In Celebration of the Human Voice - The Essential Musical Instrument

Patricia Hennings

Director

Patricia Hennings

Patricia Farris Hennings, 51, died peacefully in her home in Palo Alto, California on December 20, 2001 after a life made rich by music. She had battled breast cancer for nearly four years. Hennings, best known as conductor of the Peninsula Women's Chorus since 1975, touched many lives through her work as a conductor, educator, and performer. As Director of Choral Activities at Skyline College, Hennings gathered students from diverse backgrounds into a musical community, performing standard choral works as well as new works by living composers.

Under Hennings' direction, the Peninsula Women's Chorus (PWC) issued four CDs, toured internationally, and performed three times at national conferences of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA). In 1999, the PWC won the prestigious American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) Award for Adventurous Programming. In 2000, for the twenty-fifth anniversary of her tenure as Artistic Director of the PWC, Hennings gathered a panel of composers who had written works for the chorus; the panel members demonstrate the quality and variety of composers Hennings had engaged during her career: Libby Larsen, Kirke Mechem, Michael Cleveland, David Conte, Joan Szymko, Brian Holmes, David Meckler, and Ron Jeffers. Larsen was present for the premier of her work, Psalm 121, which combined texts of John Muir and Hennings herself to supplement the Psalm, "I will lift my eyes to the hills."

Hennings' Poetry and Music Project, in collaboration with California Poets in the Schools, gathered poems from elementary school children and commissioned composers to set some of them for women's chorus. Hennings wrote about the project in an article, "A Young Poet Sings," that appeared in Pan Pipes, a publication of Sigma Alpha Iota, the international music fraternity, which had honored her with their Rose of Honor and Sword of Honor. Hennings wrote, "Not only do many elementary school children now believe that they can write something truly worthwhile, but women's choral literature is richer now by nine new compositions." During the past year, Hennings set in motion a similar project at Skyline College, which will culminate with performances this spring.

When Hennings began teaching at Skyline College, few students were interested in singing. Hennings built the program year by year and in 1991 the Skyline College Choir traveled to New York to perform in Carnegie Hall. In recent years, those attending her concerts have seen a stage crowded with student singers performing sophisticated major choral works. Hennings articulated her feelings about choral music in a recent article, saying that "the heart of the matter is the process by which music becomes spirit. It is the process of creating and communicating through music.... It is the process of becoming one with the music and one with each other. It is not something any of us can accomplish alone."

Hennings' treatments for breast cancer did not stop her from an active performing schedule with her choirs. She traveled with the PWC to San Antonio last March, where they performed as the only post-college women's choir selected by blind audition to sing at an ACDA National Convention in the past fifteen years. In July, the PWC was selected to perform as one of five international choirs at the first Americafest World Festival of Women's Singing in Seattle; Hennings was able to coordinate her treatments to lead the group as scheduled. It was only in the most recent round of performances that Hennings had to pass the baton to assistants, although she was able to attend the ambitious concerts she had programmed and rehearsed.

Patricia Hennings was a third-generation Californian, the great-granddaughter of James Rumsey Alexander, a successful gold miner, who came to California in 1852. She was born in Santa Monica. After completing her B.A. at Pomona College, Hennings came to Stanford, where she earned both M.A. and D.M.A. degrees in choral conducting. While a graduate student, she met her husband-to-be, Barry Alan Hennings, in the choir at Memorial Church. They married and together raised two children, Kristin and Nathan, who currently live in the Bay Area. In addition to her husband and children, Hennings leaves her parents, Ragene and Marjorie Farris of Escondido, a sister, Carol Farris of Bethesda, Maryland, and two brothers, R. Lloyd Farris of Yorba Linda and Frank Farris of San Jose.

Hennings led an energetic family life. Backpacking and spending time at the family cabin in the Sierra Nevada were favorite activities. She recently enjoyed visiting the ridge above Downieville where her great-grandfather had mined gold and raised four daughters before moving with them to San Jose. Hennings and her family were long-time members of Grace Lutheran Church.

Hennings' remains have been interred in the grave of her great-grandfather, James Rumsey Alexander, in Oak Hill Memorial Park, San Jose. The family and Hennings' large community of singers plans to celebrate her life at a service on January 19, 2002 at 2 PM at the First United Methodist Church in Palo Alto. In lieu of flowers, tax-deductible contributions may be sent to the Patricia Hennings Memorial Fund, Philanthropic Ventures Foundation, 1222 Preservation Parkway, Oakland, CA 94612-1201. This fund will promote women's choral music and continue Hennings' work to build community through music.

Discography

Displaying 1-6 of 6 items.

Peninsula Women's Chorus : Alleluia Psallat

Review: Highlights include the Pastoral Symphony by Handel, Caritas abundat by Hildegard von Bingen, selections from Ceremony of Carols by Benjamin Britten, Bach's In dulci jubilo arranged for piano and performed by Josephine Gandolfi, and several pieces from Seven Joys of Christmas by Kirke Mechem.

Songlist: Caritas Abundat, Alleluia Psallat, There Is No Rose Of Such Virtue, Gaudete!, Nay, Ivy, Nay, Pastoral Symphony, The Lorde That Lay In Asse Stalle, Haill! Quene Of Heven, Nowell In Bethlehem, In The Bleak Midwinter , Processional, Wolcum Yole, There Is No Rose Of Such Virtue, This Little Babe, Interlude, Spring Carol, Deo Gracias, Recessional, The Wassail Song, Gloucestershire Wassail, In Dulci Jublio, The Joy Of Love:This Is The Truth, The Joy Of Bells: Din Don!, The Joy Of Mary: Joseph Dearest, Joseph Mine, The Joy Of Children: Patapan, The Joy Of Dance: Fum, Fum, Fum!, The Joy Of Song: God Bless The Master Of This House, Nowel Syng We Bothe Al and Some

$\'More$

Peninsula Women's Chorus : Carols and Lullabies

Review: The 61-strong Peninsula Women's Chorus was established in 1966, and has been under the direction of Dr. Patricia Hennings since 1975, and the Christmas CD 'Carols' is their fourth CD. The first 10 songs are a marvelous group called 'Carols and Lullabies, Christmas in the Southwest' by Conrad Susa. A friend of Susa's showed him a collection of traditional Spanish carols he had sung as a boy in Arizona, and Susa put them together to form a narrative. combining homey, artful simplicity with Renaissance music, Songs like 'Alegria' and the Andalusian song 'Chiquirriquitin,' with their lilting, dancing marimbas, and the lovely 'A La Nanita Nana,' are the gems of the CD. The second half of the CD takes us more in the direction of the sacred (Karai's 'Hodie Christus natus est' and Missa Brevis' 'Kyrie,' 'Sanctus' and 'Agnus Dei'). Throw in 'The Carol of the Rose,' 'Alleluia' and others, and you have a surprising, delightful Christmas CD!

Songlist: Oh, mi Belen!, El Desembre Congelat, Alegria, A la Nanita Nan, Las Posadas, Campana sobre Campana, En Belen Tocan a Fuefgo, El Noi de la Mare, Chiquirriquitin, El Rorro, Hodie Christus natus est, Missa Brevis, -Kyrie, -Sanctus, -Agnus Dei , Two selections from The Place of the Blest, -The Carol of the Rose, -Alleliuia, O Regem coeli, Christmas Intrada

$\'More$

Listen to
Shenandoah

Peninsula Women's Chorus : Earth Tones

Review: The sound of wind and water, the Sierra Nevada mountain range-late PWC artistic director Patricia Farris Hennings had a love for these things, and envisioned producing a CD of 20th century music that would transport the listener and inspire the soul. That CD is Earthtones, a musical journey through both nature and spirituality. Opening with Libby Larsen's soaring 'Psalm 121,' commissioned by the Palo Alto, CA-based PWC, Gwyneth Walker's 'I Thank You God,' Hildegar von Bingen's beautiful 'O viridissima virga,' Ramona Luengen's joyous 'Celebremus,' H. Garrett Phillips' dramatic 'Odysseus and the Sirens,' Lojze Lebic's rhythmic 'Urok,' the fast-moving 'Mouth Music,' the traditional South African song 'Nginani Na,' and the lovely folk song 'Shenandoah.' 13 songs, some with light accompaniment and percussion. The PWC is one of our favorite women's choruses, and the perfectly recorded 'Earthtones' is a wonderful tribute to their beloved director from 1975 to her passing in 2001.

Songlist: Psalm 121 , I Thank You God , O viridissima virga, O viridissima virga , Celebremus, Odysseus and the Sirens, Viriditas, I Just Lightning , Urok , Mouth Music , Tjak! , Nginani Na , Shenandoah

$\'More$

Peninsula Women's Chorus : Songs Of The Spirit

Review: Music strengthens your inner-self, whether in times of joy or sorrow. Songs of Spirit features music from the documentary Song of Survival. This music is from the collection of vocal orchestral pieces which were sung by Dutch, English and American women in a Japanese prison camp during World War II. Among the pieces sung were, 'Largo' from the New World Symphony by Dvorak, the 'Pastoral Symphony' from Handel's Messiah and the steadfast 'Captive's Hymn' written in 1942 by one of the music's arrangers Margaret Dryburgh. These pieces were first performed by the Peninsula Women's Chorus for the documentary 'Song of Survival' and featured in the movie Paradise Road. Also featured is the song cycle 'Indian Singing,' based on poetry by Gail Tremblay, composed by Ron Jeffers. This piece was written specifically for the Peninsula Women's Chorus. This CD contains some very powerful music

Songlist: Examine Me, Ave Maria, Largo, Minuet in G, First Movement, Pastoral Symphony, Raindrop Prelude, Londondderry Air, Captive's Hymn, Whitman "Credo", Snowforms / Indian Singing, In Dreams, We Wake the Day, Sehia:rak I-IV, Here Is Holiness, Shenandoah

$\'More$

Peninsula Women's Chorus : Treasures

Review: Established in 1966, the 73-strong PWC has been ably led since 1975 by renowned Director Patricia Hennings, Director of Choral Activities at Skyline College. The group has performed at numerous ACDA conventions, toured internationally and appeared on NPR and television both here and abroad. Josephine Gandolfi supplies gentle accompaniment, placing the focus on the angelic voices of the group. The group's repertoire includes contemporary sacred music like Agneta Skold's 'Gloria,' Hakan Olsson's 'Da Pacem,' David Conte's 'Hosanna,' Libby Larsen's 'Who Cannot Weep, Come Learn of Me,' Michael Cleveland's 'Pie Jesu,' Brian Holmes' Christmas carol 'Good Cheer, and Nancy Telfer's lovely 'The Blue Eye of God.' Also included are de Victoria's 16th century sacred song, 'Domaine, Non Sum Dignus,' Gustav Holst's 19th century masterpiece, 'Hymn to the Waters,' Knut Nystedt's 'Shells' and 'Suoni,' and finally, 'In Praise of Music,' written by David Conte to celebrate the PWC's 25th anniversary. 'Treasures' is exactly that, soaring, beautiful and uplifting!

Songlist: Gloria , Domine, Non Sum Dignus, Da Pacem , Hosanna, Who Cannot Weep, Come Learn By Me , Pie Jesu , Hymn to the Waters , Good Cheer , Shells , The Blue Eye of God , Suoni, In Praise of Music

$\'More$

Listen to
El Grito

Peninsula Women's Chorus : Winter Patterns

Review: The 60-voice Palo Alto, CA-based PWC is known for adventurous programming, seeking out music written especially for women, and frequently commissioning new works. 'Winter Patterns' is a Christmas collection of sacred works such as Chesnokov's 'Dostoyno yest' (It is truly fitting) and 'Svete tihiy' (Gladsome Light), Daniel Pinkham's 3-part 'Christmas Cantata,' Rebecca Clarke's 'Ave Maria,' Charles Griffin's 'Agnus Dei,' Poulenc's 'Litanies a la Vierge Noire' and Veljo Tormis' 4-part 'Talvemustrid' (Winter Patterns). There are also carols, Franz Gruber's 'Silent Night,' and the lesser-known 'Salvator Mundi, A Carol Sequence' by William Mathias, which includes 'Make we Merry,' 'Mirabile Mysterium,' 'Susanni,' 'Lullay' and 'Welcome, Yule.' 'Patterns' is a rare and beautiful collection of sacred music from one of the world's best women's choral ensembles. Some accompaniment.

Songlist: Dostoyna Yest , Svete Tihiy , Christmas Cantata , O Vivens Fons , Ave Maria , TalveMustrid , Ave Maria , Airecillos De Belen , Agnus Dei , Litanies A La Vierge Noire, Suite De Lorca , A Carol Sequence

$\'More$

Choral Music - Home