ISU choirs to perform in Jensen Hall Feb. 23

The Idaho State University Women’s, Concert and Chamber choirs will perform in the Joseph C. and Cheryl H. Jensen Grand Concert Hall in the L.E. and Thelma E. Stephens Performing Arts Center on Feb. 23 at 7:30 p.m.

The Idaho State University Women’s Choir, directed by Kathleen Lane ISU professor of voice, will perform a newly published suite of Shaker hymns. The Shakers were an early 19th -century religious sect that produced a wealth of music and household craft that is still highly regarded today. The suite contains two of what are termed “gift songs” or songs that were “given” to the young in the Shaker community to help guide them. The final number in the set is a revival song that describes the excited joyful dance of the worship service.

    Also featured will be Franz Schuberts setting of Psalm 23. This four-part arrangement was originally written for four musical sisters at the Vienna Conservatory in 1823, and was recently re-edited by the well known composer, John Rutter.

    Recently, the ISU Women’s Choir was invited to participate in the ISU National Women's Art Show festivities, scheduled for March 24.

    Dr. Scott Anderson, ISU director of choral activities, will conduct the Chamber and Concert choirs.

    The Chamber Choir will present Tomás Luis de Victoria’s double-choir setting of “Laudate Dominum omnes gentes,” “Thomas Weekles’ “When David Heard,” and other works by Johannes Brahms, R. Murray Shafer and Eric Whitacre. The 21-voice Chamber Choir will be joined by pianist Abbi Clark, who will be featured on the Brahms pieces.

    The Concert Choir will perform Franz Joseph Haydn’s “Awake the Harp” from the musical score “Creation;” Charles Stanford’s six-part setting of “Beati quorum via;” Hugo Alfven’s arrangement of the Swedish folksong “Och jungfrun hon gar i ringen;” and “Cloudburst,” Eric Whitacre’s composition based on the poetry of Octavio Paz. The concert will end with all ISU choirs singing Marvin Gaspard’s arrangement of “America, the Beautiful.”

Admission to the concert is $5 for adults, $2 for pre-college students, $3 for ISU faculty and staff, and free for ISU students. Tickets may be purchased at the Stephens Performing Arts Center Box Office from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, by calling the Box Office at 282-3595, or at the door. Children under the age of 6 will not be admitted.

For more information, contact the ISU Music Department at 282-3636.