♪ Ba doo da, you da ♪ Ba doo da da ♪ So you wanna play with magic ♪ I can be handy mending a fuse ♪ ♪ When your lights have gone ♪ Do, do, do, do, do ♪ Singing this song with you ♪ This song with you ♪ We'll be counting stars - Welcome to the studio at WTVP PBS.

I'm Michael Eckhardt, Chief Development and Engagement Officer, and joining me to introduce this next program is our CEO, Jenn Gordon.

- The art scene here in central Illinois is incredible, and when you can't make it out to your favorite local venue, it's our privilege to bring great local performances to you.

Tonight, we're thrilled to bring you a special "Acapella Showcase" filmed right here in our studio at WTVP.

- The program features the vocal ensembles of Illinois Central College singing a fascinating selection of wide ranging styles and songs.

These groups of talented young people are led by directors Julie Clemens and Ron Kiesewetter.

- As always, programs like this one are possible because of viewers like you.

Thank you for your support.

Now sit back and enjoy "Acapella Showcase" featuring the vocal ensembles of Illinois Central College.

♪ My spirit sang all day ♪ Oh my joy ♪ Nothing my tongue could say ♪ Only my joy ♪ My heart an echo caught ♪ Oh my joy ♪ And spake ♪ Tell me thy thought ♪ Hide not thy joy ♪ My eyes gan peer around ♪ Oh my joy ♪ What beauty hast thou found ♪ Show us thy joy ♪ My jealous ears grew whist ♪ Oh my joy ♪ Music from heaven is ♪ Sent for our joy ♪ She also came and heard ♪ Oh my joy ♪ What, said she, is this word ♪ What is thy joy, what is thy joy ♪ ♪ And I replied ♪ Oh see, oh my joy ♪ 'Tis thee, I cried, 'tis thee ♪ ♪ Thou art my joy - Hi.

I'm Ron Kiesewetter, Director of the Illinois Central College Concert Choir.

You just heard "My Spirit Sang All Day" by Gerald Finzi, performed by members of the ICC Concert Choir.

This group is made up of students of all musical backgrounds and experiences.

What brings us together is a love of choral music, and the experience of working with others to express our creative and artistic perspectives.

The piece we just performed was written by the reclusive and introspective composer, Gerald Finzi, who was born in England in 1901.

He spent most of his life composing and attending concerts, lecturing, collecting music, and befriending the likes of Gustav Holtz, and Ray Von Williams.

His output includes orchestral and choral music, as well as many solo songs and essays.

He shows a brilliance in the way he sets words by finding the essence of the text without the need for over-embellishment.

Indeed, much of his vocal music is primarily set syllabically.

"My Spirit Sang All Day" is the third song in Seven Poems of Robert Bridges, finished after his marriage to Joyce Black, who had remained his constant source of inspiration and encouragement.

Though Seven Poems were completed after their marriage, it appears "My Spirit Sang All Day" was composed while the couple was still courting.

Finzi believed that no fine text, however difficult, was incapable of being set to music.

His greatest contribution to 20th century music resides in his sensitive response to the cadences of English language.

Next, members of the ICC Concert Choir will perform "Jubilate Deo" by Laszlo Halmos.

Halmos was a 20th century Hungarian composer and choir director for the Cathedral of Gyor, as well as a teacher at the State Conservatory, and Theological College.

"Sing joyfully to God, all the earth," is the work's central mood, setting three verses of Psalm 66, alternating between tenors and basses, and sopranos and altos in canon.

Halmos, in addition to composing choral and orchestral music, was a violinist, and an early member of the New Hungarian Quartet.

"Jubilate Deo" is best heard in a cathedral setting, so the musical lines may be enjoyed antiphonally.

Although we could not duplicate that setting in a sound studio, you are sure to hear the canon between the parts.

It is our pleasure to present "Jubilate Deo".

(choir singing in Latin) (choir continues singing in Latin) (choir continues singing in Latin) (choir continues singing in Latin) (choir continues singing in Latin) (choir continues singing in Latin) (choir continues singing in Latin) (choir continues singing in Latin) (choir continues singing in Latin) - Hello.

I'm Dr. Julie Clemens, and I am Professor and Chair of the Music Program at Illinois Central College.

The next song you will hear is titled "This Song for You" by Rosana Eckert.

Rosana Eckert is an artist, an arranger, and a composer out of University of North Texas, and this piece is an acapella arrangement for treble voices.

The Velvet Voices Treble Choir is a new ensemble at Illinois Central College, and we are thrilled to present "This Song for You".

The song you will hear will have a melody that is woven throughout all parts, soprano one, soprano two, alto one, and alto two.

Enjoy.

- One, two, a one, two.

♪ Ba do da you da ♪ Ba do da da ♪ Day and do it ♪ Do, do, do, do, do, do ♪ Do, do, do, ba doo ba ♪ Do, do, do, doo wa ♪ Do, do ♪ It's been so long since I've seen your face ♪ ♪ Do, do, do, do ♪ Do, do ♪ Or felt the joy of a warm embrace ♪ ♪ Do, do, do ♪ Ba doo ♪ I've been waiting for the sun to rise ♪ ♪ And pull my spirit through ♪ Now I'm by your side ♪ Singing this song with you ♪ This song with you ♪ I spend my days, I spend my days ♪ ♪ In a world unknown ♪ In a world I've never known ♪ A weary wheel down a cobblestone ♪ ♪ A cobblestone ♪ I was like a little honeybee ♪ With nothing left to do ♪ Now I'm by your side ♪ Singing this song with you ♪ Whoa ♪ Now my life ♪ Finds a way ♪ To every heart ♪ And its beauty ♪ Brings us together again ♪ Ba da ba da ♪ Bop, ba da ba da ba da ♪ Doo da, ba da ♪ Ba da ba doo day ♪ A do da ♪ Ba da ba day ♪ A doo ba da ba ♪ Da ba da ba da ♪ Day doo da, day a ♪ Ba da ba doo da ♪ Ba do, do, do, do ♪ Day a da ba da ♪ Day ooh, day ah ♪ Da, da, da ♪ Da, doo da ♪ Ba day a doo da ♪ Da do da ♪ I've walked for miles ♪ Through a desert sand ♪ Walking through a desert sand ♪ ♪ I found a way to the motherland ♪ ♪ I found a way ♪ To the motherland ♪ I was, I was hoping that a mourning dove ♪ ♪ Would come into my view ♪ Now I'm by your side ♪ Singing this song with you ♪ Whoa ♪ The love light ♪ Finds a way ♪ To every heart ♪ And the memories ♪ Were like a fire within ♪ Whoa ♪ The love life ♪ Finds a way ♪ To every heart ♪ And its beauty ♪ Brings us together again ♪ Do, do, do, do, do, do ♪ Together, do, do, do ♪ It's been so long, do, do, do ♪ ♪ I've been waiting ♪ Waiting ♪ Do, do, do ♪ To see your face ♪ You pulled me through ♪ And now it's true ♪ That I'm by your side ♪ Singing this song ♪ With you ♪ With you - Our next selection is titled "The Parting Glass".

This, originally a Scottish folk tune, is normally thought of as an Irish folk song.

It is sung at the end of wonderful gatherings of friends, and is well-known in the film "Waking Ned Devine" by Shaun Davey.

Our favorite rendition is by the Wailin' Jennys.

Please enjoy this arrangement sung by Velvet Voices of "The Parting Glass".

♪ Of all the money ♪ That e'er I spent ♪ I spent it in good company ♪ And all the harm ♪ That e'er I've done ♪ Alas, it was to none but me ♪ And all I've done ♪ For want of wit ♪ To memory now I can't recall ♪ So fill to me ♪ The parting glass ♪ Good night and joy be with you all ♪ ♪ Of all the comrades that e'er I had ♪ ♪ Are sorry for my going away ♪ And all the sweethearts ♪ That e'er I've had ♪ Would wish me one more day to stay ♪ ♪ But since it falls ♪ Onto my lot ♪ That I should rise ♪ And you should not ♪ I'll gently rise ♪ And I'll softly call ♪ Good night ♪ And joy be with you all ♪ Good night ♪ And joy be with you all - The premiere vocal ensemble at Illinois Central College is ICC Vocal Jazz.

This group is comprised of 10 singers, and most of the time, they perform with a combo of piano, bass, and drums.

This particular performance will feature their acapella arrangements.

The next song is actually a four song mashup of some top hits from the last 10 years.

Those four songs are "Burn", "Timber", "Dark Horse", and "Counting Stars".

Enjoy this pop acapella tune.

- One, two, three, four, one.

♪ So you wanna play with magic ♪ Boy, you should know what you're falling for ♪ ♪ Baby, do you dare to do this ♪ 'Cause I'm coming at you like a ♪ ♪ Dark horse, it's going down ♪ I'm yelling timber ♪ You better move, oh, oh ♪ You better, ready for, ready for ♪ ♪ Let's make a night ♪ You won't remember ♪ I'll be the one, oh, oh ♪ You won't forget ♪ A perfect storm, perfect storm ♪ ♪ It's going down, da da doo da ♪ ♪ I'm yelling timber, na, na, na ♪ ♪ You better dance, lately I've been ♪ ♪ Let's make a night, la, la, la ♪ ♪ You won't remember ♪ I'll be the one ♪ You won't be forget, we'll be raising ♪ ♪ Lately I've been, our hands ♪ So you wanna play with magic ♪ Dreaming about the things ♪ You know what you're falling for ♪ ♪ Baby I've been, do, do, do ♪ I've been thinking hard, you've got the fire ♪ ♪ Said no more counting dollars ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm coming at you ♪ We'll be counting stars ♪ I knew you were ♪ You were gonna come to me, oh ♪ ♪ And here are you ♪ But you better choose carefully ♪ ♪ 'Cause I, I'm capable of anything, oh ♪ ♪ Of anything ♪ And everything ♪ Make me your aphrodite ♪ Make me your one and only ♪ Oh, make me your enemy, your enemy ♪ ♪ Oh, your enemy, when the lights ♪ ♪ So you wanna play with magic, turned low ♪ ♪ Boy you should know what you're falling for ♪ ♪ Strike a match, play it loud ♪ Baby, do you dare to do this ♪ 'Cause I'm coming at you ♪ Like a dark horse, we'll be raising our hands ♪ ♪ I'm yelling timber, ready for, ready for ♪ ♪ Lately I've been, I've been losing sleep ♪ ♪ Perfect storm, perfect storm ♪ We got the fire, fire, fire ♪ Once your mine, once you're mind ♪ ♪ Yeah, we got the fire, fire, fire ♪ ♪ There's no going back ♪ 'Cause we got the fire, fire, fire ♪ ♪ So you wanna play with magic, oh ♪ ♪ Lately I've been, fire ♪ I'm yelling timber, yeah, we got the fire, fire ♪ ♪ We'll be counting, timber ♪ So you wanna, are you ready for ♪ ♪ Ready for, ready for ♪ Doing the wrong thing, coming at you ♪ ♪ Like a dark horse, doing the right thing ♪ ♪ When the lights, yeah, we got the fire ♪ ♪ You better, you better ♪ Oh, oh ♪ So you wanna play with magic ♪ Boy, you should know what you're falling for ♪ ♪ Baby, do you dare to do this ♪ 'Cause I'm coming at you like a dark horse ♪ ♪ It's going down, it's going down ♪ ♪ I'm yelling timber ♪ You better move ♪ You better dance, yeah, we'll be counting stars ♪ ♪ Let's make a night, let's make a night ♪ ♪ You won't remember ♪ I'll be the one you won't ♪ We'll be counting stars, ooh - The next selection is titled "Autumn in New York".

This is a beloved jazz standard from 1934.

The arrangement that you'll be hearing from Vocal Jazz is arranged by Gene Puerling.

Gene Puerling was a forerunner in vocal jazz arrangements, and his group, Singers Unlimited, was popular in the 1970s.

What made them special is although they only had four singers, they multi-tracked their recordings so that it sounded like they had eight.

This particular arrangement is for eight parts.

"Autumn in New York."

♪ Ooh ♪ Ooh ♪ Ooh, ooh ♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh ♪ Autumn in New York ♪ Why does it seem so inviting ♪ Ooh ♪ Autumn in New York ♪ It spells the thrill of first-nighting ♪ ♪ Glittering crowds ♪ And shimmering clouds ♪ In canyons of steel ♪ They're making me feel ♪ Making me feel ♪ I'm home ♪ It's autumn in New York ♪ That brings the promise of new love ♪ ♪ Autumn in New York ♪ Is often mingled with pain ♪ Dreamers with empty hands ♪ May sigh for exotic lands ♪ It's autumn in New York, in New York ♪ ♪ It's good to live it again ♪ Dreamers with empty hands ♪ May sigh for exotic lands ♪ It's autumn in New York ♪ It's good to live it again ♪ Ooh, ooh ♪ Ooh - Our last selection for you is "When I'm Sixty-Four" from the Beatles album Sgt.

Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

This rendition features a soloist, Jeremy Russell, who is a freshman at Illinois Central College studying Music Theory and Composition.

In addition to the soloist, you'll hear the other voices in the group mimic the instruments from the original recording, such as the guitars, the drums, and the clarinet.

Enjoy.

- One, two.

A one, two.

♪ Do, do, do, do ♪ Do, do, do, do, do ♪ Do, do, do ♪ Do, do, do, do ♪ When I get older ♪ Losing my hair ♪ Many years from now ♪ Do, do, do, do ♪ Will you still be sending me a Valentine ♪ ♪ Birthday greetings, bottle of wine ♪ ♪ If I'd been out 'til quarter to three ♪ ♪ Would you lock the door ♪ Will you still need me ♪ Will you still feed me ♪ When I'm 64 ♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh ♪ You'll be older too ♪ Oh, and if you say the word ♪ I could stay with you ♪ Do, do, do ♪ Dong, do do, dong, do do, do, do ♪ ♪ I could be handy ♪ Mending a fuse ♪ When your lights have gone ♪ Do, do, do, do ♪ You can knit a sweater ♪ By the fireside ♪ Sunday mornings, go for a ride ♪ ♪ Doing the garden ♪ Digging the weeds ♪ Who could ask for more ♪ Will you still need me ♪ Will you still feed me ♪ When I'm 64 ♪ Every summer we can rent a cottage ♪ ♪ In the Isle of Wight ♪ If it's not so dear ♪ We shall scrimp, we shall scrimp ♪ ♪ And save ♪ Ah, grandchildren on your knee ♪ ♪ Vera, Chuck, and Dave ♪ Do, do, do, do, do ♪ Bum, do, do, bum, do, do, do ♪ Send me a postcard, drop me a line ♪ ♪ Stating point of view ♪ Indicate precisely what you mean to say ♪ ♪ Yours sincerely, wasting away ♪ ♪ Give me an answer ♪ Fill in a form ♪ Mine forever more ♪ Will you still need me, will you still feed me ♪ ♪ When I'm 64 ♪ Whoo ♪ Do, do, do, do ♪ Do, do, do, do, do, do ♪ Do, do, do ♪ Yeah - Thank you again for joining us for this memorable performance by the vocal ensembles of Illinois Central College.

- We wanna thank all the students who performed tonight, as well as directors Ron Kiesewetter and Dr. Julie Clemens.

If you'd like to learn more about how you can catch a live performance by one of these groups, just visit ICC.edu/events.

- If you enjoyed tonight's show and want to see it again, we've got you covered.

Just download the PBS app and type in your zip code to localize to WTVP.

You'll get free on demand access to all our locally produced shows like this one.

- Your membership and support make programs like this one possible.

Thank you for watching WTVP PBS.

(acapella choir scatting) (acapella choir continues scatting) ♪ Ooh, ooh ♪ Ooh, ooh ♪ Ooh, ooh ♪ Ooh, la la la la la ♪ Bum, bum ♪ La, la, la, la, la ♪ Ooh, la la