Department of Music presents the Ringers in concert April 28

April 11, 2008 -- The Arkansas State University Ringers, a handbell choir directed by Dr. M. Ellis Julien, professor of music, will present their annual spring concert. This year’s presentation, “In His Footsteps: Reflections on the Passion of Christ” will be held in Riceland Hall, Fowler Center, 201 Olympic Drive, on Monday, April 28, at 7:30 p.m. The choir will be ringing five octaves of Schulmerich handbells and five octaves of Malmark handchimes. The public is cordially invited to attend, and there is no charge for admission.

Established in 1985, the ASU Ringers is a small ensemble open to members of the student body as well as to members of the faculty and the community.  Although most of the students are music majors, several other academic majors are also represented.

Over the past twelve years, the Ringers have toured throughout the state of Arkansas and have presented concerts in Alabama, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, and Texas. This spring, in addition to the annual spring concert, “In His Footsteps: Reflections on the Passion of Christ,” the Ringers have presented concerts at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Urbana, Ill.; Trinity United Methodist Church in Grand Rapids, Mi.; Third Reformed Church in Holland, Mi.; and in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church near the campus of Notre Dame University in South Bend, Ind. In late April they will also be participating in the Spring Ring, an annual Handbell Festival in Fayetteville, where they will be featured as a solo ensemble.

The program is designed to trace the events of Holy Week from the triumphal procession into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, through the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. Arrangements of traditional hymn tunes as well as music composed specifically for handbell ensembles will be featured. The program will include “Regal Procession” by Douglas Wagner; “Meditation on ‘Beautiful Savior,’” arranged by Cathy Moklebust; “Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley”, arranged by Bill Wieszczek; “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”, a transcription of Joel Raney’s piano version of Lowell Mason’s traditional hymn by Arnold Sherman; “Elegy”, by William Payn; “Nocturne in C Minor” by Michael Helman; “Morning,” a transcription of the familiar movement from Edward Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite by Arnold Sherman; “All Creatures of Our God and King”, a setting by Cynthia Dobrinski of the 17^th-century Easter hymn tune “Lasst Uns Erfreuen”; “Bwana Asifiwe!” (Swahili for “Praise the Lord”), arranged by Cathy Moklebust; “Carillon” by Dean Wagner; and several other appropriate selections.
           
Members of the choir include: Andrew Bleignier of Jonesboro, Mylie Brown of Walnut Ridge, Jake Davis of Piggott, Dr. David Gilmore of Jonesboro, Ashley Hall of Jonesboro, Jennifer Hall of Tyronza, Ben Light of West Ridge, Jonathan Monroe of Jonesboro, Justin Register of Huntsville, Ala., Jenny Shell of Evansville, Ind., Rachel Smith of Benton, Sarah Stevens of Corning, Jon Stevenson of North Little Rock, Jonathan Trail of Paragould, and John Yerger of Jonesboro.

For more information, contact ASU’s Department of Music at (870) 972-2094.

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