Coriolis performs at Evanston’s Church of St. Luke

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Coriolis performs at the Church of St. Luke in Evanston

Updated: June 6, 2011 12:24PM

“We’ve sung an Applebaum piece almost every year for 10 years,” said Gregg Scalinder.

He and Coriolis, an a cappella chamber choir, will present the world premiere of three new works by Bob Applebaum: “A Penguin,” “The Hen,” and “Some Geese,” at a May 7 performance at Evanston’s Church of St. Luke.

Scalinder, 67, the Coriolis music director and also a performing tenor, is excited about the upcoming program, which also features works by Gorecki, Lauridsen, Poulenc, among others. The mixed ensemble is now in its 24th season.

Applebaum, formerly of Chicago but now living in Menlo Park, California, is an acclaimed and accomplished choral composer and jazz pianist. He taught physics and chemistry at New Trier High School from 1965 to 2000.

Whimsical songs

Scalinder described the new Applebaum works: “They are whimsical songs about birds, based on the poetry of Oliver Herford. They are not merely novelty pieces, however, but are very witty and reflect Bob’s jazz sensibilities within a classical (context).

“The first, ‘The Penguin,’ opens up with jazz riffs from the bass, singing ‘waddle, waddle,’ and lyrics like ‘the penguin’s mightier than the swordfish.’ It is lively. ‘The Hen’ includes vocal clucking and ‘Some Geese’ has a jazzy intro and geese noises. The lyrics are ironic, with music is solid and intense, classical but with a jazz tinge.”

Coriolis has a repertoire that reaches back to 16th century madrigals, but which concentrates on modern compositions.

“What we do best is 20th century music, and of course 21st century, and we generally do serious music,” said Scalinder. “Our holiday concerts are completely different, more like the King’s College Choir. We’re very professional in how we approach the music, but are not paid. I buy all the music myself, and our gate money covers the expenses (of preparing and putting on shows). We are people who thought they would pursue performance as a career, all terrific musicians.”

Accessible music

Patrick Furlong, of Oak Park, a bass and the business manager for Coriolis, noted: “All the works are very accessible, and other than the new ones, have been pretty widely performed. Applebaum is the closest thing to a composer in residence, although he is not designated as such.”

Coriolis didn’t start off with an eye to public performance, but rather a group of talented singers getting together around Scalinder’s dining room table.

“We still rehearse around that table,” said Scalinder. “We have a very loyal audience that keeps coming to our shows. And we like to expose them to new things. Coriolis does really first-rate modern music performed a cappella, with a laser focus on classical.”

Scalinder’s family is also part of his music. “The newest is my nephew, Stephen,” he said.

Scalinder’s daughter, Amy, is also a member of Coriolis, and, with his grandchildren singing at St. Luke’s Presbyterian in Evanston, chances are additional family songbirds will find their way into the group.

“Our family has strong choral traditions,” said Scalinder.