphe Adam)
1:39:24 Music at Communion: Infant Holy, Infant Lowly (J. Brahms)
1:42:01 Post Communion Hymn (Silent Night)
1:46:14 Closing Hymn (Joy to the World)
1:47:46 Postlude: Christmas Sing-A-Long
Traditional Lessons & Carols service based on that originating from and held annually at King’s College, Cambridge; with familiar Christmas carols and works by Gardner, Howells, Gibbs and more. Featuring the St. Stephen’s Choir.
With canticles by Ben Parry and a prelude of Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” for one piano, four hands with Wayne Helmly and Laura Ball.
Wayne Helmly and George Hiatt present: “Keyboard Praise: Duets of Church Music for Organ and Piano.” This program includes:
16:17 Lobe den Herren arr. Johnston & Thompson
24:33 Four Baroque Pieces: I. Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring arr. Smith, Hustad & Martin
27:44 Four Baroque Pieces: II. Festive March from Handel's Rinaldo arr. Smith, Hustad & Martin
28:45 Four Baroque Pieces: III. Lascia, ch'io pianga from Handel's Rinaldo arr. Smith, Hustad & Martin
30:43 Four Baroque Pieces: IV. With Trumpets & Horns from "Water Musick"
37:34 Jesus Shall Reign (Duke Street) arr. Johnston & Thompson
44:24 Nocturne, Walter Ihrke
52:53 Fairest Lord Jesus arr. Hayes & Gaspard
1:02:23 Holy, Holy, Holy + Widor's Tocatta (arr. Hayes & Gaspard)
Program may be found at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cXe9lt7T_vN4zvMzscxEsmYefdZ9vNWT/view
Traditional Christmas carols with some added sparkle, including…
0:00: "Go Tell it on Mountain/Fum, Fum, Fum"
7:43: "Little Bohemian Drummer Boy Rhapsody"
14:48: " 'C' is for Christmas"
20:36: "Out Under the Sky"
29:06: "Jesus' and Mister Rogers' Neighborhoods"
36:19: "Crocodile Angels on the Yellow Brick Road"
44:24: "Ode to Joy to the World"
Featuring:
Micah Gangwer, violin
Mayumi Nakamura Smith, violin
Rachel Gangwer, viola
Daniel Mumm, cello
Wayne Helmly, piano
Become “Transfigured” with music celebrating and inspired by this feast day, including:
3:54: "Epistle" Church Sonata in C major, K 336....Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Five Bagatelles, op. 47.... Antonin Dvořák
11:59: I. Allegretto scherzando
15:33: II. Tempo di Minuetto
19:38: III. Allegretto scherzando
23:05: IV. Canon
26:16: V. Poco Allegro
32:58: Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune....Claude Debussy, arr. Michael Webster
44:03: "Allegro" from Cafe Music...Paul Schoenfeld
Three Songs on Poems by Maya Angelou....Brittney Boykin
53:19: Tears
54:17: Greyday
55:33: Sounds Like Pearls
1:00: "Waltz" from the film music Maxim's Return, op 45....Dimitri Shostakovich
Featuring:
Brittney Boykin, piano
Micah Gangwer, violin
Rachel Gangwer, viola
Lenora Green, soprano
Wayne Helmly, organ & piano
Kimberly King, flute
Daniel Mumm, cello
Mayemi Nakamura, violin
Gretchen Roper, clarinet
Order of Service may be found at: https://mcusercontent.com/54d9b649f68a53f855f9f804d/files/af8ba6da-9734-418d-aea8-af8ac7f227ac/Transfigured_200806.pdf