Singing Girls of Texas with the green-scarved Adolf Fredriks Church Choir. Photo Credit: Till Meyn
Professor of Music Theory and Composition Till Maclvor Meyn’s “Oculi in Astra” debuted internationally in Stockholm, performed by the Singing Girls of Texas from the Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts during their “Boundless” Nordic tour.
“The premiere was almost like an out-of-body experience for me,” said Meyn. “Typically, I’m quite nervous when one of my pieces is premiered, but on this occasion, the concert was already so lovely. My emotions surrounding the ensemble of singers and how beautifully they were performing ‘Oculi in Astra’ just transported me to a different place.”
Meyn will present a faculty recital on Tuesday, April 2 at 7 p.m. in the Van Cliburn Concert Hall at TCU. The Singing Girls of Texas will conclude the recital by performing the composition he wrote for them.
Roots in Choral Music
Meyn developed a deep love for music from a young age, influenced by his parents’ constant playing of classical music at home. In high school, he discovered his passion for singing after joining both the jazz choir and madrigals choir, which enhanced his musical ear. Throughout college, Meyn remained actively engaged in choirs, consistently aiming for placement in the premier group and enjoying the collaboration with fellow musicians.
“There’s nothing like collaborating with dozens of other voices onstage and being a part of something emotionally moving.”
For years, Meyn has enjoyed composing music across diverse genres. Collaborating with the Singing Girls of Texas provided him with a chance to reconnect with his roots as a choral singer.
Creating “Oculi in Astra”
Till Meyn with Singing Girls of Texas director Kerra Simmons. Photo Credit: Laura Meyn
Meyn aimed to create a composition seamlessly aligned with the Singing Girls of Texas’s “Boundless” theme, integrating the term and evoking concepts that poetically and musically embodied that spirit.
“I saw and heard these girls who were eager and able to sing something new and different, so I set out to write something unique.”
With his experience in singing Latin, Meyn wrote both Latin and English texts simultaneously, switching between languages. With a focus on melody, Meyn honed in on melodic concepts and then sought harmonies that complemented these ideas.
“I moved section-by-section with these ideas, always trying to musically reflect the meaning of the text while also balancing the emotional content and the overall form,” said Meyn. “In the end, I think the music almost wrote itself. Hopefully the musicians and the audience find the piece rewarding.”
Composing “Oculi in Astra” and collaborating with the Singing Girls of Texas has inspired Meyn to write more choral music. His next project involves composing a collection of choral works inspired by folk music from the Nordic countries he visited during the tour.
Meyn was awarded the Dean’s Exceptional Travel Grant to attend the tour, which offers faculty funding to pursue exceptional opportunities to present research or engage in creative activities.