by Jack Weston

Special to The Pilot

The Duke University Chorale, conducted by Rodney Wynkoop, and accompanied by Mary Hamilton, will make its annual visit to The Village Chapel in Pinehurst Sunday, Nov. 6, at 4 p.m.

This will be Wynkoop's 27th appearance with this choral group. There is a $5 admission charge per person at the front door of the Chapel.

The choir will open its program with a "Cheerful Note" by Handel, the perform a piece by Eric Nelson titled "Music, When Soft Voices Die."

Almost 1,300 residents of the Sandhills were privileged last week to hear many wonderful choral groups conducted by internationally-known composer, Eric Whitacre. Erin Plisco, director of choral music at the Pinecrest High School has received numerous kudos from many musicians in the area for bringing this outstanding composer/conductor here. Her high school mixed choir received high praise and a heartfelt commendation from Whitacre.

"If you did not hear that concert, you will be enthralled that Dr. Wynkoop has included many of Mr. Whitacre's compositions in his program," says a spokesman.

They include "Go, Lovely Rose," "A Boy and a Girl," "Lux Aurumque," and "The Panther, The Cow and The Firefly."

Also included in this program are William Byrd's "I Thought That Love Had Been A Boy," followed by Banchieri's "The Animals Improvise Counterpoint," and Ralph Vaughan Williams' "The Turtle Dove."

After a 14-minute intermission, the audience will begin the second half of the program listening to the blended voices of the auditioned Chamber Choir. They will sing three selections: "The Cricket," by Josquin des Pres; "The Evening Primrose," by another one of England's well-known composers, Benjamin Britten; finishing with the contemporary composer Gyorgy Orban's "Daemon Irrepit Callidus."

Then the full chorale will sing a rendition of Aguitar's "Salmo (Psalm) 150."

An Italian chorus from Mozart's opera "Idomeno," a soothing choral sound called "Past Life Melodies" by Sarah Hopkins; and a spiritual arranged by Jester Hairston called "Elijah Rock" will bring the concert to a close.

After an encore and the chorale singing the Duke alma mater, the chorale will board their bus to finish their busy day at the newly built Grand Hall at Penick Village. After dinner, the chorale will sing approximately 30 minutes of their concert for the residents of Penick.

"The Village Chapel is happy to bring this marvelous choral group to the people of the Sandhills," says a spokesman. "Please plan to attend and bring a friend."