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Molly Sasse
The first collaboration between the Chattanooga Music Club and Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra has produced an exciting program of music for the third annual Harvest Hymn Festival. The free, community hymn fest will be held Sunday afternoon in Memorial Auditorium.
Supported by a 28-piece orchestra and David Friberg playing the restored 1924 Austin pipe organ, the 60-voice CSO Chorus will perform a broad range of work.
"We've tried to showcase some great classical pieces with sacred text along with great hymns. The program is very inclusive," said director Darrin Hassevoort.
After Chattanooga Music Club president Jim Bailiff welcomes the audience, the symphony and singers will open the program with Handel's majestic coronation anthem, "Zadok the Priest."
"Sprinkled throughout the program we have about seven hymns that we'll sing with the audience," said Hassevoort. Among these will be "Now Thank We All Our God," "Faith of Our Fathers," "Eternal Father Strong to Save" and "For the Beauty of the Earth."
Hassevoort said the CSO chorus will perform two a cappella numbers arranged by Rene Clausen, "Simple Gifts" and "Set Me As a Seal." The chorus will sing Mozart's "Ave Verum" with the symphony, and Faure's "Cantique de Jean Racine."
"We're also doing two traditional Jewish pieces, 'Ose Shalom,' which is gorgeous and involves the symphony; and the chorus and organ will lead the audience in 'God of Abraham Praise.' "
Organist Friberg will be featured on two movements from Handel's Organ Concerto No. 13: The Cuckoo and the Nightingale.
The concert will conclude with Wilhousky's inspirational arrangement of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." The audience will join on the last refrain.
Hassevoort said the pieces selected center on a harvest of musical feeling as well as texts on finding strength in God. "A lot of people are going through difficult times these days, loss of jobs," he said, "so we tried to go with a Thanksgiving theme and looking to God for strength."
Admission is free, but donations will be accepted to help fund future CMC community programs, said music club member Evelyn Gibbs.
IF YOU GO
* What: Harvest Hymn Festival
* When: 4 p.m. Sunday
* Where: Memorial Auditorium, 399 McCallie Ave.
* Admission: Free
Susan Palmer Pierce is a reporter and columnist in the Life department. She began her journalism career as a summer employee 1972 for the News Free Press, typing bridal announcements and photo captions. She became a full-time employee in 1980, working her way up to feature writer, then special sections editor, then Lifestyle editor in 1995 until the merge of the NFP and Times in 1999. She was honored with the 2007 Chattanooga Woman of ...
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