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Juniata College

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Juniata College

(Posted October 27, 2014)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Combining a harmonic sound with multicultural arrangements, the Juniata College Concert Choir will sing 16 different pieces at their annual fall concert at 3 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 2, in Rosenberger Auditorium in the Halbritter Center for the Performing Arts on the Juniata College campus.

Admission to the concert is free and open to the public. The Concert Choir is directed by Russell Shelley, Elma Stine Heckler Professor of Music.

The collection of music contains songs from all over the world, ranging from Celtic and African sounds to European and Latin American styles. Director Shelley has arranged these songs in a way that allows listeners to move from one area of the world to the next along with the choir.

Starting with Celtic arrangements, "Deep Peace" is a Celtic benediction arranged by Stuart Brown that is a sacred anthem. "A Celtic Blessing," arranged by Dave Riley, has a contemporary spin with hints of jazz dispersed about the piece. "Mouth Music," by Dolores Keane and John Faulkner, speaks to the traditional folk music of the Celts and Gaels.

"O Lux Beatissima," arranged by Howard Helvey, is sung a capella and has peaceful and emotional undertones. These undertones carry on into "Blessed Are the Peacemakers" arranged by Anne Organ, which is a biblical piece with quotes from the Beatitudes that appear throughout the song.

The audience will then be introduced to several African pieces that include "Kpanlongo" composed by Dereck Bermel. This West African dance song is upbeat and has a six-part ending. "Ballad of the Green Broom," by Benjamin Britten, is sung a capella and is taken from Britten's collection of music titled, Five Flower Songs.

"Three South African Songs" by Steven Fisher are upbeat, African folk songs that include "Khululu Imbadada," "Kwangena Thina Bo," and "Shosholoza." William Belan's "Congori Shango" continues the upbeat sound of these songs that encourage the African tradition of song and dance.

The concert will then shift into European and Latin American regions. "Naranjitay Taujari" is arranged by Luis Craft. It is an unaccompanied piece that carries the multicultural overtones reflected in the rest of the program. "Alma Llanera," by Venezuelan composer Pedro Elías Gutiérrez, is a "joropo," or a style of music similar to the waltz and mixed with dashes of African and European cultures.

"O Dear! What Can Be the Matter," by Gail Kubik, is a nursery rhyme from late 17th century England. "Nelly Bly," a classic by American composer Stephen Foster, is arranged by Jack Halloran and closely resembles a nursery rhyme as well.

The final pieces of the concert will come solely from Latin America. "Mananitas de Mi Tierra" is a Costa Rican song composed by Marco Dusi. "Orosi," arranged by Leonel Calvo, and "Guaria Morado," by Roberto Guiterrez, are both four-part pieces.

Juniata College is one of the top liberal arts colleges in the nation, specializing in experiential learning, science research and education, and personal attention for all students. Juniata offers a college experience that emphasizes a student-alumni-faculty community extending beyond graduation.

By:

Laura Bancroft

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.

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