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A choral piece that replicates the sound of a thunderstorm, a new choral cycle and works by local composers Victoria Davison and Rudy Lupinski will be on the program for the East Central University Chorus and University Chorale concert Monday [APRIL 20] at St. Joseph's Catholic Church.

The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. under the direction of Dr. Steven Walker, professor of music. Admission is free.

The University Chorus will feature "Cloudburst" by Eric Whitacre, a piece simulating the kinetic energy unleashed in a thunderstorm.

"It literally is an attempt to replicate the sound of a thunderstorm," Walker said. "There is a lot of singing at first, building up to it, then a lot of sounds, like water dripping. We'll have a thunder sheet and bass drum. It's an interesting piece."

Percussionists for "Cloudburst" will be Dr. Ben Finley, Kyle Littlejohn, Rudy Lupinski, Andrew Orr and Jesse Milam.

The program includes two pieces by Oklahoma composer Glenn E. Burleigh, a native of Guthrie, who is renowned as an arranger of black spirituals, Walker said. The Chorus will sing one spiritual, "Bless The Lord," and the Chorale will perform his African piece, "Kujichagulia."

The Chorus also will perform "Omnia Sol" by Z. Randall Stroope and "Peace I Leave With You" by Walter L. Pelz. Accompanist will be Dr. Starla Hibler, ECU professor of music.

ECU graduate and University Chorus member Phillip Berryhill will conduct a male chorus performing Joseph Martin's "Awakening."

The University Chorale will open with "Song of Simeon" by Tori Davison and Rudy Lupinski. The work is written for baritone solo, choir, flute and organ. Dr. Steven Walker is the soloist. ECU student Jim Gordon will conduct the Chorale for this work. Rebekah Unruh will be the flutist and Rudy Lupinski is organist. "Song of Simeon" is the traditional Gospel Canticle of the Night Prayer liturgy. Davison and Lupinski use the traditional text taken from the second chapter of Luke (Luke 2:29-32), but added two additional lines uttered by Simeon (Luke 2:34-35).

According to the book of Luke, Simeon was a devout Jew who had been promised by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he had seen the promised Messiah. When Mary and Joseph brought the child Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem for the ceremony of consecration of the firstborn son, Simeon was there and took Jesus into his arms.

Davison and Lupinski dedicated their version of "Song of Simeon" to a friend, Mary Gurley, who had made a request for a new setting of this scripture passage.

The Chorale will feature a new choral cycle by Morten Lauridsen, "Nocturnes."

"We're probably one of the first groups to perform this," Walker said. "He (Lauridsen) does something different than any one else has ever done. He writes song cycles for chorus that are related topically and texturally. Each of these is written in a different language, French, Spanish and English. They are all beautiful love poems."

The Chorale also will perform Davison and Lupinski's "Matthew 25" and "Sabbath Morning Prayer," a Choctaw hymn, by Jacob S. Bohannon.

Lupinski also is the accompanist for the Chorale.

Performing in either the University Chorale, the University Chorus, or both, from Ada are Dr. Kelley Alig, Phillip Berryhill, Brandon Blankenship, Angie Brunk, Kelsey Creed, Tori Davison, Heather Holland, Caitlin Gray, Danna Howry, Joshua Kindrick, Wyas Parker, Vickie Reifsnider, Brittany Trail, Brooke Trail, Jennifer Whitley, Jessica Whitley and Kyle Wood.

Others are Carissa Rodgers, Stonewall; Laura Knight, Stratford; Kathryn Burns, Coalgate; Christa Chandler, Pauls Valley; Lacee Elliot, Davis; Jim Gordon, Kaleb Gordon and Jesse Gordon, Seminole; Luke Smith, Holdenville; Joseph Terrell, Elmore City; and Kristin Auten, Jarrod Doyle, Brandon Preston, Quinton Roberts and Rebekah Unruh, all of Ardmore.

Also, Sarra Blok, Glencoe, Minn.; Leah Creason, Beggs; April Dooley, Marietta; Brooke Geisler, Edmond; Ashley Green, Okmulgee; Jessie Jennings, Noble; Christina Kushnick, Spiro; Meg McConnell, Wellston; Angela Marshall, McAlester; Mandy Sharp, Wilburton; Sheena Stallings, Shawnee; Kristin Stecklein, Vinita; and Casey Taylor, Moore.

Others are Johnothan Bomboy, Chris Geisler, Nick Geisler and Roy Harris, all of Little Axe; Justin Cody, Tim Long and Tommy Long, all of Tecumseh; Mike Dupuis, El Reno; Joseph Mohr, Sayre; and Adam Mount, Beggs.

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