University Fast Links Academic Affairs Academic Calendar Academic Community Engagement (ACE) Accepted Students Admissions (Undergraduate) Admissions (Graduate) Admission Requirements Analytical Laboratory Advising (Medical/Dental Related) Advising (SAM Center) Agricultural Sciences Alumni Association Alcohol and Drug Abuse Initiative Application for Admission Army ROTC - Military Science Athletics Banner Banking Bearkat Camp Bearkat Express Payment Bearkat OneCard Bearkat Transfer Scholarship Blackboard Blinn College Transfers Bookstore Books & Supplies Budget Office Bursar's Office Business Administration Calendars Campus Map Career Services Catalogs Class Schedule Computer Account Creation Computer Labs Continuing Education Controller's Office Correspondence Course Division Counseling Center Criminal Justice Current Students DARS (Degree Audit Reporting System) Dean of Students' Office Departments Department of Dance Dining Services Directory Education Educator Preparation Services Emergency Management Employment Opportunities English Language Institute Enrollment Management Environmental, Health and Safety Office Exchange Mail Facilities Space Management Faculty Senate Faculty/Staff Directory Final Exam Schedule Finance and Operations Financial Aid Fine Arts and Mass Communication First-Year Experience General Information Graduate Studies Great Names Honors College Homecoming Human Resources Humanities and Social Sciences IT@Sam IT@Sam Service Desk Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee (IACUC) Institutional Effectiveness Internal Grant Program Institutional Review Board (IRB) International Programs Joint Admission Students KatFacts Library (NGL) Lone Star College Transfers Lowman Student Center Map - Campus Medical & Allied Health Programs McNair Program Military Science Mobile Go Center Music Music Marching Band Music Choir News Nursing Office of Business Services Office of the President Online Information Request Organization Chart Orientation - New Student PACE Parking Payroll Office Physical Plant Procurement and Business Services Procurement Opportunities Project Connect Property Prospective Students Quality Enhancement Plan Reading Center Recreational Sports Registration Registrar's Office Research and Sponsored Programs Residence Life Risk Management Sam Shuttle SACS Reaffirmation Sam Houston Memorial Museum SamMenu (Download) SamWeb Sciences Services for Students with Disabilities Schedule of Classes Scholarships Spirit Programs Staff Council Student Activities Student Government Association Student Health Center Student Legal Services Student Money Management Center Student Services Student Services Calendar Summer Camps Technology Tutorials Testing Center Theatre and Dance Today@Sam Tour the University Transcripts Transfer Equivalency Guide Transfer Students TRIES University Advancement University Center University Hotel University Park - Northwest Houston Campus University Police Department Veterans Visitor & Alumni Center The Woodlands Center Writing Center

News

Top-notch Choruses join for Brahms' Ein Deutsches Requiem

SHSU flagship's choir, Chorale, joined with Rice University's Shepherd School Symphony Orchestra, the Rice University Chorale, and Houston Masterworks Chorus to perform Brahms' A German Requiem on Friday, April 20 in the Stude Concert Hall.

"This was great honor to work with musicians of this caliber and specifically, on this piece," said SHSU Director of Choirs, James Franklin. "For most choral conductors, Brahms' A German Requiem is one of the top five pieces in the repertoire, it's an extraordinary work."

Brahms' A German Requiem contains seven movements, which performed together, is roughly seventy minutes in length.

"It's a very challenging and demanding work," noted Franklin. "It requires large vocal forces to perform the work correctly. 220 singers will combine for this performance." Of that, forty will be SHSU Chorale singers.

Franklin rehearsed regularly with the Chorale on the SHSU campus and rehearsed as a complete group at Rice University only three times prior to the main performance.

"You trust each other; trust that everyone has learned the music well," said Franklin. "We've been extended that trust, I think, because of the reputation of the SHSU Choral Program, our history of excellence and the quality of our product."

The SHSU Chorale is composed of mostly upper-lever music majors and a few non-majors. They have earned a national reputation performing at Choral conventions both nationally and on the state level.

But that doesn't mean there were not challenges.

"The language was a challenge for most singers as the piece is in German," explained Franklin. "But they also had to be able to sing over the orchestra for long periods of time. Where in most major works there are five or six minute breaks during a vocal solo or quartet, in this work the choir is singing in every movement. Additionally the vocal ranges are very high."

But Franklin relished the challenges and was thrilled that the singers rose to the occasion.

"It's a very rewarding piece," exclaimed Franklin. "And we were very confident as we approached it. Orchestral director Larry Rachleff invited us back to collaborate on Mahler Symphony no. 2 next year.

The Sam Houston State University Chorale performed with Rice University's Shepherd School Symphony Orchestra, Rice Chorale and Houston Masterworks Chorus on Friday, April 20 at 8 PM at Rice University's Stude Hall.