THE AGO 16TH ANNUAL CHORAL-ORGAN FESTIVAL WITH THE MILLSAPS SINGERS, THE
MISSISSIPPI GIRLCHOIR, AND ORGANIST LUCIUS WEATHERSBY, ORGANIST, CONDUCTED
BY TIMOTHY COKER, AT GALLOWAY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, FEBRUARY 15, 2002.

   The opening, Mendelssohn's "Da Nobis Pacem", reminded all of the
September 11, 2001, tragedy. Two large choral works followed:
Z. Randall Stroope's "Hodie", in three movements. and K. Lee Scott's
"Te Deum". Though unfamiliar, these made a powerful impression, with
organ, brass and percussion. There was great variety, including some
pianissimo singing, a rare commodity in these days of overamplified sound.
I nearly came out of my seat when the Mississippi Girlchoir, in the 3rd
movement of the "Hodie", sang out the cantus firmus of that great advent
chorale "Wachet Auf, Ruft Uns die Stimme" ("Wake, Awake, for Night is
Flying"). I hope to hear these dramatic and moving works again. I thank
Singers Director Timothy Coker for a wonderful experience.

   Lucius Weathersby then played organ works by African and African-American
composers, including some more familiar names (Coleridge-Taylor, Undine
Moore, da Costa) and some less (Wallace Cheatham, Violet Bowers, Uzee Brown,
Florence Price). Of these I especially liked Moore's Variations on
"Nettleton" ("Come Thou Fount of Ev'ry Blessing"), and Price's Retrospection.
There was great variety in style, and much difficulty, which for Weathersby
seemed easy. Further, his own Iowa Winter Suited reminded me of the first
winter I spent outside the South, in Wisconsin. His oral comments were very
helpful. The only thing I missed was some larger virtuosic work. Nevertheless
this was a dazzling, kaleidoscopic demonstration of this genre.