2008 Woodie Awards
Webster students sing with angelic voices at Methodist church
By: Rachel Lebo
Issue date: 3/8/07 Section: LifeStyle
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St. John's United Methodist Church's selenium-toned stained glass windows set a somber atmosphere for the Webster University Chorale Society, Concert Choir and University Chorale concert March 4.
Accompanied by violins, cello, piano and organ, the three groups were split into separate men's and women's choirs and sang a repertoire of songs that spanned most of the major stylistic music periods. Music professor and director of choral activities, Kathryn Bowers, conducted the women's choir and Joel Christie, adjunct professor of choral conducting, conducted the men's choir.
One of the songs performed by the women's choir, "Shackleton" by Australian composer Paul Jarman, was a popular piece among the audience. It tells the story of Ernest Shackleton, an Englishman who planned to cross Antarctica. The ship froze and broke during the night and the 28 crewmembers fled to an island. Shackleton and five others reached the southern coast of southern Georgia in small boats where Shackleton organized a rescue operation and saved the remaining men.
Earl Bradly, a south St. Louis resident and regular attendee of college chorale concerts in St. Louis, said his favorite piece of the women's performance was "Shackleton." The men's performance of a lively staccato-filled German folk song, "Du, du liegst mi rim Herzen," arranged by Alice Parker and Robert Shaw, was Bradly's second favorite.
"Webster has a talented group of people singing for them," Bradly said. "The choice of music was wonderful. I love hearing folk songs performed. 'Shackleton' put into song is a beautiful sounding story, but tragic."
"Shackleton," the last piece performed by the women's choir, generated conversation among Bowers and the audience.
"I was pleased with the attendance," Bowers said. "Generally, students don't come to performances, but for the most part student attendance is low for concerts put on by the music department."
The songs performed varied from Renaissance-period composers to 20th-century composers and folk songs.
Accompanied by violins, cello, piano and organ, the three groups were split into separate men's and women's choirs and sang a repertoire of songs that spanned most of the major stylistic music periods. Music professor and director of choral activities, Kathryn Bowers, conducted the women's choir and Joel Christie, adjunct professor of choral conducting, conducted the men's choir.
One of the songs performed by the women's choir, "Shackleton" by Australian composer Paul Jarman, was a popular piece among the audience. It tells the story of Ernest Shackleton, an Englishman who planned to cross Antarctica. The ship froze and broke during the night and the 28 crewmembers fled to an island. Shackleton and five others reached the southern coast of southern Georgia in small boats where Shackleton organized a rescue operation and saved the remaining men.
Earl Bradly, a south St. Louis resident and regular attendee of college chorale concerts in St. Louis, said his favorite piece of the women's performance was "Shackleton." The men's performance of a lively staccato-filled German folk song, "Du, du liegst mi rim Herzen," arranged by Alice Parker and Robert Shaw, was Bradly's second favorite.
"Webster has a talented group of people singing for them," Bradly said. "The choice of music was wonderful. I love hearing folk songs performed. 'Shackleton' put into song is a beautiful sounding story, but tragic."
"Shackleton," the last piece performed by the women's choir, generated conversation among Bowers and the audience.
"I was pleased with the attendance," Bowers said. "Generally, students don't come to performances, but for the most part student attendance is low for concerts put on by the music department."
The songs performed varied from Renaissance-period composers to 20th-century composers and folk songs.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Greg Sabo
posted 3/07/07 @ 8:43 PM CST
I think it's a shame that so many people liked "Shackleton" the most. I thought it was dull and uninspired, and not because it's essentially a pop song. (Continued…)
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