The annual Walla Walla University Department of Music Spring Choral Concert will be held in the University Church, 212 S.W. 4th St., College Place, WA, on Saturday, May 18, at 5:30 p.m. 

This concert will also be presented Saturday, June 1, at 7:30 p.m. in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, 127 E. 12th Ave., Spokane, WA. 

I Cantori of Walla Walla University and University Singers, under the direction of Kraig Scott, professor of music and WWU choral director, will present works that include the “Lord Nelson Mass” by Joseph Haydn as well as “Passion and Resurrection,” an oratorio by Ēriks Ešenvalds. The two choirs will be joined by the WWU Chamber Orchestra and soloists Arwen Myers from Portland, Oregon; Ann Benson from Spokane, Washington; Christopher Nakielski from Pullman, Washington, and Jeremy Irland from College Place, Washington. 

Composed in 1798, Haydn’s “Lord Nelson Mass” was thought to have been performed when the English admiral, Lord Nelson, visited Eisenstadt, Austria, in September 1800. In his manuscript catalogue, Haydn refers to this work as “Missa in Angustiis” meaning “Mass in Times of Affliction.” This name reflects Haydn’s reality as he faced European wars and political strife in the decades following the French Revolution. 

The Latvian composer Ēriks Ešenvalds composed Passion and Resurrection in 2005 for the Academic State Choir Latvija. The composer presents the death and resurrection of Christ in four movements drawing primarily from the gospels of Matthew, Luke, and John. The work begins by quoting a 16th century motet by the Spanish composer Cristóbal de Morales on the text of Job 7:16-21: “Let me alone, for my days are vanity … thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.” This Morales motet reappears several times throughout the piece.

Admission is free and open to the public. The concert will be livestreamed at wallawalla.edu/concert.

Posted May 6, 2019