Sacred songs figure prominently in the Lee University Chorale’s spring concert, set for Monday evening, March 21, on the Cleveland, Tenn., campus.
“The program will begin with a selection of sacred pieces that encourage us to reflect on the significance of Christ’s sacrifice as we begin Holy Week in preparation for Easter Sunday,” says Dr. William R. Green, dean of the School of Music.
Green will conduct the 26-voice select ensemble. The chorale is known for the breadth of its repertoire, which ranges from sacred classical works and spirituals to vibrant cultural pieces.
The centerpiece of the concert’s first half will be the setting of the “Stabat Mater” by Romantic composer Josef Rheinberger. The text dates from the 13th century. It describes the suffering of Mary, mother of Jesus, as her son is crucified. According to Green, Rheinberger’s setting is tender and does not draw attention to itself but rather to the remarkable reflective text, producing an almost timeless sacred style.
The Rheinberger will be followed by one of J.S. Bach’s six great motets, “Lobet den Herrn,” a setting of the two verses in Psalm 117.
The second portion of the program will feature selections from living American composers, beginning with three recently composed Appalachian folk songs by Lee University music professor John Wykoff.
These will be followed by three selections for choir and piano from Eric Whitacre’s “The City and the Sea,” a setting of poems by E.E. Cummings.
The concert will conclude with sacred selections as former members of the Lee University Chorale are invited to join for René Clausen’s “Prayer.”
The performance will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Pangle Hall, 340 N. Church St. on the Cleveland, Tenn., campus. Admission is free. For more information, call 423-614-8240.