‘Three Nebraska Lyrics’ debuts at choir concert

The Chadron State College Concert Choir and Community Choir attracted an audience of about 150 people to the Memorial Hall
Auditorium, Sunday, and marked the last concert of Una Taylor, a professor in the music department and the director of Community Choir.
The two ensembles performed the diverse list of music with the highlight on the world premiere of “Three Nebraska Lyrics”
featuring poems by Becky Boesen, composed by David von Kampen.
The Community Choir, under the direction of Taylor, performed meaningful pieces about singing, the joy of singing and peace in the world.
The collaboration with the women of
Concert Choir and Rick Puzzo on djembe made “There is Peace” by Jim Papoulis an
interesting piece with a profound meaning. Along with an emphasis on peace in the world, the choirs also expressed the meaning
of singing.
“All we are, we’ve found in song,” Taylor quoted from the “Flight Song” by Kim André Arnesen.
With the theme of peace, the music
chosen also offer the diversity in culture. The Community Choir performed “Ukuthula,” a traditional African piece arranged by André van der Merwe.
“It’s really good! I can related when they sing ‘Ukuthula’ because I’m African,” Isioma Geraldine, 25, freshman of Lagos, Nigeria, said.
Following the Community Choir, Concert Choir performed for the audience a set with the dynamic rhythm. The set included “Fresh and Fearless” by Daniel
Elder, “Bonzorno Madonna” by Antonio Scandello and “You Stole My Love” by Walter
Cecil Macfarren.
The choir performed “Your Fragrance” by Edward Henderson in a cappella style. The piece referred to God and implied that we can find God in everything, and feel his presence through all kinds of scents.
CSC Concert Choir and Community Choir closed the night with the world debut of “Three Nebraska Lyrics,” consisting of “On the Ridge,” “Underneath” and “The
Planting Season.”
Von Kampen worked closely with Nebraska poet Becky Boesen and composed the poems into choral pieces specifically for
Chadron State College.
“We had an interesting week making music together,” Joel Schreuder, a professor in the music department, said.
Schreuder directed the two choirs for the premiere of “Three
Nebraska Lyrics.”
The concert was the last one for
Taylor since she will be retiring at the end of this semester.
“Personally, it’s bitter and sweet to me. I’m glad to retire but I’m going to miss my choir a lot,” Taylor said.
The music department’s next event will be the Wind Symphony and Community Band concert at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 24. The concert was rescheduled due to the snow storm that closed campus last Friday.