Good Company to perform Maya Angelou's 'Fiesta' in concert on Cinco de Mayo

Good Company, the Ames-based women’s choral ensemble, is observing Cinco de Mayo with a concert titled “The Fiesta of Life: A Concert of Celebration.”

The concert will be held at 7 p.m. Sunday at St. Andrews Church, 209 Colorado Ave.

The program recognizes the importance of many of life's milestones with music ranging from Latin rhythms to the Goo Goo Dolls.

“Our director Steve Hoifeldt always chooses such a diverse program for our concerts,” said Ellen Rasmussen, Good Company’s board president. “And there’s always a theme.”

She said the group couldn’t resist playing off that theme with the annual spring concert falling on Cinco de Mayo.

“There are several numbers that are Mexican folk songs," Rasmussen said. "We’re going to sing ‘Chili con Carne’ and things like that."

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Music shows range of emotions

A few of Sunday's musical numbers will deal with darker, sadder topics such as death. A common thread runs through the program: honoring life’s passages and milestones.

“We came up with ‘Fiesta,’ which is literally a celebration. And we broaden that a little bit to say all of life is to be celebrated — the good and the more challenging,” Rasmussen said. “Because life has all of that.”

One song, in particular, juxtaposes a wedding and a funeral at the same church on the same day. As the funeral is leaving, the wedding is beginning.

“Boxes” by the Goo Goo Dolls, talks about the importance of family members helping one another: “I’ll help keep your secrets if you keep mine,” Rasmussen said.

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Song features Maya Angelou poem

Maya Angelou's poem "On the Pulse of Morning," which she performed at President Bill Clinton's inauguration in 1993, will be put to music on Sunday.

“It’s hopeful,” Rasmussen said. “The final lines are: Here on the pulse of this new day, you may have the grace to look up and out and to say, very simply, with hope, ‘Good morning.’”

Good Company’s members work to provide meaning to the lyrics as the program comes together.

“The pieces can seem very disparate, but there is this thread that links them all together,” she said.

Tickets for Sunday's show are $12 in advance and are available from Good Company members or online at goodcompanysings.com.

After May 3, tickets will be $15 and available at the door. Children 12 and under will be admitted for free. Refreshments will be served after the concert.

Ronna Faaborg covers business and the arts for the Ames Tribune. Reach her at rfaaborg@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Maya Angelou poem put to music at Cinco de Mayo concert in Ames