Festival Chorale Oregon is offering several songs about love. But Daniel Pinkham’s Wedding Cantata, in its original 1956 piano version, will be a wonderful strategic counterpoint to Johannes Brahms’ Liebeslieder (Love Songs) Waltzes. Two composers one century apart; both virtuosic keyboardists (Brahms piano, Pinkham organist); both wrote for orchestra, choir, voice, keyboard and other instruments. One found a lifelong partner; one yearned. Lovely pairing.

The Liebeslieder Waltzes had an interesting beginning. Brahms selected texts from an anthology of folk songs, “Polydora” by G. F. Daumer, but published the Waltzes for four-hand piano plus four singers – or two singers – or a choir – or no singers at all. The original score actually indicates singing is “ad libitum.” (BTW, the piano-only version is a delight).

But Festival Choral Oregon is presenting the full choral version of all 18 waltzes – yes, all 18! The songs can almost be labeled as “miniatures”; some, at less than a minute long, suggest an “art song” vibe. The one-piano, four hands scoring will be performed by collaborative pianists Anne Britt and Amy Harris.

You’ll discover an oozing richness in some of these waltzes, but in others there is a lightness – dancelike and innocent. Waltz 17 (“Don’t Wander, My Light, Out Yonder”) and Waltz 11 (“No, I Will Not Listen to Them”) demonstrate these tremendous contrasts and the exquisite piano partnership with the voices.

And then there is the Pinkham’s Wedding Cantata, in four-movements offering a version of love that reflects Pinkham’s early interest in Baroque music with texts from the biblical “Songs of Solomon.” Movement 1, “Rise Up My Love,” portrays the youthful exuberance of love at any age; Movement 4 is the endearing wedding pledge “Set Me As A Seal Upon Thy Heart.” And between those is the sensuous Movement 3, “Awake, Oh North Wind.” 

The program also includes Z. Randall Stroope’s Amor de mi Alma, and other “music that offers passion, beauty and celebration in song”