(Posted November 24, 2008)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- The Juniata College Choral Union will perform one of the best-known works of a master composer of sacred music in the Baroque era, Marc-Antoine Charpentier, at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 2 in Rosenberger Auditorium in the Halbritter Center for the Performing Arts on the Juniata campus.

The concert is free and open to the public. The Choral Union is conducted by Russell Shelley, Elma Stine Heckler Associate Professor of Music.

The choral union will perform selections from Charpentier's "Te Deum," a well-known piece that has been used to score the Olympic films of Bud Greenspan and on many other soundtracks.

The choral union will perform selections from Charpentier's "Te Deum," a well-known piece that has been used to score the Olympic films of Bud Greenspan and on many other soundtracks. Charpentier started as a theatrical composer for Moliere's theatre company, but found his true calling in sacred music.

The ensemble also will perform another famous sacred vocal composition, "Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme," by Johann Sebastian Bach. Also known as "Sleepers Wake," the selections will show how Bach, known primarily for his orchestral work, was a prolific composer of vocal compositions. He wrote more than 300 sacred cantatas.

The choral union will perform a number of holiday-themed songs as well. The song "Roses I Send to You," by Canadian composer Stephen Chatman, is a modern composition, while the spiritual "What 'Cha Gonna Call the Pretty Little Baby?" has been a gospel standard for years.

The choral union also will sing Anton Dvorak's "Gloria," (from "Mass in D") and "How Can I Keep From Singing," arranged by Bradley Ellingboe.
The ensemble also will take on three compositions arranged by Mack Wilberg, including "Whence is That Goodly Fragrance Flowing?" "Cantus in Harmonia (to St. Cecelia)" and "The First Nowell."

The Choral Union is the largest choral ensemble at Juniata with a student membership of 75 and another 35 members from communities in the Huntingdon area. The Juniata Choral Union traditionally performs larger choral works.



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