University and Chamber choirs to perform in an all-in-one concert

The greater variety in college choir voices compared to high-school and middle-school choirs poses a "fun challenge" when programming concerts, said Peter Durow, director of choral activities at Southeast Missouri State University

Durow split the University Choir and Chamber Choir combined concert into three divisions to provide an assortment of styles while still controlling a theme.

The University Choir is scheduled for two shorter sets, the first and last of the program, while the Chamber Choir will sing a longer one in the middle.

Durow said the first section of music the University Choir will perform doesn't have as much of a stipulated theme as the others.

"The Snake Charmer" by California-based composer Mona Lyn Reese will have its world premiere. Durow said it's a secular piece and tells the storyline of what happens when a child hides a snake in a box, but it later escapes.

Colt Buehler, a tenor in the University Choir, said the rhythm takes practice to master, and the distinguishable vocal parts are often dissonant rather than harmonious.

Buehler said the choir met Reese via a FaceTime call last week and performed the piece for her feedback.

"Sometimes she'd be like, 'I'd prefer this part be a little slower,' or she changed the sound of the song in one of the parts she wanted a brighter, more nasally tone," Buehler said. "It's a part where we're being whiny little children in the song, and so we had to sound more like whiny little children as opposed to this developed sound that we usually go for in a piece of music."

The next piece, "The Babe of Bethlehem," was arranged by Southeast music education professor and University Choir collaborative pianist Mary Collier Mims.

The Chamber Choir's Christmas theme teases the holiday concert it will perform in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, later this semester.

Durow said more contemporary compositions will follow, too, including Jeffrey H. Rickard's "Gloria."

Being on the Mississippi River, a water theme also was included.

The University Choir's ending set will consist of four pieces: "Let the River Run," "Down in the River to Pray," "It is Well With My Soul" and "Down by the Riverside."

Overall, Durow said the two choirs are singing at a higher level than is generally expected for earlier in the year.

"It's nice to see the program has grown in numbers and also grown in a polished performance," Durow said.

The performance will be at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Shuck Music Recital Hall at the River Campus. Tickets are $12 and may be purchased at the River Campus box office.

Pertinent address:

518 S. Fountain St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.