By JOHN R. STANARD
Familiar early American hymns and folk songs are the central theme of an Easter season cantata to be presented on Good Friday evening by musicians of the First United Methodist Church.
The public is invited to attend the free performance of "The Song Everlasting," a dramatic choral cantata that tells the Gospel story using time-honored tunes and texts, according to conductor Pamela Howard Becker, director of music at the church.
The program, at 7 p.m. Friday, March 30, in the sanctuary of the church at 500 N. Main St., also will feature a seven-piece orchestra of strings, woodwinds and percussion. Arranger Joseph M. Martin, in addition to a full orchestral score for larger choirs, has written an "Appalachian Consort" score for the seven instruments.
Instrumentalists will include Cape Girardeau musicians Andrew Bailey, violin, and Abigail Sage, cello; Shannon Dakin of Tamms, Ill., clarinet; and Poplar Bluffians Jenna Whitworth, flute, Dan Jackson, guitar, William White, percussion and Robin Till, piano.
Solo vocalists will be tenor Keith Berry and sopranos Alice Barbour and Suzanne Cowan.
"Music reaches deep into our hearts and calls us to reflection. It surrounds us with sound and invites our spirits to soar in celebration," Martin said in explaining the rational for his cantata.
"In this cantata, I have incorporated hymns, spirituals and folk songs, and intersected these musical moments with the story of Christ's ministry among us," Martin said. "This exalted theme reverberates through the ages in echoes of assurance and its resounding glory is a magnificent, never-ending alleluia that awakens in the believer the voice of praise."
Brief narrations set the scene for each of the seven selections in Martin's work. The piece begins with "The Wondrous Story," an early American folk hymn, Other selections include "Songs of the Wayfarer" based on the tunes "Motherless Child" and "Wayfarin' Stranger; "Come Unto Me," a variation of the tune "Resignation" from Southern Harmony, 1835; "Journey of Hope and Promise" incorporating the tunes "Shout On," "Pray On Followers of the Lamb," "Saints Bound for Heaven" and "Promised Land;" "Procession of Praise" featuring the familiar words "All Glory, Laud, and Honor," and "Song of Humility," based on an old Shaker melody.
The 35-member First United Methodist Church Chancel Choir is recognized as a leading performer of classical sacred music in the region. Last December the group performed "SMALL, Dancing LIGHT," an Advent/Christmas choral work by noted composer Taylor Scott Davis, accompanied by a 15-piece orchestra.
In April of 2017 the Chancel Choir presented "Requiem for the Living," a contemporary work in Latin by acclaimed composer Dan Forrest. Conducted by Cindy White, that performance featured well-known organist Ray Smithee, formerly of Poplar Bluff, and a seven-piece orchestra.
In recent years the choir also has performed many "Summer A La Mode," "Christmas at the Rodgers" and "Coming Home for Christmas" programs for the community.
In the past the Chancel Choir has presented such ambitious programs as G.F. Handel's "Messiah," Felix Mendelssohn's "Elijah" and John Rutter's "Requiem."
Ample parking is available near both the Main Street and Fifth Street entrances to the church. The Rev. David Stewart, lead pastor, invites the public to attend the choir presentation, which he described as "the Music Ministry's gift to the community for the Easter season."