Wichita State University’s Concert Chorale with guests, the Maize High School Women’s and Select Choirs, will present a varied concert of fine choral music at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 23, in Wiedemann Recital Hall.

Concert Chorale will perform choral works by two of the greatest composers of Great Britain. The concert opens with a scene for chorus from the opera “The Libertine” by Henry Purcell. The chorale will then perform Benjamin Britten's poignant “Rejoice in the Lamb,” for organ, chorus and soloists.

Julie Warkentin, a Wichita area musician who received her master's degree in organ performance from WSU, will play the virtuoso organ part. Vocal soloists include Concert Chorale members Abby Whittle, Krystal Nelson, Brian Yeakley and Kyle Wheatley.

Benjamin Britten composed “Rejoice in the Lamb” in response to a commission from a church in Northampton. The poetry is by the disturbed, yet brilliant Christopher Smart, an 18th-century writer who wrote the poem while confined to an asylum. Smart's eccentric view creates a world where God is present in all things, be it a mouse, flowers, musical instruments or letters of the alphabet. There are also autobiographical references to Smart's asylum torments.

Britten's incredible sensitivity to Smart's text is reflected in his music. The work is in 10 short and highly contrasting sections. The music succeeds in moving performer and listener alike with its power, beauty and simplicity.

The Maize High School choirs, directed by Doris Gering Prater, have been selected by competitive audition to appear at the upcoming In-Service Workshop of the Kansas Music Educators Association.

At WSU the choirs will showcase several of the works that they will sing at KMEA, including “O Nata Lux” by Morten Lauridsen, “Out of the Orient Crystal Skies” by Richard Zgodava, and “Magnificat” by Randall Stroope.

Other works to be performed include works by Clara Schumann, Tom Council, Gwyneth Walker, Rene Clausen, Eleanor Daley, Moses Hogan and Paul Halley.