Evangel Chorale to perform fall concert

November 5, 2007
Contact: Paul K. Logsdon, Director of Public Relations and Publications, (417) 865-2815 ext. 7292

Springfield, Mo. — The Evangel University Chorale, under the direction of Dr. Richard Honea, will perform its annual fall concert at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 13, in the Barnett Recital Hall.

The concert is free and open to the public.

The evening’s program is composed of four sections.

In the first section, the Chorale will sing Lodovico Viadana’s “Exulte justi.”

The second section includes three choruses from Handel’s Messiah, including the celebrated “Hallelujah Chorus.”

In the third section, the Chorale will sing choruses from Elijah by Felix Mendelssohn, including “Thanks Be To God” and “Be Not Afraid.”

The final section features five Christmas carols written by American composer Alfred Burt (1920-1954), “Jesu Parvule,” “Come, Dear Children,” “Caroling, Caroling,” “We’ll Dress The House,” and “The Star Carol.”

When Burt graduated from college in 1942, he began the tradition of composing a carol each Christmas season as a gift to his family and friends. With the knowledge of his impending death due to lung cancer, Burt worked feverishly to complete as many carols as he could in his lifetime. He was able to finish only 15 before his untimely death in 1954.

“Three of the five carols the Chorale will perform were completed in February the year he died,” said Honea. “Burt put his final touches to ‘The Star Carol’ only two hours before his death.”

The program will close with Peter C. Lutkin’s “The Lord Bless You and Keep You.”

For additional information, contact Dr. Richard Honea at (417) 865-2815 ext. 7329.