News release Public Information Office  SLU 10880   Hammond, LA 70402   phone: 985-549-2341   fax: 985-549-2061 publicinfo@selu.edu Spring 2004 news releases Public Information home News archive Contact: Christina Chapple Date: 4/14/04   SLU CONCERT CHOIR, WOMEN’S CHORALE TO PERFORM APRIL 22       HAMMOND -- The spring concert by the Southeastern Louisiana University Concert Choir and Women’s Chorale features an eclectic program of works by composers such as Mozart, Rachmaninoff, and Copland.       Conducted by Alissa Mercurio Rowe, the free concert is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. April 22 at the First United Methodist Church, 2200 Rue Denise, in Hammond.       The Women’s Chorale, accompanied by pianist Hristo Birbochukov, will open the concert with “Riawanna” by Stephen Leek.        “‘Riawanna’ is taken from the Pallahwah language used by Aboriginal people of Tasmania,” Rowe said. “‘Riwanna’ is the traditional work for ‘circles’ and ‘Powamena Gunta’ is the traditional name of ‘Mother Earth.’ There are many possible forms and structures for this work. There are 17 cells of musical ideas which can be structured in any way.  The Women’s Chorale has explored many possibilities and the construction you will hear is original.”       The chorale will also perform Rachmaninoff’s “Six Choruses” for women’s or children’s voices, which were written between 1894 and 1896; “I thank you God” by Gwyneth Walker; and Libby Larsen’s “Today, This Spring.” A set of three pieces for upper voices and piano, Larsen’s work was commissioned to celebrate two breast cancer survivors, and “reflects the infinitely joyous spirit of both women and their courageous example of peacefulness in the face of adversity,” Rowe said.       Accompanied by pianist Charles Effler, the Concert Choir will open its section of the concert with Mozart’s “Veni Sancte Spiritus,” followed by two folk songs, Gustav Holst’s Cornish “I Love My Love” and the familiar Scottish song “Loch Lomond.”       The choir also will perform “Down by the Sally Gardens,” one of the 11 folk song settings in John Rutter’s chorale cycle “The Sprig of Thyme”; Eric Whitacre’s “Five Hebrew Love Songs”; and Aaron Copland’s “Zion’s Walls” from “The Tender Land.”       For additional information about the concert, contact the Department of Music and Dramatic Arts at 985-549-2184.