SONGS OF JOY, war, and peace will be sung in St Nicholas' Collegiate Church when one of America’s top choral groups perform a special concert to raise funds for the church organ.
Northwest Chorale, featuring 65 high school singers from across Kansas, and conducted by Beth Richey-Sullivan, will perform on Wednesday March 18 at 8pm. They will be accompanied on the organ by Dr Kurt Knecht, on his composition 'A Prayer for Peace'.
The programme will feature Herbert Howells’ 'Like As The Hart Desireth The Waterbrooks', written while German bombs blitzed London during World War II; 'Jubilate Deo' by Benjamin Britten - a pacifist and conscientious objector in World War II - written in 1961 by request of the Duke Of Edinburgh; 'Antiphon' by Ralph Vaughan Williams, who fought in WWI, and which was written as part of the Five Mystical Songs based on poems by George Herbert.
They will also perform American music, including 'You Do Not Walk Alone' by Elaine Hagenberg, inspired by an old Irish blessing; the a cappella 'Grace Before Sleep' by Susan LaBarr; the message of hope and empowerment 'Ad Astra' by Jacob Narverud; folk song 'Skip To My Lou'; 'Zion Walls' by Aaron Copland; and 'Wondrous Love' by Parker and Shaw.
Entrance is free but a voluntary donation to the church organ fund is encouraged.
