The Red River Chorale closes its sixth successful concert season with “Songs of America,” a concert featuring music exclusively by American composers or of American origins, on Tuesday, May 3rd at 7:30pm at the Coughlin-Saunders Performing Arts Center in downtown Alexandria.
Presenting a wide variety of fine and feisty music from America’s past, the concert will include two pieces by early American composer William Billings from the Revolutionary War period, songs by Stephen Foster from the period of the Civil War, several moving Negro spirituals, several settings of early American hymns, as well as traditional folk songs. Also on the program will be selections by Aaron Copland from the 1950’s; a chorus from Samuel Barber’s Pulitzer Prize-winning opera “Vanessa,” written in 1958; and a jazz spiritual, “Come Sunday,” written by Duke Ellington in 1958.
The Red River Chorale is an auditioned community choral performance group based in Alexandria and directed by Dr. Burt Allen, coordinator of music at Northwestern State University. Tickets for the concert are $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for students. They may be obtained from any Chorale member, from Red River Music, by calling the Chorale office at (318) 487-4463, or at the door on a space-available basis.
