Music is not usually the first thing that comes to mind when the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is mentioned. Those in the know are aware that Dr. James D. Feiszli, professor of humanities and director of music at the School of Mines for the last 24 years has brought music to the students of that institution, to the citizens of western South Dakota and to choral musicians around the world; but in 2008 his efforts will spread the name of the School of Mines to new audiences in the United States and abroad. Feiszli created and established the music curriculum for the School of Mines, founding the Concert Choir, Master Chorale, Symphonic Band and courses in music theory, history and vocal instruction. Students and alumni of the School of Mines have appeared throughout the U.S and Europe under his direction. Most recently, the Concert Choir and the Master Chorale combined to win three first-place awards in international competition in the Association of Irish Musicals Society choral festival in May 2006. Dr. Feiszli is known in the Black Hills area as the director of Dakota Voices -- a group of singers who are current or former voice students of Dr. Feiszli, and to the choral world and as the founder of ChoralNet (http://choralnet.org/) -- a non-profit organization providing online resources and communications to the choral world.
But less is known of Feiszli's life as a scholar - one of the few experts in the world on an important historic collection of music composed for the Konstanz (Germany) cathedral 500 years ago. Heinrich Isaac (1450-1517), one of the greatest early Renaissance composers was commissioned to compose music based Gregorian chant for the high celebrated in what was then the largest and richest diocese in Europe. That collection, the Choralis Constantinus, is revered as some of the most important music composed just prior to the Reformation. 2008 marks the 500th anniversary of that commission.
Dr. Feiszli's dissertation, Performance Editions from Heinrich Isaac's "Choralis Constantinus" (Arizona State University, 1983), was nominated for the Julius Herford Dissertation Award of the American Choral Directors Association. His article, Neglected Treasure - Heinrich Isaac's "Choralis Constantinus was published in the Choral Journal (Vol.26, No.4, 1985) and he did post-doctoral study in the performance of Gregorian chant under the tutelage of Dr. Mary Berry of Cambridge University in England, whose specialty is the performance practice of Gregorian chant throughout the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Feiszli has prepared music from the Choralis Constantinus for ensembles in the U.S. and abroad and his editions from the collection have been published by various music publishers.
In celebration of the 500th anniversary of the commissioning of the Choralis Constantinus, the Konstanz Münster is hosting a symposium entitled "500 years of the Choralis Constantinus" May 1-3, 2008 in Konstanz. Feiszli has been preparing music for the ensembles appearing at the symposium - which include Ensemble Officium (http://www.ensemble-officium.de/), ensemble cantissimo (http://www.cantissimo.de/) and Dakota Voices (http://music.sdsmt.edu/dvoices) -- and will also be presenting workshops on Heinrich Isaac. One concert, The Choralis Constantinus and Choralis Constantinus Novus, will feature music from the Choralis Constantinus with music commissioned for this symposium by contemporary composers setting the same texts. Dakota Voices has been asked to perform not only at the symposium but also in various other venues around in the region.
Dakota Voices and Feiszli are the recipients of two additional honors. The ensemble has been selected to appear on the main stage at the 2008 North Central American Choral Directors Association (NCACDA) convention. NCACDA, comprised of Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Nebraska, South Dakota, and North Dakota, is considered to host one of the strongest choral conventions in the United States. Ensembles are chosen by audition to appear and, according to NCACDA President-Elect Kevin Meidl of Appleton, Wisconsin, "there were more auditions submitted for this convention than any other in the history of NCACDA". Dakota Voices is the only ensemble from South Dakota to be invited to appear on the main stage. Furthermore it is the only ensemble from the entire division to be invited to give a performance and an interest session, because the organizers, in recognition of the Choralis Constantinus Quincentennial, have asked Feiszli to present a session on the music of Heinrich Isaac. Dakota Voices will serve as a demonstration choir for Feiszli's session.
In preparation for these upcoming national and international events, the Dakota Voices will be performing in several local venues in January and February. Music from both the upcoming NCACDA and Konstanz performances will be presented.
Saturday, January 26, 7 p.m. St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Rapid City
Sunday, January 27, 3 p.m. Chadron Fine Arts Center, Chadron, Neb.
Sunday, February 10, 2:30 p.m. Meier Recital Hall, BHSU, Spearfish, S.D.
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