Of all the dynamic music programs (seven choirs, three bands, three orchestras, two jazz bands and nearly 1,000 student musicians) that have flourished at Decorah, Iowa's Luther College, the very first, the flagship choral ensemble, is the 70-strong, mixed-voice Nordic Choir. In 1948 Weston Noble began a 57-year tenure that would bring the choir into national and international acclaim as one of the best Collegiate choral ensembles. In 2005 Dr. Craig Arnold became the director of choral activities and conductor of the Nordic Choir. "In the Beginning" is a collection of 15 contemporary Christian pieces, beginning with Alice Parker and Robert Shaw's arrangement of "I Will Arise," John Rutter's "Hymn to the Creator of Light," the lovely, 15-minute long title tune by Aaron Copland, Stephen Paulus' "The Old Church," the premiere of Brooke Joyce's "The Revelation of St. Julian," F. Melius Christiansen's "Psalm 50," the premiere of student Patrick Burzlaff's "Psalm 50," "Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow," Paul Tschesnokoff's "O Lord God," and Carl Orff's 5-part, piano-accompanied "Carmina Burana." Beautiful solos and harmonies on this often difficult material by one of the oldest and most respected Collegiate choirs! |
