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Show niMti i v " , vjf V Composer Wins Plaudits v "f .if' V J iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinminiiniiniiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii -- r. 'N By HAROLD LUNDSJROM Church musicians, The activities at two Crawford M, Gates, music director and conductor of the Beloit Symphony Orchestra, and Lowell M. Durham, composer member of the University of Utah lusic Department faculty, have recently received jcolumns of ' newspaper attention in the Middle West. Through Dr. Gates' recommendation to the Beloit Symphony Board, Dr. Durham was commissioned to compose his new work, Lyric Folkscape. And it was presented at the opening concert of the Beloit Symphony , season. In his long review of this concert, Ray C. Wentworth, music critic of the Beloit Daily News, wrote: "A world premiere in Beloit? Yes. and the premiere of a very pleasing piece of music, Lyric Folkscape. One of us was heard to say, T found it stirring. Most of us di The composition Would not have been out of place as sound track music. Nothing derogatory is Intended some ef the best and most typically American here music being written today is done for the sound tracks of motion pictures. Also for the sound tracks of television, for that matter, as witness, Menottis Amahl. Anyway, Lyric Folkscape turned out to be a thoroughly American blending of folkish themes, using an extensive arsenal of instruments, sounds and techniques, bold in its use of conflict in keys and melodies and dewell-know- n lightfully romantic. Indeed, H seemed a programming triumph to place Folkscape on the same program as the great Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 6 (Pathetique), with a harpsichord concert sandwiched between. It was a pleasure for all of us to be able to applaud the Folkscape composer, Lowell M. Durham. We are glad he was present, and that he gave us the chance to show our appreciation. The program notes said : The Lyric Folkscape was commissioned by the Beloit Symphony Orchestra for the opening pair of concerts of its 14th Season. (Beloit and Clinton, Wisconsin). It is in the form of a potpourri overture in which six folk and folk-lik- e tunes are unfolded in rich and varied harmonic and orchestral dress. The occasional simultaneous sounding of these and in tne finale their polytonal pyramiding suggest a gay American spirit not entirely removed from the musical worlds of Charles Ives and Aaron Copland. The tunes selected were those familiar to Dr. Durhams childhood in rural Utah, and include Lily Dale, which opens and closes the work, Handcart Song, Upper California, On the Way to Califomy, Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief, and Fosters Camptown Races. In his letter that included a shepf of newspaper clippings about Dr. Durham, the composition, and the reviews, Dr. Gates wrote: In subsequent years. I hope an opportunity seems appropriate toaprform works by other Utahns, including, of couAe.Vr. Leroy J. Robertson (his Passacaglia, next year hopofully), Joseph Raymond, Richard Dlcksen and Merrill Bradshaw, among others. Dr. Gates interest in and services in behalf of Utah and Church composers is, indeed," a commendable one. Nephi, the prophet, played by Craig Costello, comforts Esther his wife (Frankie Fox) and Ashna his daughter (Sally Ogden) after the wicked chief judge Lachoneus has condemned them to death for their belief in the appearance of the sign of Christ's bfcth in "A Day, A Night and a Day." Work Of BYU Playwright Opens Season On Campus A play written by a Brigham Young University student opened the season for the Philip Margetts Arena Theater Oct. 19. It was to run until Oct. 28. The play A Day, A Night and A was written by Douglas C. Day, Stewart and is being directed by Dr. Charles Whitman of the BYU Speech and Dramatic Arts Department. It deals with the events surrounding the signs of the Saviors birth as told in The Book of Mormon. Playing the lead role of Nephi was Craig Costello, a junior speech and drama major from Gardena, Calif. Esther, Nephis wife, was played by Frankie Fox, a junior drama major from San Rafael, Calif. J. V. Williams, who was seen last season as Essex in Elizabeth the Queen, took the part of Lachoneus, the chief judge. Also included in the cast were John Shepherd, Tamara Fowler, Norman BirdsaH, Ogden, Brent Pickering and John Earle. No book has influenced me more than the Book of Mormon, said the playwright, and this play has grown out of my fascination with this period. It began as an exercise in a playwriting class, and was developed with the help and encouragement of Dr. Whitman, who, teaches the class. This is the finest orginal script I have ever read, he said. And Doug has more potential than any playwright I know who is writing about this period. He added that the play presents history in an exciting, clear and undistorted way. The playwright, who is from Las Vegas, Nev., is the only son in a family with six daughters. He served a mission for the Church to Great Britain, from 1961 to 1963. Presently he is occupied with writing his masters thesis and working on a new play. Sally Many religious plays are bard from an actors point of view. However, enthusiastic members of the cast have expressed their delight with being associated with this play. This would be exciting evefi to a asserted audience, n one. According to Dr. Whitman, the play has a poetic quality and majesty of language although it is not written in verse. It also has an objective quality, he added. The vil- lains are not all bad but instead are quite believable. Pari of a playwright's success in having his first play produced is his willingness to listen and learn, statA playwright ed Dr. Whitman. should know theater from a ti'catri-cian- s point of view, or e.se be adaptable and open for sugges'iens from someone who does know about theater. Doug has been adaptable and eager to learn from this expet , New Bishoprics Choir CBS Program SUNDAY, OCT. Jttb 1993rd Broadcast Directed bv Rldwd P. Condi. fh Cboir will sirQ: "The Wind and Lyrt" by Rooers- "O Como, O Como, Emmanuel" Arr. Christiansen "Blow Yt tho Trumpet In Zion" bv Jackson "God of Our Fathers" bv Warren Robert Cundkfc wMI play ee organ solos: "Arioso" by Cundldc "Come, Yt Disconsolate" bv Webbe SUNDAY, NOV. 5tH 199tb Broadcast Directed P. Condle, by Richard choir will sing: "Psalm ISO" by Don McAfee "The Peace and Hoty Silence" by the "Early One MornintF Arr. Whitehead "The cord Is My Shepherd" by Koschat "Sing Praise to Him" Anon. Robert Cundicfc will ptay as organ "Fanfare and Gothic March" bv Wait! "Jesus, My Savior True" by HvfcA New Stake Presidencies Are Called Ward, Young Durango Stake, Colo. : Bishop Cecil R. Mickelson. John W. Powell, Alfred R. Hamelin. Paisley Ward, Glasgow Scotland: Bishop McKelvie Rae, Wil- Stake, David liam N. Rudd, Andrew Car-ruther- Orchard 2nd Ward, South Davis Stake, Utah: Bishop Clarkson, Victor George John H. Bangerter, Ardell H. Jenkins. Sycracuse Ward, Cumorah Stake, N.Y.: Bishop Gerald M. Simmerman, Laurence M. Jameson, Viljar TeemanL Continued From Page 5 tive in Church work in Idaho, Oregon, Washington and Montana as his work as an executive of the Boy Scouts took him about the country. He was Elders. Quorum president and Sunday School superintendent in Idaho, branch and district president in Oregon for the Northwestern States Mission and a member of the Spokane Stake High Council before going to Missoula. The Burnhams are the parents of four children. Pres. Andersen and his wife, Mary Ann, also are the parents of four children. They came to Missoula from - Ephrata, Washington, where he served as ward chorister, dance director and Elders Quorum president. After serving as MIA su- perintendent and Six years as coun- New Missoula, Mont., presidency, are (I. to r.) Gerald Burnham, Wes;' Merlyn Lofgren, and Dale H. Andersen. selor and bishop in Missoula II Ward, be was called to the stake presidency. Pres. Andersen Is ' building fcontractor. WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 28, 1967 CHURCH-- 15 a r |