THE JACKSON CHORAL SOCIETY AT ST. PHILIP'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, APRIL 30, 2002

   This concert, entitled "The Great Words of American Freedom", featured
works by Randall Thompson (selections from "The Peaceable Kingdom", and
"The Testament of Freedom"), Howard Hanson (Song of Democracy), Virgil
Thompson ("My Shepherd will Supply My Need"), Andre Thomas ("The
Kingdom" and "Let Everything"), and Moses Hogan ("I Can Tell the
World"). The Choral Society was clearly up to its expected high quality.
For the accompanied works Linda Edwards was excellent at the piano;
the balance between choir and piano was perfect. Curiously, the
pieces from "The Peaceable Kingdom" were accompanied although this
is an a capella work; here, however, the piano was unobtrusive as it
should have been.

   In choral music we are accustomed to hearing poetry set to music,
but in the "Testament of Freedom" the text is prose, by Thomas
Jefferson. It was treated very effectively (to be fair, much of
Jefferson's prose would qualify as poetry! An example: "The God
who gave us life gave us liberty..."). Two underlying emotional
themes were the events of September 11, 2002, and Director Richard
Joiner's impending move to Union University in Jackson, TN. The
former explains the choice of works performed. So far as the latter
is concerned, Joiner will be sorely missed in this Jackson (MS),
but the other Jackson (TN) is sure to be blessed.

                                                 - Glenn A. Gentry