Searcy, Arkansas - Harding College A Cappella Chorus - European Tour Album 1971

$

30

2 LPs

Harding College A Cappella Chorus
Searcy, Arkansas

European Tour Album 1971
Kenneth Davis Jr., Conductor

Custom Fidelity Records, Hollywood California, CFS-2787

Condition of jacket:  Very good - excellent, some very light rubbing and wear.

Condition of record:  Excellent, both records are very glossy and appear essentially as-new. A few light fingerprints visible.

Side One:
1. Adjuro Vos Filiae Jerusalem (Clemens non Papa)
2. Ma So Ben, Signor Mio (Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina)
3. Jesu, Meine Freude Motet No. 3 (Johann Sebastian Bach)
4. Salvation is Created (Paul Tschesnokoff)
 
Side Two:
1. Abendlied Zu Gott (Franz Joseph Haydn)
2. Psalm LI, Motet, Op. 29, No. 2 (Johannes Brahms)
3. Grant Us Thy Blessing (Carl Loewe)

Side Three:
1. Glory to God in the Highest (Alexander Gretchaninoff)
2. All GLory on High (arr. George Lynn) - Danette Key
3. Dark Water (Will James)
4. This Little Light O' Mine (arr. John W. Work) - Celia Richardson
5. The Lord's Prayer (Malotte-Deis) - Carol Lewey
 
Side Four:
1. Hallelujah (Robert de Corimer) - Glenn Rikard
2. The Ninety and Nine (Sankey-Lynn) - Kenneth D. Davis
3. There is a Balm in Gilead (arr. William L. Dawson)
4. Every Time I Feel the Spirit (Cliff Ganus, III)
5. Jesus Born in Bethlea (Tom Scott)
6. Ain't Got Time to Die (Hall Johnson) - Brett Foxx

From the back of the jacket:

THE CHORUS
"At Harding We Sing" is an old motto from the college's past, but it nevertheless represents a sentiment and a practice that still are very much alive on the Searcy, Arkansas campus in 1970-71. The rich heritage of vocal music in the Church echoes daily in chapel services and often sweeps across the campus in evening devotionals around the lily pool. And it brings together each year outstanding student voices to comprise the Harding A Cappella Chorus, a group whose reputation is known across the country, in small rural churches as well as in metropolitan congregations.

The Chorus is heard on weekend trips, in campus programs, on extended tours each fall and spring and on an occasional summer tour. Many who never have seen the Chorus hear them through their weekly "Hymns from Harding" radio program, a 15-minute taped public service presentation of scriptures and songs.

The Chorus is composed of 70 of the best singers at Harding College. They come from 23 states and two foreign countries. They are actors, athletes, journalists, musicians, preachers and student government leaders. They represent every class and major in many different fields.

Competition for a position in the Chorus is quite vigorous, and students, achieving membership by audition, must shore up their desire to sing with hours of practice and better than a C average in their academic work. The Chorus is unusually close-knit, dedicated and enthusiastic, feeling that through their singing they can represent Christian education and their generation in an honest and worthwhile way.

They are bound by a love for music, a devotion to one another, a desire to serve and a will to work as hard as they must to achieve the quality of singing both they and their director expect.

Whether they are heard by hundreds at the New York World's Fair or by a handful of Mexican children at Vacation Bible School in the slums of Tijuana ... by a musically critical audience on campus or by an elderly invalid beside her radio ... their music inspires, uplifts and, hopefully, brings their audience closer to God. This is their real reward.

THE DIRECTOR
Students come and students go from Harding College, but year after year the A Cappella Chorus remains an outstanding choral group. Thus, its quality of performance is not due merely to the transient voices which compose the group, but rather to that force which molds it musically and inspires it spiritually - its director.

Dr. Kenneth Davis Jr., director of the chorus since 1953, is known affectionately by his students as "Uncle Bud," a nickname he acquired on one of many memorable chorus trips. And he is admired by them ... for his fine tenor voice, for hfs masterful direction, and most of all, for the inspiration he brings through his life and his work. All of these, implemented by his genuine Christian friendliness, make them want to do their best for him and those to whom they sing. Having attended Harding from the sixth grade through his sophomore year in college, Dr. Davis holds music degrees from three schools: the bachelor's from North Texas State University, the master's from Westminster Choir College and the doctorate from Indiana University. He is a professor of music.

Tour Legend:
This recording is the product of a day-long session in a cavernous hall in Frankfurt, Germany, on August 2, 1971. It was made during the last week of a trip which had begun two months earlier and which had spanned the European continent from France to Hungary, from Italy to Poland. By August 2 the 49-voice chorus had already given over 40 concerts and traveled more than 7,500 miles.

Most of this distance was covered in a yellow-and-red bus (license SOB H-61) rented from George Funk & Co. in Schrobenhausen and driven by a reformed truck driver named Walter Irwin Steher. Walter has to be considered one of the major influences of Tour '71 -- if only by virtue of his constant presence. His efforts at bilinguality ("What is?" and "Let's go!" were supplemented after an indeterminable period of time by "What time?", "Yeah", "Back door", and other useful English tidbits) led some of the more adventuresome members of the group to try their hands at German (let's see, is that "Deutsch" or "Dutch"?), until some of the girls dis-covered that the only necessary words were "Was ist?", "Nein", "Wo", and "Kaputt" aided by well-timed smiles. It is amazing how one's intended vocabulary can dwindle when it comes time to speak it.

Although Walter certainly influenced us, it is hard to tell what sort of effect we had on him. He still prefers beer to Pepsi and "John Brown's Body" to Stravinsky, but we are also certain that he has a better opinion of American students. Certainly, no one could accuse him of being selfish - he shared his bumper with a Morris Minor in Naples and some paint with a Rolls Royce in Zurich.

The bus had not been a part of Tour '69; transportation then had been furnished by nine Peugeot station wagons, which certainly had more personality than any bus could hope for. We missed the semi-races to the next town, the thrill of being "on our own" in a strange land, the ability to stop freely at any interesting landmark, the flexibility of being able to go in nine different directions at once. We also missed (with no excessive sorrow) not being able to find the next town, the thrill of being "lost" in a strange land, the need to stop regularly to ask directions, and an untimely tendency to go in nine different directions'at once (this was practically impossible in the bus).

Another major difference between the two trips was the area of concentration. Tour '69 had been concentrated in Italy and Germany, with visits to France, Spain, Switzerland, Denmark, Austria, The Netherlands, and other countries. Tour '71 also saw extended stays in Italy and Germany, but other previously-visited areas were skipped in favor of some of the countries of Eastern Europe.

Nobody knew what to expect from Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and Poland. Frightening tales of customs searches, spies, bad food, limited tourist activities, and uncooperative governments flowed from ear to ear. As it turned out, much of the expected came true - to an extent. But the inconveniences were completely overwhelmed by the wonderful experiences we found in these Peoples Socialist Republics. True, we were detained at borders, we were asked prying questions, we were subjected to unusual food (to say the least! We had never realized that so much gristle could be packed into such a small sausage), we were shepherded through certain areas, and we were forced to be somewhat secretive in our worship and meeting with Christians; but we were also exposed to some of the most friendly and cooperative people that we had encountered.

Our week in Poland was sponsored by the Gdansk Medical Academy Choir; the president of the choir and an official guide from Almatur (a Polish student touring organization) traveled the entire way with us. We were housed in hotels with showers (I), taken on numerous sight-seeing tours, and treated like honored guests. Aside from minor inconveniences (like our not knowing what was happening or when), the visit was smoothly run and tremendously enlightening. We were re-minded of something which each of us knew, but had somehow forgotten -- that people are essentially apolitical. Having a strong distrust of Communism ingrained in ourselves, we had somehow assumed that the Poles would have a similar affection for it. This was not true - their love was for their country. And we were surprised at the number of them who expressed a strong affection for God.

One of the highlights of the trip was the visit with the Medical Academy Choir in Gdansk, where we exchanged songs and ideas.

Other highlights: the International Chorus Festival in The Hague (a local paper reported, "the choir marched in wearing colorful costumes, probably school uniforms" - chorus robes?!); singing on the USS Cascade, a destroyer tender anchored in the Naples harbor and eating American food for the first time in weeks; enjoying free time in Paris, Rome, Vienna, and Berlin; partaking of the magnificent scenery permeating much of the continent - one never quite comprehends America's isolation and comparative safety until he realizes that most European villages were built, with much extra effort, on the tops of hills for protection against invasion; visiting with and learning to appreciate missionaries and other workers for the Lord, many of whom have left their homes in order to serve Him better.

We pray that we, too, have served Him in our journey. We know that we have grown, that we have learned, that we have enjoyed. Perhaps we have also learned to love more and to feel closer to both friends and strangers - and maybe we have been reminded that our love demands that we share what we can with whom we can.
- Clifton Loyd Ganus, III
 
What Others Say:

YOUNG AMERICANS STOLE THE SHOW

"But the choir from Harding College in Arkansas stole the show. In spectacular costumes, probably college uniforms, a great number of young people marched militarily through •the hall up to the stage with the stars and stripes before them. They sang fantastically with an elan, a discipline, and a unity which one seldom comes across. Especially was Thompson's part 4 of the "Peaceable Kingdom" deeply impressive."
— Het Binnenhof, Den Haag, Holland

"In the first part of the program that moved in the zones of classical compositions, the chorus proved its smoothed-out technique. Suspended on seemingly unending breath was Carl Loewe's "Grant Us Thy Blessing"; outstanding manipulations of Piano-Forte swells pointed out "O Mon Ame" by H. Berlioz; like a threatening outcry of the masses raised "Howl Ye" by Randall Thompson. Startling was also the inward retainment for the spiritual character of the compositions, how different they also were in their statement.

The second part of the evening was devoted to the Spiritual. Soloists out of the rows of the chorus whose presentations took on professional character crowned the interesting selection (of songs). After the enthusiastic applause of the audience that even forced the chorus onto the stage a second time, the singers thanked them in their way: with a radiating "Halleluia" from Handel's "Messiah".
— Kleine Zeitung, Graz, Austria

It was an experience! For that which was presented I simply can find no words. The auditorium was filled with the voices of the chorus; but not only the room; for even now it is still being discussed by all. The singing, from the powerful forte to the soft pianissimo, pressed into every heart.
— Letter from an inmate in the Nurnberg Prison
 
"The chorus, formed of male and female voices, succeeds in creating a perfect balance of sound. The voices are young and pure, and the musicians are equally enthusiastic, sensitive, and deeply conscious of their "mission".

Their strength lies in singing of their Lord, singing of brotherly love... with an unequalled enthusiasm for com-municating. The chorus, showing surprising flexibility, is led by a most attentive conductor who is at the same time commanding and cordial, and who demands precise intonation and a literal accuracy characteristic of professional artists.

The choir displays a remarkably wide range of voices which the leader is able to use remarkably well, as he embel-lishes each interpretation with an amazing spirituality.
— Verviers Newspaper

EUROPEAN TOUR '71 PERSONNEL
Anderson, Rhydonia
Bagnetto, Becky
Beasley, Tommy
Bell, Rodney
Bell, Judy
Blucker, Karyn
Bryant, Debbie
Byrd, David
Campbell, Claudia
Canalas, Joan
Catterton, Holly
Cox, Pam
Crump, Beth
Curtis, Donna
Curtis, Larry
Dale, Donna
Davis, Betty
Davis, Chris
Davis, Kenneth, Jr.
Davis, Kenneth D.
Duke, Richard
Foxx, Brett
Ganus, Cliff
Ganus, Debbie
Gould, Catherine
Green, Kathy
Hall, Beth
Hopper, Jeff
Jones, Kaye
Key, Danette
Killgore, Doug
Lasater, Marceline
Lasater, Evelyn
Lasater, John
Lewey, Carol
Luke, David
Moon, Julia
Moore, Mona Lee
Munn, Hanaba
Murrie, Mike
Nunnally, John
Parham, Jon
Rhodes, Glenda
Rhodes, Dr. Jack
Rhodes, Keith
Richardson, Chuck
Richardson, Celia
Rikard, Dorlea
Rikard, Wilmer
Risinger, Amanda
Smelser, Danny
Stephenson, Roy
Stidham, Bruce
Taylor, Richard
Weaver, Bernice
Weaver, Thomas
Whittington, Floris
Wilmoth, Nancy
Wright, Donna
Walter, Erwin Stehr (Chauffeur)

European Tour '71 Itenerary
Date    City                    Contact

June  
5 Amsterdam, Netherlands Lon Jones
6 Utrecht, Netherlands Henk Kelfkens
7 Haarlem, Netherlands J. E. Krumrei
8 The Hague, Netherlands Lon Jones
9 Brussels, Belgium John Murphree
10 Verviers, Belgium Richard Wolfe
12 Paris, France Don Daugherty
15 Dijon, France 
16 Geneva, Switzerland Doyle Kee
17 Lausanne, Switzerland John Paul Hundley
18 Zurich, Switzerland Jack McKinney
19 Milano, Italy Fausto Salvoni
21 Torino, Italy Joe Gibbs
22 Genova, Italy Truman Scott
23 Pisa, Italy James Young
24 Rome, Italy Keith Robinson
28 Naples, Italy Glen Sargent
 USS Cascade 
29 Florence, Italy Harold Mobley

July  
2 Vicenza, Italy Kenneth Beard
3 Mestre, Italy Kenneth Beard
4 Klagenfurt, Austria Tom Watson
5 Graz, Austria Rex Earnhart
6 Zagreb, Yugoslavia David Gatewood
7 Budapest, Hungary 
9 Bratislavia, Czechoslovakia Gwynneth Curtis
10 Vienna, Austria Gwynneth Curtis
12 Prague, Czechoslovakia 
14 Wroclaw, Poland Almatur and the Choir
15 Krakow, Poland of the Medical Academy
16 Warsaw, Poland in Gdansk
19 Gdansk, Poland Same
20 Sopot, Poland Same
21 Berlin, Germany 
23 Bremen, Germany W. E. McDonough
25 Kassel, Germany CWO J. M. McBride
26 '- Nurnberg, Germany Jaro Schubert
27 Munich, Germany Franz Weiss
28 Salzburg, Austria Rudolf Rischer
29 Augsburg, Germany Joseph Achatz
30 Karlsruge, Germany H. Glen Boyd
31 Heidelberg, Germany H. Glen Boyd

August  
1 Frankfurt, Germany Billy Moore
2 German Youth Camp Irene Johnson
3 Cologne, Germany Jack Nadeau
4 Dusseldorf, Germany Lloyd Collier
5 Brussels, Belgium 
6 Amsterdam, Netherlands