Chants Meeting

Talk about an understatement. According to Morgan, the first half of the show focuses on chants that spring from the familiar Gregorian tradition. But he points out that the program also includes "a soloist doing a Hebrew chant, a soloist doing an Armenian chant" and other examples of what he calls "the world-chant tradition." He's particularly excited about offerings featuring the sarod, a stringed lute from India, plus African and Australian pieces "that are more related to indigenous chant traditions on those continents." It's likely that such melodies date back more than a thousand years, while the most recent compositions were penned during the '90s — a span that underscores chanting's enduring qualities. "It's such an integral part of so many sacred traditions," Morgan says, "and we're not really favoring one over another in this concert."

The show begins at 7:30 p.m. at St. John's Episcopal Church, 1419 Pine Street in Boulder, with another performance on Saturday at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church, 1060 St. Francis Way in Denver. Tickets are $20 for adults, $16 for seniors and $12 for students. Get info at 303-499-3165 or www.arsnovasingers.org.
Fri., April 4, 7:30 p.m., 2008