Bowling Green State University Men's Chorus

The BGSU Men's Chorus is an auditioned large singing ensemble that is open to all male students at Bowling Green State University. Their motto and reputation as being "America's Finest Singing Machine" is well deserved, having a tradition of over 30 years of excellence. The chorus goes on 2 tours each year, once during Fall semester, and once during Spring semester. The fall tour goes to locations in Ohio and Michigan, singing at high schools during the day, and various venues in the evenings; the spring tour goes to a different location each year. In the past few spring semesters, the Men's Chorus has gone to Colorado, Florida, New York City, and Toronto.

The BGSU Men's Chorus has enjoyed a long-standing relationship with barbershop singing thanks to former director Richard (R.D.) Mathey. Barbershop music is said to be one of the few truly American musical styles in existence, and many current and former Men's Chorus members have made names for themselves in the field of barbershop singing. The Barbershop Harmony Society (formerly SPEBSQSA) International champion quartets The Rapscallions (1984), Interstate Rivals (1987), Acoustix (1990), The Ritz (1991), Marquis (1995), Yesteryear (1997), and Platinum (2000) have all featured former Men's Chorus members. In the college competition, the BGMC has produced 3 of the 11 collegiate quartet champions. Since 1992, The Real Deal (1994), Stop The Presses (1995), and Catfish Bend (2002) have all been crown champions in the college division. There are also several quartets currently competing in Society contests with BGMC alumni in them. Among them are Uptown Sound (2002 International Silver Medalists), Hot Air Buffoons, Hot Topic, Catfish Bend, and Max Q (2004 International Silver Medalists).

Reconciliation

The Last Words of David - Randall Thompson Behold Man - Ron Nelson Ave Maria - Franz Biebl I Sought the Lord - Michael Cox Sanctus - Charles Gounod I'm Build' Me a Home - Uzee Brown Jr. God Is My Rock - Glad Prayer of the Children - Kurt Bestor Laudamus - William Owen & Daniel Protheroe O Vos Omnes - Pablo Casals The Fear of the Lord - Michael Cox The Highwayman - Timothy Takach In Taberna from Carmina Burana - Carl Orff Reconciliation - Stephen Chatman Kang-Ting Love Song - James Marvin Dulaman - Michael McGlynn Dirait-on - Morten Lauridsen When I was 1-and-20 from Songs of a Young Man - Richard Nance Loveliest of Trees from Songs of a Young Man - Richard Nance Touching Shoulders - Michael Cox Brothers Sing On - Edvard Grieg

The Men's Chorus, open to students from all majors at BGSU, has a motto and a well-deserved reputation as being "America's Finest Singing Machine." Founded in 1923, the BGSU Men's Glee Club began touring Ohio, sang as far away as Chicago and Niagara Falls, and was doing very well until World War II pulled most of its singers away. Reuniting again after the war, the group contained only 15 members when it disbanded in 1953. Beginning again under the baton of Prof. Richard D. Mathey in 1971, the group grew into the active, touring group it is today. After 29 great years, Mathey retired and passed off the leadership of the ensemble to Dr. William Skoog in 2000, under whose direction the group is thriving today, with a membership of over 100 talented men. There are 21 tracks on "Reconciliation," with some lovely, powerful spiritual songs like Randall Thompson's "The Last Words of David," Michael Cox' "I Sought the Lord" and "The Fear of the Lord," Charles Gounod's "Sanctus," Uzee Brown Jr.'s spiritual "I'm Building Me a Home," Glad's "God is My Rock;" popular and folk tunes like Timothy Takach's "The Highwayman," the Irish folk song "Dulaman," Richard Nance's "When I was 1-and-20" and "Loveliest of Trees" from "Songs of a Young Man;" and the title tune, a moving, trumpet-accompanied anti-war requiem. There is some light accompaniment on several of these cuts, but the voices and the effortless, soaring harmonies are the focus and beauty of this wonderful ensemble.

Listen to "God Is My Rock" in Real Audio.

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