The 68-voice ETSU Chorale and the popular male vocal group 7BucsWorth will present the annual Spring Concert on Friday, April 22, at 8 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 900 Spring St.
This concert marks the first public performance featuring the recently renovated pipe organ in the sanctuary of FUMC. The three-manual, 38-rank Reuter organ was refurbished by the R.A. Colby Co., Johnson City.
Craig Campbell, the organist-choirmaster of FUMC, and Dr. Thomas Jenrette, ETSU professor of music and director of the Chorale, have selected two important works by British composers for mixed choir and organ to “show off” the organ with the choir.
Both works are settings of the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis, texts taken from the Gospel of Luke. The first is drawn from Mary’s words when she learns she is to be the mother of Christ, and the second is drawn from Simeon’s words when Jesus is presented to him at the temple.
The first setting, a well-known and frequently performed version by Charles Villeirs Stanford, was composed in 1879 and is very romantic in style.
The second, by Michael Tippett, was composed in 1961 for the 450th anniversary of St. John’s College in Cambridge, England, and is “adventurous” with contemporary harmonies and rhythms.
Soloists in the Tippett number are soprano Sara Brimer, Greeneville; tenor Daniel Boner, a New Jersey native who resides in Elizabethton; mezzo soprano Andrea Childress, also of Elizabethton; and bass Zachary Lalor, Nashville.
The Chorale will also perform two challenging a capella works for eight-voice choir: the setting of Hear My Prayer, O Lord by contemporary Swedish composer Sven-David SandstrÓm based on the music of Henry Purcell, and the popular Agnus Dei, the vocal arrangement of the Adagio for Strings by 20th century American composer Samuel Barber.
The Chorale will conclude the concert with two spirituals arranged for choir by Moses Hogan. The first, City Called Heaven, will feature baritone soloist Da’Trian Johnson, a freshman vocal performance major from Asheville, N.C. The second is a “rousing” arrangement of Elijah Rock.
The accompanist for the ETSU Chorale is Ann Yates Jones.
7BucsWorth, a seven-member a capella male vocal ensemble, will sing a group of gospel songs and spirituals, including Deep River, Just As I Am and Ev’ry Time I Feel the Spirit. In addition to Lalor, members include Kris Carlson, Blountville; Stephen Farrior, Bristol; Ricky Hilton, Elizabethton; Tyler Jones, Greeneville; Byron Tolley, Gray; and Jacob Witten, Marshall, N.C.
For more information call the Department of Music in ETSU’s College of Arts and Sciences at 439-4270 or Jenrette at 439-6949.

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