Sunday, fans of both European and African American vocal traditions can find what they're looking for in the same place.

Essence of Joy, a choir focusing on music from the African and African American traditions and University Choir, who perform sacred and secular music, will be performing at 8 p.m. in Esber Recital Hall.

"Listeners will be exposed to a very eclectic program," G. Scott Barton, the assistant director of University Choir, said.

The University Choir will be performing in the first half of the concert with five songs. Felix Mendelssohn, the German period composer who Barton said is recognized as one of the best composers of his day, composed a majority of the songs for the show.

University Choir President Meghan Treese (senior-psychology) said two of the pieces are going to be performed in German.

Two other pieces set to be performed by the choir are "I Got a Robe" and "Ride the Chariot." African American conductor and composer Moses Hogan composed these songs, Barton said.

These two traditional African American spirituals will be used as a transition into the second half of the concert, in which Essence of Joy will perform.

Essence of Joy and University Choir will also perform a song together -- "Make a Joyful Noise," a gospel piece by Raymond Wise, Treese said.

She added that the con-

cert has holy, pious overtones.

"It's very spiritual, sacred music from different time periods," she said.

The pieces in the concert include unaccompanied motets, also known as short sacred works, expansive textures, dramatic changes of character and beautiful melodic lines, Barton said.

Susan Boardman, professor of voice and director of the Penn State Opera Theatre, will also play a part in the concert, performing in the song "Hear My Prayer," alongside the University Choir, Barton said.

The two musical groups have performed together before and are directly related through the same music director, Anthony Leach, Treese said.

Barton said because of a performance by the Penn State choirs and the Penn State Philharmonic Orchestra on April 27, it was decided that some ensembles would showcase shorter programs earlier in the semester, which is the reason behind Sunday's concert.