SFA choirs to present 'Times and Seasons' concert
October 27, 2009
NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - The Choral Union and Women's Choir of Stephen F. Austin State University will present a joint concert, "Times and Seasons," at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.
Under the baton of David Howard, SFA associate director of choirs, the two ensembles will open the concert with J.S. Bach's cantata "God's Time Is the Best Time," featuring guest vocalists Debbie Berry, soprano; Kimberly LaGraff, alto; Bruce Fowler, tenor; and Scott LaGraff, bass.
The work is one of Bach's earlier cantatas, written for a funeral service, explained Howard. "Although it is not widely known, it is of particular beauty."
The Choral Union will perform the Texas premiere of Paul Carey's "Into This World (Four Choral Seasons)," which was commissioned for the Festival Choir of Madison, Wisconsin. Cary set this piece to four poems by four different poets, each movement dealing with a separate season and its meaning to human beings.
The Women's Choir will then present a set of three Latin Songs, and the concert will close with the two choirs singing "Even Such Is Time," Bob Chilcott's setting of Sir Walter Raleigh's poem of the same title.
Dr. Geneva Fung, SFA staff accompanist, will provide piano accompaniment for the cantata and the Choral Union's songs, and graduate student Yuki Kumamoto will accompany the Women's Choir.
The concert is a joint presentation of the SFA College of Fine Arts and School of Music. Cole Concert Hall is located in the Tom and Peggy Wright Music Building, 2210 Alumni Dr.
Tickets are $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and $2 for students. For tickets or more information, please visit www.finearts.sfasu.edu or call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS.