SHAMOKIN - History of the American Civil War and its songs, dialogues and legends will come alive Sunday when the Anthracite Choraliers present their 35th annual spring concert at 2:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Northumberland County Career and Arts Center, 2 E. Arch St.
The special patriotic tribute to those who fought with the Union and Confederacy during the "War between the States" will climax the concert by the 50-member chorus under the direction of Rob Ensinger, widely known instrumentalist and director of a number of high school musicals during recent years.
"This is something that we're sure music lovers as well as historians, students and others in this area will appreciate and wouldn't want to miss," organizers said. "It is a choral suite of activity behind the scenes of the conflict that still stirs fervor and passion in the hearts of all Americans whether they are from the North or the South."
Entitled "The Blue and The Gray," the 25-minute choral suite captures all the drama, emotion and history of the Civil War that broke out 150 years ago on April 12, 1861, and lasted until April 9, 1865. The choral suite is written in a readers' theater-type style adapted to a variety of singing options with strongly evocative narration, integrated with compelling arrangements of music to re-enact and illustrate real concepts and events of the time.
Among the songs by individuals and the chorus are "The Battle Cry of Freedom," "Tramp, Tramp, Tramp," "Goober Peas," "Johnny has Gone for a Soldier," "The Cruel War is Raging," "Tenting on the Old Campground," "The Blue Tail Fly" ("Jimmy Crack Corn") "Oh! Susanna," "Good News," "Shenandoah," "When Johnny Comes Marching Home," and "Battle Hymn of the Republic."
Many individual members of the chorus will serve as orators and some are cast in roles representative of those who served and other dignitaries of the era including President Abraham Lincoln. A portion of the choral suite is dedicated to Lincoln's memorable Gettysburg address, a rendition of which will be given by David Kopitsky.
The spring concert will also include other choral and solo selections. The opening number will be "Another Op'nin', Another Show" from the Broadway musical "Kiss Me, Kate." Other selections are: "In Christ Alone," "Shine, Jesus, Shine," "Here's That Rainy Day," "Shout to the Lord," and a special presentation by men of the chorus entitled, "Turn Around, Look at Me."
Specialty numbers will be presented by Bob Zedanowich singing "Beautiful Dreamer" and David Kopitsky and Mary Hollingshead singing a duet entitled "I Got You Babe." Carol Ellis will sing a specialty number titled "The Little House Appalachian Lullaby" during intermission.
The spring concert is one of two traditional choral programs held each year, since 1976, by the Choraliers, whose representation includes singers of all ages from every community in the region. Three trained musicians direct the chorus on an alternate basis for concerts in the spring and during the Christmas holiday season. In addition to Ensinger, other directors are Nan Weller and Phyllis Bressler, both of whom are retired music educators in the Shamokin Shamokin Area School District. Bonny Klinger, also a retired Shamokin Area music educator, is accompanist.
"The Blue and Gray" choral suite is in keeping with a tradition to present a patriotic rendition of a sort each spring concert because the chorus was founded in 1976 to provide entertainment during the Shamokin Area's observance of America's Bi-centennial," organizers said.
Tickets are available from any member of the chorus or at the door on the afternoon of the concert.
Members of the chorus are:
Soprano: Pat Albright, Carol Ellis, Chris Hastings, Mary Hollingshead, Kelly Jones, Marlene Kaseman, Valentine Mountjoy, Norma Moyer, Helen Jane Murphy, Ann Nowaskie, Judy Pensyl, Angela Pitt, Pat Romanoski, Grace Shaffer, Sherri Shebelsky, Amber Shinskie, Susan Shoop, Grace Stank, Darlis Tasker, and Clara Weikel.
Alto: Chris Backes, Amanda Dreher, Mary Alice Garrity, Maxine Harvey, Carole Kaseman, Tiffany Kaseman, Pat Klemick, Linda Latsha, Ruth Paul, Martha Jane Scholl, Virginia Sinclair, Carolyn Weaver, Nan Weller, Gail Whitely and Mary Wydra.
Tenor: Harry Deitz, Morris Gard, Jim Johnson, Dave Kopitsky and Bob Zedanowich.
Bass: Scott Anderson, Bob Kline, Ken Mertz, Jake Ozga and Dan Schwalm.