Choir presents Motus Perpetuus' tenth anniversary
Music is emanating from all corners of the concert hall. There are no breaks in the ever-changing melody. As the performance progresses, one can’t help but tune into the fluid ar- rangement of sound that is “Motus Perpetuus.”Motus Perpetuus is the choir pro- gram’s annual concert of perpetual motion, where student of all levels move about Barnum Hall. Singers line the aisles, the balcony, the rear of the theater and the stage —providing the effect of a surround sound experience. The choirs even perform in the foyer, leaving the doors open and allowing sound to make its way inside.“[Motus Perpetuus] is an amazing experience,” Choir President Kate Crellin (’15) said. “Barnum is a gorgeous hall and it’s amazing to hear sound coming from not just the stage, but from the balcony and all around the audience.”The concert moves forward from one piece to the next without applause from the audience; as one piece concludes, another begins in another part of the hall.
“It is very complicated to plan a seamless concert with no breaks, but it always ends up being a memorable event,” Crellin said.According to choir teacher Jeffe Huls, the idea of performing Motus Perpetuus without applause was inspired by a similar concert he performed in while attending graduate school.“Prior to my arrival at Samohi, choir concerts could be upwards of [three] hours,” Huls said. “By removing the applause, as well as the time it takes a choir to walk on and off stage, we were able to cut down significantly on the time.”This year’s 10th anniversary of Motus Perpetuus will feature choral music that spans over 500 years and provides a diverse array of sounds from countries such as India and Korea. Ac- cording to Huls, many of the pieces are being performed without a conductor. Students just have to rely on the collective musicality and teamwork of the group in order to perform well.“The overall concept [of Motus Perpetuus] hasn’t changed much over
the years,” Huls said. “However, I would say that in the most recent years, I’m relying on student leadership more. I remember those first few years when I was running all over Barnum to con- duct. Since that time, I’ve gotten better at how I place the pieces in the show to avoid little mishaps.”For Huls, this special event is an opportunity for students to evolve as musicians.“I think it’s great to work to perform without a conductor because it teaches us to listen to each other and work together,” Jessica Fuller said (’16).fkahn@thesamohi.com