SETTING HISTORIC WORDS TO MUSIC

Powerful music inspired by two great American leaders will be performed Tuesday as Southeast Missouri State University continues its 125th anniversary celebration.

The works are Aaron Copland's "Lincoln Portrait" and Randall Thompson's "The Testament of Freedom," based on the writings of Thomas Jefferson. They will be performed at 8 p.m. in Academic Auditorium by the Chorale, Union and the University Choir directed by Dr. John Egbert, and the Southeast Missouri State University Symphony Orchestra, directed by Dr. Sara Edgerton.

The finale will be "The Awakening," a work Egbert describes as "spine-tingling." He says this may be the most "audience-friendly" performance the Chorale Union has ever given.

Copland wrote the orchestral work "Lincoln Portrait" in 1942, when World War II provided a reason for creating a patriotic and inspirational composition. Southeast professor Dr. Tom Harte will narrate the text, which is based on Lincoln's speeches and letters dealing with freedom and democracy.

The evocative melodies recall "Rodeo" and "Appalachian Spring," two of the composer's most famous works.

The orchestra and the Choral Union will combine to perform "The Testament of Freedom," a work written in honor of Jefferson's 200th birthday. It also was composed during World War II and was a source of national pride.

Jefferson's well-known ability with words comes through. "The guy could turn a phrase on a pin," Egbert says.

"... It was written 200 years ago and could be taken out of today's newspaper. It's so applicable and appropriate to stuff going on right now it's almost frightening."

Forty-year-old composer Joseph Martin wrote "The Awakening" during the 1980s, at a time when the value of music in American education was being questioned. That question provoked Martin to exalt the importance of music in our lives.

"There's more to it than singing in the choir," Egbert says. "It's an emotional outlet, an opportunity to look deeply into something from an analytical and emotional viewpoint.

"It's an avenue of expression you don't get anywhere else."

On Easter Sunday, Egbert was a member of a 150-member choir that performed at Carnegie Hall. His brother, Lee, director of choral music at Colorado State University, was the conducted. The performance was John Egbert's first at the famed hall.

"It was a particular delight getting to do it with my brother standing there," he said.