CSC choirs selected for world debut of “Three Nebraska Lyrics”

The Chadron State College concert choir, community choir and Ogallala High School choir will premiere a choral work commissioned specifically for Chadron State College, titled “Three Nebraska Lyrics” at 3 p.m., Sunday, in the Memorial Hall Auditorium.
“Three Nebraska Lyrics” was composed by David von Kampen, a composer based out of Lincoln. The lyrics of the pieces feature the work of Nebraskan poet Becky Boesen, who worked alongside von Kampen on arranging her poetry into music.
“An anonymous donor donated their money for this new choral piece specifically for Chadron State,” Joel Schreuder, professor of music, said.
The poetry and music were both composed over the summer.
“We have never had any piece of music specifically written for us before this. It’s very meaningful to be able to give the premiere for this piece,” Music Accompanist Bobby Pace said.
The three poems included in the piece are “On the Ridge,” “Underneath” and “The Planting Season.” The three poems all highlight different aspects of life in both eastern and western Nebraska.
“On the Ridge” is specific to the Pine Ridge region and its beauty.
“Underneath” is about the Platte River and planting crops.
“The Planting Season” is about the annual cycle of the agricultural industry.
The three pieces, with their contrasting tempos, lyrics and melodies, each provoke different emotions from the audience.
“I have worked with newly written music a lot, and this is definitely the best product I have gotten from a composer because the communication on paper is very clear and makes sense to musical minds,” Pace said.
The three groups combined make up a total of about 80 singers for the premiere.
Schreuder and Pace both agree that the concert will be somewhat challenging because the three choir groups have not worked together on the music. The choral groups will rehearse for the first time together on Saturday, April 14.
However, the groups were first exposed to this music at the end of December and have been working on the pieces ever since.
“I think we are very well prepared for this upcoming concert. We have been rehearsing the music since the beginning of the semester,” Schreuder said.
These pieces are somewhat atypical for the choirs to be performing.
“In the past we have generally performed traditional music from around 400-500 years ago, so the composer was never alive,” Pace said. “It’s exciting that we will have the actual composer and poet of the music watching at the concert.”
Both Von Kampen and Boesen will be in attendance at Sunday’s concert.
The music accompanist and music professor have hopes for high attendance at this event.
“I am expecting about 300-400 people to attend the concert,” Pace said. “This event has been well advertised for. It already has a preview article in the Chadron Record and has had radio interviews at the Chadron station along with Nebraska Public Radio promoting the concert. I think word has definitely gotten out.”
A reception will be held at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 13 to meet David von Kampen.
Along with the debut of “Three Nebraska Lyrics,” both concert choir and community choir will perform additional pieces as separate ensembles.
“This choir concert is an extremely special event for the college as a whole,” Pace said.
The concert will be free and open to the public.
After Sunday’s choir concert, the music department’s next event will be the Vocal Jazz and Jazz Band concert, at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 17.
For a full schedule of the remaining music department events, visit the CSC website.