A cloud was ascending.
(There had been noticed for many days before a trembling of the earth.)
A cloud was ascending, the appearance of which I cannot give you a more exact
description of than by likening it to that of a pine tree.

For it shot up to a great height in the form of a very tall trunk, which spread
itself out at the top into branches of a sort; Because, I believe, it was occasioned
by a sudden gust of air that impelled it.

A black and dreadful cloud, broken with rapid, zigzag flashes, revealed behind
it variously shaped masses of flame: these last were like sheet-lightning, but
much larger.

It was sometimes clear and bright and sometimes dark and spotted, according
to whether it had picked up earth or cinders.

Soon afterwards, the cloud began to descend and cover the sea.
The ashes now began to fall upon us, though it was still sparse.

Soon the real day returned, and even the sun shone out. Every object that
presented itself to our faltering eyes seemed changed, being covered deep with
ashes as if with snow.

 – Translated by William Melmoth, with revisions by Anne Groton

The white and gentle swan
Dies singing, while I
Approach the end of my own life, weeping.
Such a strange and different fate:
He dies disconsolate
While I die blessed.

O Death, which in my dying fills me
Completely with joy and desire:
If I felt no other pain when dying,
I would be content to die a thousand deaths a day.

Madley in your name I called
All the names
All the adored women,
All the flowers of the forest,
All the goddesses
All the women in the world
In the books of history
And in all of the paintings
All of the lovers of the poets

Madley, I was calling God.

My love is bigger than me
Bigger than this world
The poor lovers
Crowned me king of vision
And imam of banishment and exile.

Madly, in your name,
I was calling God.

NIU University Chorus Spring 2025

Olive Wynn, Accompanist

Soprano
Maya Arredondo
Emily Bauer
Lilliana Benitez
Ava Cassens
Hailey Fedderson
Julia Hart
Carly Jackson
Jocelyn Kuntz
Lily Malekfar
Giavanna Mayotte
Xavier Phillips
Natalia Sawicka
Cecelia Wolfe

Alto
Riley Anderson
KaLilah Chears
Maggie Eckes
Sam Garcia
Megumi Goto
Ash Lehning
Rose Malcome
Anna Melik
Kelly Nelson
Tiffany Ohnemus
Gracie Raab
Lorelei Wesselowski
Olivia Yarbrough
Shaliyah Young

Tenor
Silas Ashby
Phoenix Brosman
Bryn Callahan
Alex Coronel
Brayden Dulin
Hunter Egelhoff
Talia Grzelak
Alex Hager
Nick Nelson
Kenneth Ryan
A.J. Villa
Zinnia Wedige
John White

Bass
Jonas Baker
Will Carr
Danny Clements
Zach Cooper
Colton Dean
Isaac Lopez
Christian Martinez
Frederick Melki
Mik Mieczkowski
Justin Pirtle
Christopher Staton
Eric Wahl
Eduardo Zamudio

NIU Concert Choir Spring 2025

Minjung Kim, Accompanist

Soprano
Mikayla Ahren
Evangelina Combs
Kaylie Emmer
Sondos Hassan
Emily Kmetz
Lyric Johnson
Emialy Legaspi
Milan Nielson
Maia Orlovsky
Chenoa Randolph
Kyla Reisenbichler
Thalila Sisou
Kaleigh Wicknick

Alto
Rain Anzaldua
Amelia Arndt
Sarah Calgaro
Isabella Froh
Kayti Miller
Cassandra Valdes
Allison Wilson
Chloe Weeks
Rachel Yasutake

Tenor
Matthew Ellis
Jake Foland
Eduardo Garcia
Quinn Jamrose
Sam Lynas
EmVi Legaspi
Joseph Quaynor

Bass
Eli Clarke
Georgi Dimitrov
Boone Elledge
Ryan Jensen
Gunnar Magnuson
Cameron Neis
Jonathan Rivera
Adrian Sommerfield
Emerson Valyou
Nolan Valyou