The Arkansas Tech University Concert Chorale, under the direction of Mr. Gary Morris, will join forces with the Symphonic Band, under the direction of Mr. Hal Cooper, in the production of a special concert opening the city and campus celebration of the Arkansas Tech Centennial.
The free event will be be held in the Witherspoon Building Auditorium on Thursday, April 16, at 7:30 p.m.
The Concert Chorale, presenting a program of the classic choral repertoire, will begin with "Helig" by Felix Mendelssohn. This double-choir setting celebrates the 200 th anniversary of the composer's birthday and will be performed with the choir surrounding the audience.
The Chorale will follow with a performance of “Deus in Adjutorium” by Johann Pachelbel, featuring the choir and string quartet.
The 62-voice Concert Chorale will continue the program with the classic arrangement of the familiar hymn, "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” by Gilbert Martin.
The final number in the Chorale’s portion of the concert will be the performance of two selections by Norman dello Joio. The first being a setting of the poem Echo by Christina Rossetti, "Come to Me My Love," and the second is a 1946 composition adapted from the poetry of Walt Whitman, entitled “A Jubilant Song.”
The Symphonic Band will begin their portion of the program with "Eternal Father, Strong to Save" by Claude T. Smith. The work is a variation on the Navy Hymn composed for the Navy Band. It was the first piece Mr. Cooper conducted with the Arkansas Tech Band in 1979.
The program continues with “Mass” from La Fiesta Mexicana by H. Owen Reed. “Mass” is the middle movement of a three-movement suite depicting contrasting events and scenes in the cities of Mexico. Claude Smith of Searcy, principal of Searcy High School and president of the Alumni Association Board of Directors, will conduct the piece.
Ron Bailey of Hot Springs, past president of the Alumni Association Board of Directors, will then conduct the “British Eighth March” composed by Zo Elliot. This march is a pompous English military march written at the conclusion of World War II for members of the British Eighth Army and their commander, General Bernard (Monty) Montgomery.
Tom Reynolds of Sherwood, past president of the Alumni Association Board of Directors, will present “Nimrod” from Edward Elgar’s Enigma Variations. The work has special meaning for those who were members of Gene Witherspoon’s bands at Arkansas Tech, as it was his favorite piece of all the works he conducted.
The band’s program concludes with a performance of "Rakes of Mallow” by Leroy Anderson. The work is a continuous crescendo and accelerando and will be conducted by past president of the Alumni Association Board of Directors and Hall of Distinction honoree, H.L. Shepherd.
The concert concludes with a performance of “The Awakening” by Joseph M. Martin. The work was commissioned by the Texas Choral Directors’ Association in commemoration of their 40 th anniversary celebration. It has become the best selling piece in modern choral repertoire, with over five million copies sold. The selection, with orchestral accompaniment, will be conducted by Mr. Morris.
