Wheaton and UMass Dartmouth Choruses Sing Songs of War, Songs of Peace

Contact: Betsy Cronin
Arts Coordinator
Wheaton College
Norton, Massachusetts 02766
(508) 286-3644 phone
(508) 286-3390 fax
bcronin@wheatonma.edu

''Songs of War, Songs of Peace'' will be performed by the combined choirs of Wheaton College and the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, under the direction of Tim Harbold. The program will be presented twice on Sunday, April 27. The first concert will be presented in Cole Chapel at Wheaton College in Norton, starting at 3:00 p.m., the second at Grace Episcopal Church, 422 County St. in New Bedford, (at the corner of County and School Streets), starting at 8:00 p.m. A $5 donation will be gratefully accepted.

Drawing on music from a variety of nations, time periods and cultures, the songs range from madrigals celebrating courage on the battlefield (Jannequin's ''La Guerre,'' which includes vocal depictions of the Battle of Marignano in 1515), to folk laments of lost soldiers (Ireland's ''Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ye''), to prayers for peace (Bernstein's ''Chichester Psalms,'' accompanied by organ, harp, and percussion). ''All Honor Due,'' by Jane Perkin and James Bergin, pays tribute to America's veterans. The Indian raga ''Raghupati,'' urging peace between Muslim and Hindu, was reportedly a favorite of Mahatma Gandhi. Organ accompaniment will be provided by Wheaton faculty member William MacPherson. UMass Dartmouth faculty member and Rhode Island Philharmonic member Hyunjung Choi will play the harp. UMass Dartmouth faculty member Rieko Tanaka will accompany on piano.

Conductor Tim Harbold explains the intent of the program: ''World opinion is certainly divided on this war in Iraq, and these divergent views are also apparent among our students, faculties and surrounding communities. In the context of the daily loss of human lives, and midst ongoing public debate at home, this program is not intended as a political statement regarding the war. Rather, it is an artistic exploration of some remarkable repertoire providing a glimpse of how choral composers throughout history have presented themes of war and peace, life and death, fate and transcendence. Across the centuries and continents, these composers speak to the historical context of war, but perhaps more importantly, to the emotional context.''

For further information on ''Songs of War, Songs of Peace,'' please contact Wheaton College at 508-286-3440, or UMass Dartmouth at 508-999-8568. For directions to Wheaton College go to www.wheatoncollege.edu/About/Driving.html. For more information regarding arts events at Wheaton College, go to www.wheatoncollege.edu/arts or for updates and confirmations call the arts information line at (508) 286-3300.