LEWISTON — “Songs of the Garden” will be the Maine Music Society’s serenade to spring when the Androscoggin Choral presents a diverse concert at the Franco-American Heritage Center May 11 and 12. John Corrie, artistic director of the Maine Music Society, said the planning and rehearsals have been a delight as he and members of the 60-voice concert prepared for the performances. “It’s a variety of music with everything from madrigals to Broadway,” Corrie said.

The selections include melodies as old as the 13th century and as new as two pieces composed by Colin Britt, a young musician from Auburn. Britt’s career had its roots on the Community Little Theatre stage and blossomed in recent years with a bachelor’s degree in music composition from the Hartt School and a master’s degree in choral conducting from the Yale School of Music and Yale Institute of Sacred Music.

Corrie also commented that Androscoggin Chorale members had some laughs as they practiced French pronunciations for lyrics of several songs.

The program opens with six madrigals: “Now is the Month of Maying,” “In These Delightful, Pleasant Groves,” “April Is in My Mistress’ Face,” “The Silver Swan,” “Flora Gave Me Fairest Flowers,” and “Summer is a’Coming In.” “Frostiana,” several poems by Robert Frost set to music by Randall Thompson, include “The Road Not Taken,” “A Girl’s Garden,” “The Pasture,” and “Choose Something Like a Star.”

Pianist Bridget Convey is accompanist for the program, and Corrie joins her at the keyboard for “Duet for Piano for Four Hands.” The compositions by Colin Britt are “Afternoon on a Hill” and “As There Are Flowers.”

Several French-language numbers include “Ma Mere L’oye” by Maurice Ravel, and “Les Chansons des Roses,” a five-part composition by Morten Lauridsen.

The program’s second half includes “Under the Willow Tree,” from “Vanessa” and “Sure on This Shining Night,” both by Samuel Barber,” “The Ash Grove” and “Down by the Salley Garden,” both arranged by Benjamin Britten,” and “Earth Song” and “Here Take This Lovely Flower” both by Frank Ticheli.

There are three numbers from Broadway. Corrie and Richard Rau will perform a duet, “Plant a Radish” from “The Fantasticks” by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt, and Corrie will join in duet with Annette Bourque for “A Girl in the Valley,” from “The Secret Garden” by Marsha Norman and Lucy Simon.

The concert concludes with “Make Our Garden Grow” from Leonard Bernstein’s “Candide.”

Founded in 1972, the Androscoggin Chorale is an auditioned, mixed-voice community chorus based in Lewiston-Auburn. The chorale has distinguished itself with an ever-evolving level of excellence and professionalism.

“Songs of the Garden” will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 11, and at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 12, at the Franco-American Heritage Center, Cedar and Oxford Streets, Lewiston.

Advance ticket prices are $18 for adults, $16 for seniors, $9 for students, and admission for children under 12 accompanied by an adult is free.

For tickets, call L/A Arts at 782-7228 or go online to www.mainemusicsociety.com.

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