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Southwestern Michigan College’s fall choir concert paid tribute to The Elements with songs of wind, earth, fire and water.

Choral Scholars, with guest Chorllennium singers, blew in with “Abendstandchen,” evoking the quiet, reflective mystery of twilight.

Cat Stevens’ “The Wind” from 1971’s Teaser and the Firecat featured Collegiate Chorale and a guitar and tenor solo by Harrison Biek.

Collegiate Chorale closed out the first set for Director of Choral Activities David Carew with the South African freedom song, “Siyahamba” —marching off the stage in the light of God to surround the audience in the theatre of the Dale A. Lyons Building.

Sophomore business major and Choral Scholar Zoie Wood from Gobles introduced Wind.

“Wind can be perceived as the whisper of God floating in a gentle breeze or the comfort of rustling leaves,” Wood said.

“Earth is so much more than the ground beneath our feet,” said Ben Plested, Paw Paw business major, introducing the second set. “It represents stability, strength, growth and the idea of having somewhere to belong. It’s where everything begins, where we find our footing and who we want to be and where we go when we need to feel grounded.”

Earth was comprised of “Quicksand Years” by the Choral Scholars, “Homeward Bound” by the Men’s Ensemble and Dolly Parton’s “Light of a Clear Blue Morning” by the Collegiate Chorale, featuring Allison Ott’s vocal solo and flute soloist Bridget Talbot.

Payton Tucker, a sophomore general studies major from Buchanan, introduced Fire, which consisted of the spiritual “God’s Gonna Set This World on Fire” by the Collegiate Chorale, “Firelight” by the Choral Scholars and “There Will Come Soft Rains” by Choral Scholars with guest Chorllennium singers.

“Fire was one of the most crucial discoveries. It kickstarted civilization and is used constantly in our daily lives even today,” Tucker said. “Despite its uses, it is often predicted that fire, the very discovery that began human civilization, will cause the end of our society,” such as the Canadian wildfires. “Fire has the widest range of meaning of any element we see tonight. It represents the wrath of God, but also the comfort of warmth.”

Nathan Shelton, a Choral Scholar and freshman athletic training major from Berrien Springs, introduced the final element, Water.

“Water carries us, cleanses us, and it never stays still,” said Shelton, whose brother, Nicholas, performed a tenor duet with P.J. Fraczek on “Barcarolle,” which was “often sung by gondoliers.”

“Water is where this whole journey ends and where it begins again,” Shelton said.

The last set opened with the sea shanty “Away from the Roll of the Sea” and closed with the spiritual “Wade in the Water,” both by the Collegiate Chorale.