The oldest club in Greenwood for the longest time has been Matinee Musicale, started as a way for lovers of music to gather and indulge their love.
That focus hasn’t changed, but the membership has recently grown, bringing a breath of fresh air to the group.
“The club has grown and diversified in its people and its performances,” said Paul Brown, vice president of Matinee Musicale.
As the cap on members has been removed, the group has also enhanced the quality of its offerings recently. With performances in a variety of musical styles, including Celtic, blues and others, the Musicale has taken its offerings to the next level.
“We live in a culturally rich area, but we don’t always have the opportunity to hear performances of such a caliber,” Brown said. “We are giving that opportunity now.”
The group’s mission is to experience what its members may not have otherwise experienced when it comes to music. Brown said they pull from the surrounding area for the talent and from any era for the music.
“Many of us have seen and heard what this area has to offer,” Brown said. “We are bringing more.”
Each year, the committee of the club brings in nine programs, some open to the public. One such program is coming up Thursday, when Lori Joyner, who graduated from the University of Mississippi, will perform at First Presbyterian Church, accompanied by Brown.
The concert will begin at 7 p.m.
Joyner’s talents classify her as a musician who performs classical vocal repertoire.
“I can provide exposure to the music I love in hopes that it will foster a love for music in others,” Joyner said.
A lot goes into music, she said. It’s not just a few notes and words strung together; performers must understand the poetry and the context behind each piece, and then they share that knowledge in their performance, she said.
“When you get into a score, you get to interpret the poetry and bring voice to the era and the composer,” Joyner said.
Joyner will be performing five different languages and cultures within her single production.
“By bringing variety, I hope something moves someone emotionally, like it does me,” she said.
She said they have even prepared an encore in case the listeners ask for one.
“We are sharing our performance with people who don’t just love music but who understand and possibly perform themselves,” Brown said.
After hours of research, practice and work that went into building the performance for Matinee Musicale, all Joyner is worried about is perfection.
“I just want to make sure each piece is performed as composer intended for an audience of that time period,” Joyner said. “I have to stimulate and create beauty.”
Those are high standards to meet, but the club also has high standards for the work and research that goes into preparing programs. Another upcoming program is a piano concert by Dr. Lawrence Goldman, scheduled for May.
“We try to come up with different experiences each year that will enrich the offerings in Greenwood,” Brown said. “But just experiencing music is an education.”
•Contact Laura Prosser at 581-7233 or lprosser-@gwcommonealth.com.
