Ouachita Stories

Showcasing the compositions of famous British composer John Rutter, Ouachita Baptist University’s Concert Choir will raise their voices on Thursday, April 25, starting at 7:30 p.m. in Mabee Fine Arts Center’s McBeth Recital Hall.

Dr. Gary Gerber, professor of music and director of choral activities, said he chose Rutter’s work, in part, due to its conformity with an organ. Tim Allen, the choirmaster and organist at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Little Rock, will be featured as the guest organist for the performance.

Concert Choir will begin the concert with three of Rutter’s anthems, two of which feature text from the Psalms: “A Choral Fanfare,” based on Psalms 81 and “The Lord Is My Light and My Salvation,” taken from Psalm 27. The choir will then perform “Music Dei Donum,” which Gerber translates as “music, a gift from God.”

The main work to be performed will be Rutter’s “Requiem.” It is a seven-movement work based both the traditional requiem text and some additional material from the Psalms and the Book of Common Prayer.

Gerber noted that in Rutter’s “Requiem,” “He adds and subtracts from the normal requiem text. He starts out with requiem but then uses scripture for some of the movements. For example, the second movement is titled ‘Out of the Deep,’ and it’s based on Psalm 130. And movement six is the ‘Lord Is My Shepherd,’ which is based on Psalm 23. So it’s kind of a mixture of some of the standard requiem text plus added scripture, which is unusual.”

The concert will conclude with another anthem, “The Lord Bless You and Keep You,” taken from Numbers 6.

“Rutter’s music is very subdued and so the scripture and the music are more reflective and meditative,” Gerber said.

Student instrumentalists will include: Drew Ervin, a sophomore music performance and computer science major from Springdale, Ark., on timpani; Chris Hogan, a sophomore instrumental music education major from Bartlesville, Okla., on percussion; LeeAnne Polk, a junior music major from Greenville, Texas, on flute; and Crista Riggs, a junior chemistry and biology major from Edmond, Okla., on clarinet. Glenda Aldridge, adjunct music faculty member will play the harp. Caitlin Secrest, a junior vocal performance major from Arkadelphia, Ark., and Kassie Johnsen, a sophomore music theory and composition major from Hot Springs, Ark., will be featured as vocal soloists.

The concert is free and open to the public. For more information, contact the School of Fine Arts at (870) 245-5129.

By Garet West