C-N’s A Cappella Choir Releases Three CDs

Carson-Newman’s A Cappella Choir has recently released three compact discs that capture several iterations of the group over the last decade. Produced by Dr. Eric Thorson, who directs the College’s choral activities program, the collection offers more than three hours of music presented during the choir’s annual spring concerts.

“These CDs offer things that were presented over the last 10 years of A Cappella,” said the professor. “We record every home concert which we perform each spring shortly after our annual tour. All of the pieces were part of concerts at First Baptist Church of Jefferson City, and I selected the best out of those for these compilations.”

The discs are Live in Concert, Hymns of Faith and Sempre Voce.

“Live in Concert is just that, like you’d normally hear from A Cappella. It starts out with a fanfare, … goes through standard choral literature – anthems, contemporary pieces and spirituals,” explained Thorson.

It ends with “The Lord Bless You and Keep You,” which has been the traditional conclusion of A Cappella concerts since at least the 1940s.

Hymns of Faith spans more than 150 years of composition, from Felix Mendelssohn’s “Lass, O Herr, Mich Hulfe Finden” to Joseph Martin’s “If My People.”

“And Sempre Voce is just that, all unaccompanied pieces,” he said.

As part of the process, Thorson listens to each recording and selects the best offerings in terms of musicality, tone and production. He knows the amount of time it takes can create some anxiety on the part of his alumni.

“Some have been a little upset with me because I haven’t come out with one for a while, and now I have come out with three at one time,” he smiled. “I hope that when they hear the quality of the final product they’ll be okay with how long it took.”

Thorson said the discs ($15 each or $40 for the set) will be promoted through www.acappellaalumni.com beginning next week. Until then, those interested should contact him at [email protected] or call 865-471-3328.