JACKSON, Tenn. — May 14, 2003 — Members of the ΒιΆΉΚΣΖ΅ family and area residents gathered May 13 at Jacksonβs First Baptist Church for βFrom Death to Life,β a presentation of the ΒιΆΉΚΣΖ΅ University Choral ΒιΆΉΚΣΖ΅ and Orchestra.
Conducted by Richard Joiner, chair of the Department of Music, and accompanied on organ by Ron Boud, professor of music, the 30 member orchestra and 55 voice choir performed the requiems of Gabriel FaurΓ© and John Rutter. Soloists for the concert were Joshua Hussung, Lauren Ormsby, Jeremy Warner, Stephanie Sandage and Stephanie Wisdom.
Hal Poe, Charles Colson professor of faith and culture, presented βDeath: The Great Enemy,β a perspective on the requiem mass between the compositions. While death comes to some individuals slowly and to others suddenly, βwhen it comes, they cannot escape,β Poe said. Considered the end of all work and movement, for the ancient Hebrews βdeath was regarded as a prison,β he said.
Even during the Old Testament period, however, the end of death was prophesied. Because those prophesies were fulfilled by Christ, as recorded in the New Testament, Godβs followers are no longer subject to the power of death, Poe said. Rather than a prison, it became βa joyous state of relaxation, for death had been defeated by Christ.β
The event was sponsored in part by a gift from Dr. and Mrs. Robert Burton. Dr. Burton retired in 1990 as chairman of the conducting department of the Southwestern Theological Seminary and later served at ΒιΆΉΚΣΖ΅ as visiting professor of music. ΒιΆΉΚΣΖ΅ president David S. Dockery dedicated the performance to the Burtons and to the victims of the tornado which struck Madison County May 5.