NEWS RELEASE

Contact: David West (west@nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

10/14/2002

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES-The University Concert Choir and the Northwestern Chamber Choir will present their fall concert Monday, Oct. 21 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. Admission is free and open to the public.

Dr. Burt Allen will conduct the choirs. The concert will also feature tenor Michael Rorex, cellist Richard Rose and pianist Elizabeth Widhalm.

"The program will include works from all artistic periods," said Allen. "There will be renaissance, baroque, classical, romantic and 20th century pieces along with folk songs.

The University Concert Choir will perform "Alleluja! Confitemini Domino" by Johann Michael Haydn, "As the Hart Longs" by Felix Mendelssohn and four choruses from "Catulli Carmina" by Carl Orff featuring Rorex. Also on the program for the University Concert Choir are "Alleluia" by Randall Thompson and John Rutter's "Banquet Fugue."

According to Allen, the four choruses from "Catulli Carmina" by Orff will be challenging for the Concert Choir.

"These songs were written as part of a trilogy, all in secular Latin," said Allen. "They use simple rhythm and are unaccompanied."

The Chamber Choir will present "The Silver Swan" by Orlando Gibbons, "Il Est Bel et Bon" by Passerau and Domine, Ad Adjuvandum Me Festina" by Giovanni Battista Martini featuring soprano Kristin Jones, alto Sara Melanson, tenor Chris Ware and bass Chris Price. In addition, the choir will perform "Motets for the Season of Christmas" by Francis Poulence, "Lark" by Aaron Copland featuring baritone Ronnie Mayfield.

Four folk songs will close the program. The Chamber Choir will perform the Irish song "Londonderry Air" by Percy Grainger, the Jamaican folk song "Evenin' Time" arranged by P. Tucker, "Taivas on Sinenen" a Finnish folk song arranged by D. Patriquin featuring Rose and a Russian folk song "Solov'em zaletnym" arranged by A.V. Sveshnikov featuring Rorex. Christine Allen will accompany the Chamber Choir on piano.

"The most challenging pieces will be the works by Poulenc," said Allen. "They are extremely difficult to learn. Poulenc broke all the rules of traditional part writing. He makes things that don't sound as difficult more difficult. They are so nice we have to do them."

Allen said Copland's "Lark" is interesting because of its interesting rhythms which include some jazz rhythms.

"Those in the choir will see some stylistic differences," said Allen. "We will go from one style to another. That should also be enjoyable for the audience."

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