University choir presents new sounds in fall concert

Dr. Robert Fruehwald's compositions are usually serious performance pieces, but not his newest work.

When the Southeast Missouri State University composition expert was asked to write a piece for the university's Cantus Choralis chamber ensemble, he decided to go tongue-in-cheek.

His first piece for the university choir ensemble sheds a harsh light on modern music, poking fun at an art form that can sometimes stretch musical boundaries to the point of absurdity.

But it's all in good fun for Fruehwald.

"I really tend to like it," Fruehwald said of modern composition. "I just thought it would be fun to poke fun at it."

The piece debuts Thursday night at the university choir concert at Old St. Vincent's Church, along with a varied selection of sounds both old and new.

Fruehwald's piece serves as a companion to the William Billings number "Modern Music." The Billings song also pokes fun at "modern" composition, but did so over 200 years before Fruehwald's (also called "Modern Music").

Fruehwald's "Modern Music" will incorporate a number of sounds typically associated with modern composition -- dissonant notes, inhuman voices, parts of the Billings piece and spoken word criticism of modern music.

"Let's just say there will be some very interesting sounds coming out of the choir, it's almost impossible to explain," said choir director Dr. Steve Hendricks.

Standing in sharp contrast to the modern sounds will be a piece by British composer and performer Sasha Johnson Manning called "Ode to a Lyre." Manning's composition is based on an ode written by the ancient Roman Horace. The piece incorporates ancient sounds into its framework, said Hendricks.

In addition to these two works for chamber choir, Hendricks said the concert will feature several seasonal selections written in the past 30 years for the full choir. Featured soloists will include Dr. Sara Edgerton on cello and Gabe Deutsch on guitar.

The pieces may not be familiar to most ears, but they will be festive and enjoyable for a large audience, Hendricks said.

msanders@semissourian.com

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