Unique Style of Improvisation
The Notre Dame Folk Choir and Joe Henry have created an innovative new work, “The Passion,” featuring a unique style of improvisation. This 90-minute piece employs both singers and instrumentalists in crafting their own chord changes and details. The powerful combination of sacred choral music and creative expression showcases the choir’s immense talent and skill.
Notre Dame Folk Choir and renowned composer Joe Henry have come together to create an ambitious new work, “The Passion.” An impressive 90-minute piece, the work is a poignant description of the events leading up to Jesus Christ’s death. The musicians employ a unique style of improvisation, with both the singers and instrumentalists crafting their own chord changes and details. It is a powerful combination of sacred choral music and creative expression that showcases the Notre Dame Folk Choir’s immense talent and skill.
By adding aleatoric sections to the choral parts, the singers are able to express themselves in unexpected ways, creating a more powerful and meaningful musical experience. Furthermore, by interweaving contemporary issues – such as the Catholic Church’s sexual abuse crisis – into the Passion story, Joe Henry and Tristan Cooley have crafted an unforgettable work that speaks to modern audiences.
Through this piece, they aim to inspire and empower listeners to face the most difficult aspects of life with courage and resilience.
Joe Henry and Ryan Freeland Join Forces
The Folk Choir’s production team was an impressive force to be reckoned with. Joe Henry, a multi-Grammy Award winner, and Ryan Freeland, also a multiple Grammy award recipient, joined forces for the recording of the early version of “The Passion” at the Jerusalem Music Centre in May 2022.
Joe Henry:
Joe Henry, renowned singer-songwriter, brought his vast experience of 16 studio albums, including the highly acclaimed collaboration with saxophonist Ornette Coleman, “Richard Pryor Addresses a Tearful Nation.”
Ryan Freeland:
Ryan Freeland added his own expertise in producing acclaimed albums by Solomon Burke, Mose Allison, Bonnie Raitt, Aimee Mann and Ani DiFranco.
The Folk Choir’s production team was an impressive force to be reckoned with. Joe Henry, a multi-Grammy Award winner, and Ryan Freeland, also a multiple Grammy award recipient, joined forces for the recording of the early version of “The Passion” at the Jerusalem Music Centre in May 2022. Joe Henry, renowned singer-songwriter, brought his vast experience of 16 studio albums, including the highly acclaimed collaboration with saxophonist Ornette Coleman, “Richard Pryor Addresses a Tearful Nation.”, while Ryan Freeland added his own expertise in producing acclaimed albums by Solomon Burke, Mose Allison, Bonnie Raitt, Aimee Mann and Ani DiFranco.
The two creative forces came together with a shared vision, and the result was an awe-inspiring success. Joe Henry was inspired by the physical sound of the choir’s language, remarking that he didn’t even need to hear it sung in English. His instinctive response to the music was powerful, and the combination of his experience and Ryan Freeland’s production expertise resulted in a deeply moving collaboration.
Wright’s determination to speak truth to power was especially impressive to Henry, who noted that the Passion story was incredibly difficult and daunting to listen to. Despite this, Wright was able to bring a sense of hope and optimism to the piece, making it not just an emotional journey, but an inspiring one as well.
Joe Henry and The Notre Dame Folk Choir have crafted an exceptional and unique Passion narrative. Filled with intricate layers of musicality and intensity, the work functions as a thoughtful and vulnerable exploration of one of the most iconic stories of all time. By rewarding listeners with such moments of creative expression and raw emotion, this work carries a powerful message that our human experiences can always be effectively transferred and celebrated through the language of music.
