CHORAL UNION TO MODERNIZE; CONCERT TUESDAY OFFERS 20TH-CENTURY WORKS

Carl Orff's "Carmina Burana" and Leonard Bernstein" "Chichester Psalms" proved to audiences that the Choral Union means business. Both performances were stunning. Now the singers, in league with the University Orchestra and University Choir, are taking on contemporary composers Alan Hovhaness and Mack Wilberg.

The Choral Union, University Choir and University Orchestra will serve up their annual seasonal concert at 8 p.m. Tuesday in Academic Auditorium.

The evening will begin with the orchestra performing Beethoven's "Egmont Overture," followed by Hovhaness's "Magnificat." The latter, though written in the 1970s, creates a mood of medieval Christianity through the use of modes rather than major or minor keys.

"It's kind of eerie sounding," says Dr. John Egbert, who will conduct the combined ensembles.

The piece was new to Egbert until Dr. Sarah Edgerton, director of the University Orchestra, suggested it. Soloists will be Elizabeth James-Gallagher, Tamara Brannon, Christopher Goeke and Jonathan Stewart.

An unpublished work Wilberg based on the early American hymn "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" will conclude the evening and has Egbert excited.

"This is the concert finale to end all finales," he says.

"...It's absolutely one of the most moving pieces of music I've ever seen."

The 160-member Choral Union continues growing. In the community-based organization, music teachers and music students sing parts beside people who may have sung in a high school choir years ago or who may not be able to read music.

The Choral Union constantly surprises its director.

Egbert went home from a rehearsal only a month ago baffled about how to get the singers to do what he wanted.

"Now, two weeks away from the concert ... they just sang the tar out of it," he said.

Stylistically, the upcoming concert should provide one of the more interesting in recent years.

As Egbert says, "There is no other place around here to hear this kind of stuff."