THE BELHAVEN COLLEGE CONCERT CHOIR AND CHAMBER CHOIR, ANGELA WILLOUGHBY,
DIRECTOR, AT FONDREN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, APRIL 6, 1997.

   This was the closing concert of a week-long spring tour. The choir
opened with "Exaltation" (from "Celestial Spring") by F. Melius
Christiansen, probably my favorite of the evening. Melius
Christiansen is remembered as the choral director at St. Olaf College
(in Minnesota) who more than any other individual was responsible for
introducing North American Colleges to the concept of a capella
singing in the early part of the 20th century. There was good blend and
balance, with some noteworthy low bass parts. Next were Alice Parker's
arrangements of three hymns - "Come, Ye That Love the Lord", "God Is
Seen", and "Hark, I Hear the Harps Eternal". The first accompanied
pieces of the program followed - Aaron Copland's diverting "I Bought Me
a Cat" and "Ching-a-Ring-Chaw" with Abi Lavallee at the piano.
   The Chamber Choir, a 14-voice subgroup, then sang William Byrd's
"I Have Longed for Thy Saving Health, O Lord", "Sing Joyfully", and
"Ave Verum Corpus". The dynamics and blend were quite good here,
especially for a group this size. The larger choir continued with
James Sclater's setting of the Lenten Chorale "Ah, Holy Jesu", with
Diana Borg, soprano, and Roy Stillwell at the organ. This piece very
effectively captured the mood of the chorale. Two traditional Easter
tunes - "Now the Green Blade Riseth", arranged by Erik Routley, and
"This Joyful Eastertide", arranged by Charles Wood, completed this
set. Next the choir sang William Dawson's arrangement of the spiritual
"Soon-Ah Will Be Done", and then closed the program with Gilbert Martin's
arrangement of "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross", with Roy Stillwell
back at the organ. His accompaniment was very sensitive and powerful.
There was a very welcome encore, an arrangement of the spiritual "Keep
Your Lamps". All in all this was a polished and enjoyable performance
of a varied program. 
                                                  - Glenn A. Gentry