NEXT FOR CHORAL UNION: `REQUIEM'

Everyone wants to be part of something that is going well. In Cape Girardeau that something is the Choral Union.

Since its beginning in 1988 with 28 singers, the Union has grown by leaps. The Union, which is open to anyone, combines community members and university students, faculty and staff and currently boasts 120 to 125 members.

Dr. John Egbert, who directs both the Choral Union and the University Choir, credits word of mouth for the growth of the union. "People really enjoy getting involved," he said. "They hear about the Union and they just drop in."

The size of the Union hasn't stopped Egbert from forging ahead and putting together something even bigger. On Tuesday the Choral Union, the University Choir and the University Orchestra will combine their talents to perform Maurice Durufle's "Requiem." The performance will combine over 150 singers and 60 orchestra players.

The size of the combined groups is sometimes hard to handle Egbert admits, but the end result is worth it.

The University Orchestra is directed by Dr. Sara Edgerton, while Egbert directs the choirs. However, Egbert directs the entire performance. Egbert has been combining the groups for the past six years for two performances a year.

Egbert doesn't claim being in charge is easy. "I'm a choir director that is in front of a choir and a orchestra," he said, "so there are obvious limitations. Sometimes I may find myself in a little awkward spot because I don't know how to play every instrument."

The challenge doesn't intimidate Egbert, who says preparation is the name of the game. "It is extremely important to know the score forwards and backwards," he said, "so I have to commit the score to memory. I have to maintain eye contact with the singers and players, so looking down at the score all the time is not an option."

The "Requiem" was written in 1947, which by music standards makes it a relatively new work.

Were it not for his "Requiem," Durufle would hardly be known outside his native France, but the work brought him almost instant world-wide recognition. With some of the melodies based on ancient chants, the "Requiem" offers moods ranging from reverent to dramatic in a work regarded by some critics as one of the most exquisite and beautifully crafted choral/orchestral compositions of this century.

The nature of the text implies a subdued score. However, it contrasts with extended sections of tremendous energy and power.

The "Requiem" is very appropriate during this Easter time, since its text is taken from the Roman Catholic Mass for the dead.

Egbert wanted to clarify that the Choral Union and University Orchestra are performing the "Requiem" purely as music. He is not selling any religious beliefs.

Last spring, the Choral Union and University Orchestra drew raves for their performance of Carl Orff's "Carmina Burana," and last November's presentation of Leonard Bernstein's "Chichester Psalms" was equally well received.

Egbert thinks the joint performance has become the community music event of the year because it is not often that people get to hear music of this caliber performed by such a large group.

"The audience response is unbelievable," he said. "They leapt to their feet cheering at the end of the last performance. We hope to see another packed house at the performance of the 'Requiem.'"

`Requiem'

When: 8 p.m. Tuesday

Where: Academic Auditorium

Cost: $4 for adults, $2 for seniors or students, free with a university ID.