Showcase Series Concludes Nov. 2

by Richard Veit

The Baylor University School of Music's 2001 Showcase Series will conclude with a performance by the A Cappella Choir at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2, in Jones Concert Hall. The 62-voice mixed chorus performs under the direction of Donald Bailey, professor of conducting and director of choral activities. The accompanist is David Anderson.
Opening the program will be "Exsultate Justi" from John Williams' film score to Empire of the Sun. Also featured will be two 16th-century pieces, "Ave Verum Corpus" by William Byrd and "Ascendit Deus" by Peter Philips and the Five Mystical Songs by Ralph Vaughan Williams. Soloist in the Vaughan Williams' songs will be baritone Robert Best, assistant professor of vocal studies.
Following intermission, the A Cappella Choir will sing contemporary composer Paul Basler's Songs of Faith, featuring assistant professor of horn Jeffrey Powers. With graduate student Randall Hooper conducting, the choir will present two selections from Leonard Bernstein's musical Candide, "The Best of All Possible Worlds" and "Make Our Garden Grow."
Closing the program will be the Robert Shaw/Alice Parker arrangement of "Ride On, King Jesus," conductor Donald Bailey's own arrangement of "This Lonesome Valley" (with soprano Emily Graczyk as soloist) and the Paul Christiansen setting of "This Is My Father's World."
Tickets are $5, and are available at the door only. Those with Baylor identification cards are admitted free. For more information, call the Baylor School of Music at 710-3991.