The 38-voice Piedmont Chamber Singers will perform a free concert April 27.

Chamber Singers to present concert
featuring Sewell Organ

The Piedmont College Chamber Singers, a select 38-voice choir under the direction Dr. Wallace Hinson, will present a concert on Thursday, April 27, 2006, at 7:30pm, in the Piedmont College Center for Worship and Music.  The concert, titled “Light Eternal,” will feature the choir and the Sewell Pipe Organ, played by Mrs. Joy Hayner, Assistant Professor of Music and organist for Covenant Congregational Church, on “Lux Aeterna” by Canadian composer Morten Lauridsen.  

Along with “Lux Aeterna” the program will include “Dies Santificatus” and “Magnificat” by Palestrina, “Crucifixus” by Antonio Lotti, and the traditional spiritual “Were You There” arranged by Norman Luboff.  The Palestrina and Luboff pieces will be conducted by Mr. Micah Dingler, graduate assistant in choral conducting.

Also on the program is the Georgia premiere of “When David Heard,” composed by Eric Whitacre.  This piece is set to the text from II Samuel in which King David grieves the loss of his son, Absalom.   Written for 18 voice parts, Hinson said “this piece is extremely challenging for the singers and is very emotionally moving for the listener.”

“Lux Aeterna,” which ends the program, is a five-movement work performed without pause.  The piece opens and closes with the beginning and ending of the Requiem Mass, with the three central movements drawn, respectively, from other sacred texts.

“I have always been intrigued with the idea of light as a musical idea, and the pieces on this program reflect this.  The Palestrina pieces deal with Light of Christ coming to earth and the Lux Aeterna concerns the eternal light that follows after death and the consolation for those that are grieving the loss of loved ones.  The Lotti and Luboff works are about the crucifixion of Christ, and Whitacre composition is about grief.  But, we know what comes from the grief of the crucifixion and David’s loss—redemption and grace, which are both manifestations of eternal light,” Hinson said. 

Another aspect of this program is that the Chamber Singers will be singing from different locations in the chapel, including the balcony and side aisles. “This adds visual interest for the listener and allows the choir and the audience to experience the sound of the group from different places within the wonderful acoustic of the college chapel,” Hinson said.

The performance is free and open to the public.  Call the Piedmont College Department of Music at 706-778-8500 ext. 1211 for more information.