THE ELIJAH AT GALLOWAY MEMORIAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, APRIL 8, 2001

   This oratorio is a large work requiring large resources, and these were
abundantly available, ranging from excellent vocal soloists; to the MS
Symphony Orchestra; to choirs from Galloway Church, and Belhaven,
Mississippi, and Millsaps Colleges; to the large and versatile Casavant
organ, played by Chris Brunt. The result was overwhelming. Horace English
was Elijah; Jeremy Little, Obadiah; Lester Senter Wilson, the Angel;
Anna McDonald, the Widow; and Chris Shelt, Ahab. Of the complete work
Part 1 was sung, ending with the climactic chorus "Thanks Be To God". With
the ample instrumentation used, achieving a suitable balance between soloist
and orchestra can be problematic, but, so far as I could tell, wasn't. The
church was full, and I sat in the balcony near the front, and thus was
not in a good position to judge balance. Nevertheless I thought all the
soloists did quite well. The Elijah - more than many popular large choral
works (Handel's Messiah, Bach's B minor Mass, Haydn's Creation, Brahms'
Requiem, to name a few) - depends on a central heroic figure (Elijah) to
carry the oratorio, and Horace English did this quite effectively. For me
the most powerful moment came in the final chorus "Thanks Be To God",
with the brass, the organ pedal, and the massed choirs combining to produce
a sound and emotion as powerful as any I remember. Director Robert McBain,
and all the other musicians involved, deserve our gratitude for this
wonderful offering.

                                               - Glenn A. Gentry



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