Spring Oratorio at Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church

The Oratorio Choir of the  Basking Ridge will present a program of gospel music and African-American spirituals at 4 p.m. next Sunday, March 25, in the sanctuary of the church at 1 East Oak St.

Soloists for the Gospel Mass will be mezzo-soprano Nancy Nelson DiSisto from Bernardsville and tenor LaFrederick Coaxner from New York City. Nelson DiSisto, a member of the choir, is also a well known jazz singer in the area. Coaxner, a classically trained tenor, sings with the Harlem Jubilee Singers.

"The community is invited to share in this joyful event," according to a church announcement for the event. No tickets are needed, but a free-will offering will be accepted.

Child care for pre-school children is available. There will be a reception following the service, the announcement said.

The featured work will be Robert Ray’s "Gospel Mass." This work was composed in 1978 and has since become a part of the standard choral repertoire. The composer said of his piece: "It is my desire to combine centuries of old traditions of Mass settings with sounds of the contemporary black church. I wanted everyone to experience the sense of joy and celebration that is generally felt in true African-American worship."

Other music in the program will include “Somebody’s Prayin',” featuring soprano Beth Donley of Bernardsville; “City Called Heaven,” with soprano Melinda Porter of Chester as the soloist; “My God is a Rock,” featuring bass soloist Butch Cooper of Basking Ridge; and “Balm in Gilead,” with Jeanne Poehner, a soprano from Bernardsville, as the soloist.

The Knox Bell Choir under the direction of Linda Langstaff also will play two arrangements of  African American Spirituals, “By and By,” and “The Journey.”