In Great Voice

Among other things, ‘tis the season for choral music to be heard, and the Ventura Master Chorale has been busy in recent weeks. For the New West Symphony’s version of Handel’s “Messiah” two weeks ago, members made up at least half of the formidable choral forces, teaming up with the Los Robles Master Chorale.

Then, last week in the inspiring and historic ambience of the San Buenaventura Mission, the Ventura Master Chorale put on an intelligent and diverse program of Christmas music. The first half was given over to rapturous Renaissance music by Praetorius and William Byrd, as well as modern Marian Motets by Frank Ferko. Later in the program came creative arrangements of carols, diversions from various seasonal traditions and tasteful pieces by John Rutter. All was musically right with the show.

Yet this program’s most memorable piece, the world premiere of Burns Taft’s “Eclipse: Part 1,” was almost akin to a sneak attack. This last-minute addition to the program had little to do with the season, per se, apart from its general theme of peace, as conveyed through a text by Pope Leo the Great.

“Eclipse: Part 1,” bravely and boldly realized by the ensemble, is a deceptively conventional-sounding piece. After a modernist splash of an opening, reiterated later, a sweetly tuneful passage marshals choral energies and builds to a crescendo. Then, we’re left in an enigmatic floating section, with the men’s half-spoken text fragments stated amid clouds of women’s voices.

This ethereal middle section of the piece evokes, in some small way, the influence of one of Taft’s teachers, composer Morton Feldman. Feldman was a master of the frozen musical moment, with time-bending music simultaneously static and active, and Taft’s writing here has hints of that same time-expansive air. He brings the score back to earth, returning to the earlier melodic material, but ending on a suspended chord.

The rest of the program was a bit anti-climactic after Taft’s sonic challenge, although J. Edmund Hughes’ arrangement of “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming,” replete with hand bells and swarming masses of voice, was impressive.

Taft has been an integral part of the regional classical music scene as conductor and facilitator, as well as the driving force behind the now important Ventura Chamber Music Festival every spring, and a teacher long ensconced at Ventura College. His life as a composer is much less known, which is a shame. Having heard this intriguing compositional miniature, we’re all ears for “Eclipse: Part 2.”

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Offbeat Coffeehouse: One of the most adventurous music venues in Santa Barbara these days is, by and large, a mild-mannered coffeehouse by day. By night, all manner of unorthodox sounds have been known to spill out to the sidewalk from Espresso Roma.

The malleable group known as Bela Lugosi, a “classical punk” outfit led by mad cellist Misha Bodnar and violinist Laura Hackstein, has performed there, including a show last week with Dvorak’s “Dumky” Piano Trio accompanied by an “adult dancer’s” bump and grind. This weekend brings two acts to Roma that don’t play by mainstream musical rules.

Anyone looking for music off the beaten seasonal path will want to consider hearing the improvisational duet of Jeff Kaiser, on trumpet and electronics, and Jim Connolly, on bass and electronics, playing tonight. An announcement promises that they’ll be “playing your holiday favorites,” but don’t bet your fruitcake on it.

On Saturday night, the fine young avant-jazz group known as Buster T. Farmsworth Quartet takes the makeshift stage. This all-acoustic band, strongly influenced by John Zorn’s Ornette Coleman-meets-klezmer quartet Masada, had a long weekly run at Roma over the summer, and makes its long-awaited return.

Why the wait? They’re fresh out of high school, and all disperse to various institutions of higher learning during the school year. Trumpeter Phil Rodriguez, for one, was heard alongside famous jazz trumpeters at the Hollywood Bowl in September, as the winner of a competition held by the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. Buster T. Farmsworth may also play again Wednesday, schedules permitting. Catch ‘em while you can.

DETAILS

Jeff Kaiser and Jim Connolly, tonight at 9, free; and Buster T. Farmsworth Quartet, Saturday at 8:30 p.m., free; both at Espresso Roma, 728 State St., Santa Barbara. For information, call 962-4721.