This article was written by Anne Frame.
Morrison’s Community Choir of 60 participants will present “A Tapestry of American Music” on Sunday, September 15, 2019, at Morrison United Methodist Church, 200 W. Lincolnway, Morrison, IL, beginning at 3:00 p.m. Musical selections, both secular and sacred, will showcase America’s musical diversity.
There is no charge for the performance; however, donations to a free-will offering will be appreciated. Proceeds will be shared with the Morrison Ministerial Council and the Morrison Schools’ Music Program.
Kathy Janicek, Rich Criss, and John Frame will direct. Accompanists are Nancy Brzezinski, Pat Cassens, Criss, Anne Frame, and John Frame.
The afternoon concert will open with three sacred numbers. “We Are Made for Praise” and “Lord, You Have Been Our Dwelling Place,” are based on familiar hymn tunes. Written in 1873 by the blind, prolific lyricist Fanny Crosby, “Blessed Assurance” is both well known and loved by all.
Other selections include the American folk song “Shenandoah,” which tells the story of a fur trader on the Missouri River, who meets the Indian Chief Shenandoah and falls in love with his daughter. The patriotic and beautiful “My Country ‘Tis of Thee,” written in 1831, was used as our National anthem until 1931. “Down by the Riverside,” a rousing, energetic spiritual, dates from the Civil War and is sometimes known as “Ain’t Gonna Study War No More.”
On a lighter note, the women’s and men’s choirs will perform hits from the 60s. These numbers include both soul and rhythm and blues as recorded by the Temptations, Neil Sedaka, The Supremes, and the Righteous Brothers on the Motown label.
Seated at four pianos, Cassens, Criss, Anne Frame, and John Frame will entertain with a medley of six spirituals by Joel Raney. Adding to the instrumental portion of the concert will be organist Nancy Brzezinski’s selections, “Benedictus” Op 59 by Reger and John Bull’s “Rondo.”
Concluding the concert will be John Rutter’s appropriate text and music, “The Music’s Always There with You.”