The Southern

Crescent Chorale will present its final program of its inaugural season

this Sunday, May 18, at 4 p.m. at the Sams Auditorium.

A major part

of the program will be the "Testament of Freedom," a choral

piece based on actual texts written by Thomas Jefferson. The music was

created in 1943 by American composer Randall Thompson in celebration of

the 200th anniversary of the former president's birth.

Structured

from four testaments written by Jefferson, the work declares the concepts

of life and liberty. He wrote two of the selected texts merely days after

the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in an effort to convince

the world of the inevitability of war with England.

The Southern

Crescent Chorale is made up of 60 selected voices from the Southern Crescent

counties. Two members travel from Roswell and Smyrna. Its inaugural concert

was last November, and it has joined with area orchestras in several concerts

in surrounding counties, such as the Tara Winds and the Southern Crescent

Symphony.

Chorale director,

Janice Folsom, said that a professional orchestra composed of 38 musicians

will also join with them for the concert. In addition to the "Testament

of Freedom," other selections to be heard are the "Battle Hymn

of the Republic," "American the Beautiful," "Prayer

of St. Francis of Assisi" and "Song of Peace." Patriotic

readings will be given by Dr. Ferrol Sams Jr., and Kenneth Koon.

The tickets

are $10 for adults and $8 or seniors. They can be purchased a By Invitation

Only, located on the Square in Fayetteville. Those interested in auditioning

for the chorale, can call 770-716-1231 for appointment times on May 27,

May 31, and June 2, 3, and 5.