BlackHillsToGo.com: Dakota Choral Union kicks off fall season with 'Frost in Autumn' [Spirituals arranged by late Moses Hogan]

Moses George Hogan (1957-2003)

www.moseshogan.com

The Dakota Choral Union will perform their concert "A Frost in Autumn" this weekend at the Performing Arts Center of Rapid City.

BlackHillsToGo.com

Max B. O'Connell, Journal Staff

A frost is coming to Rapid City this weekend, but unless the weather man says otherwise, it's not the cold kind.

Dakota Choral Union will present their "Frost in Autumn" program Saturday at the Performing Arts Center of Rapid City.

The event will be the kickoff of the Dakota Choral Union's fall season, and will focus on Robert Frost poems set to music. 

"We'll do that along with a series of spirituals and guest performers," said Dr. Charles Canaan, artistic director and conductor of the DCU. "We're excited because it's great poetry, and it fits with the music rather well."

Canaan said that the guest performers include the women's a capella group Bella Voce, the choral ensemble Kanterie, and the All-State Choir from Central High School and Stevens High School in Rapid City.

"Bella Voce will perform a number of spirituals by Moses Hogan," Canaan said. "He was an up-and-coming black composer and arranger who died suddenly at 45. He promoted the use of black spirituals in choral music, so we decided to try some of his pieces."