Bluffton University will present “Music of the Martyrs: A Choral Tapestry,” at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 5, in Yoder Recital Hall. Directed by Dr. Mark Suderman, the event will feature organist Dr. Shirley Sprunger King from Bluffton’s class of 1967 performing “Singing at the Fire,” a three movement composition by Brent Weaver featuring stories from the “Martyrs Mirror.”
 
The musical concert presents choral arrangements of hymns that reflect the Christian commitment to faithful and costly witness, including but not limited to Anabaptist martyr songs. Dr. King’s performance of the organ composition “Singing at the Fire” will combine music and poetry to express the suffering and joy displayed in three “Martyrs Mirror” narratives.
 
“Music of the Martyrs: A Choral Tapestry” concludes a series of events that are being held in coordination with the traveling exhibit “Mirror of the Martyrs,” which is on display through Nov. 5 in the Albrecht Gallery of Bluffton’s Sauder Visual Arts Center.
 
This dramatic and colorful exhibit tells the story of religious conflict and violence in the Reformation era from the perspective of Anabaptist martyrs and offers one way to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the beginning of the Protestant Reformation.
 
Gallery hours are Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Saturday, 1-5 p.m. and Sunday, 1-6 p.m.
 
The Mirror of the Martyrs exhibit is based on illustrated martyr stories from the 1685 “Martyrs Mirror,” and features eight of the original copper plates produced by Dutch artist Jan Luyken to illustrate the book. The exhibit allows visitors to learn about Mennonite religious heritage and its application to people’s contemporary lives. The award-winning exhibit was developed and produced at the Kauffman Museum in North Newton, Kan.
 
For more information about additional exhibit related presentations and performances visit http://www.bluffton.edu/arts/mirror/
 
All events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.