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Singers trace church hymns Marg Zavaros Chronicle Special Poet and novelist Séan Virgo bids farewell after a twoâ€"year sojourn as Writerâ€"inâ€"Resiâ€" dence at the University of Waterioo.© _ Jointly spounsored by the Church Colleges, the UW Academic viceâ€"president and the Canada Council, the Writerâ€"inâ€"Residence proâ€" gram includes past notables Harold Horwood, Graeme Gibson and Susan Musgrave. Born in Ireland, Virgo‘s childhood was spent in South Africa. He came to Canada to teach English at the University of Victoria in 1966â€"1970. Over the following years a colorful lifestyle prevailed while employed at various jobs, two of them as Writerâ€"inâ€"Residence in Saskatchewan and Newfoundland. _ During the past two years Virgo‘s dayâ€"toâ€" day work involved working on a one to one basis with aspiring young writers on campus, lecturing and speaking on campus and throughout the community. His literary caâ€" reer is broad and varied, he is author of various books of poetry and contributor to Sean Virgo wraps up writerâ€"inâ€"residence stay on UW campus various poetry anthologies. Fiction work Vagabonds (1978), White Lies and Other Fictions (1980) and Through the Eyes of a Cat (1983) complete outstanding past successes. Perhaps the best known poetry collection is "Deathwatch at Skidgate Narrows," written while employed in the logging industry on the Queen Charlotte Islands. _ While serving as mentor and sounding board for students and members of the community there must be some characteristic of the writing in this particular area the author has observed. The author agreed that he noticed certain traits that emerged in many of the years. "*People from this area write with a cultural inheritance simultaneous to respect and escaâ€" pism from their traditions. They want to hang on to their traditional way of life, yet they want to escape from the traditional way of seeing the world. I‘m surprised at how many writers are trying to ‘express ql_n_asl-religious feelings or rather, universal feelings. People here are more sure of their traditions say, than Saskatchewan where numerous people are writing about what it‘s like to be a person growing up in that province. It seems writers works he‘d seen over the past two Sean Virgo The Renaissance Singers of Kitchener will present a concert of great music in the Lutheran tradition in Cambridge and Kitâ€" chener this weekend. Luther to Bach: Two Centuries of Music for the Lutheran Lutheran Church hymns through 200 years of development, from the early Renaissance forms of Luther‘s time to their final flowâ€" ering in the hands of J.S. Bach. Raymond S.J. Daniels, the 18â€" voice mixed choir will perform here are one step more sophisticated and consequently they‘re turning inwards for more universal themes. I‘m not saying one way‘s better than the other and I‘ve seen writing in different stages and levels of progress across Canada, but it‘s just one step further in international literature."‘ _ As for subject, the prevailing theme can reflect fear and violence even in a time of peace and nationwide negotiation. "I don‘t think people are living under the shadow of the bomb. I see no fear or foreboding in their writing. Many young people feel they‘re invulnerable. Generally speaking the young people are a materialistic generation. They are overly concerned with jobs and making money. I understand why but the students I‘ve seen who are serious about writing have much broader horizons." _ There are many young people who write profusely and well, but few stick at it. Virgo explained why, ‘"Other things take precedence â€" jobs, a family, but I try to spot potential in someone and encourage them to continue. To quote Rilke who said in his letters, ‘If you don‘t have to write, don‘t write." They will continue to write if they feel they must."‘ If the childâ€"like wonder of the child disapâ€" pears, to be replaced by more serious and concrete matters in life, the creative process is impaired, the pen silenced and the eyes are dulled. "Of course, that‘s exactly true. A writer sees the world through the eyes of a child. All artists are children and remain children throughout their lives," said the auâ€" thor. ‘ Virgo‘s new book, "Selakhi" will hit the reading audience in late summer. It‘s set in the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific. These islands have had a troubled past. They were raped by the Japanese, Australians, Europeans and then World War II forces. The author spent time on the islands and described the inhabitants as one of the fiercest people in the world yet he said they have been continually shocked by the antics of the white man. "They were in the midst of Guadalcanal during World War II where two armies and two fleets blasted each other to bits as these soâ€"called savages stood by in horror." During the time Virgo lived among them he said he was awestruck and humbled: "I observed their ways, I had to learn to function in a pure, primitive society. I felt ashamed of some of my ways. I got sick â€" malaria. The natives spoke a pidgin English and I was the only white man there so besides communicatâ€" ing with them on a very elementary basis we had few conversations. Anyway I couldn‘t have begun to tell them nor could they comprehend my world. Where could I begin? To tell them that in my country it gets so cold water turns to stone and we can walk on it, rain falls as white powder, that half the year the landscape is white and nothing grows?" Virgo‘s talent encompasses more than poetry and fiction. One of his last projects here involved writing the script for the major production ‘"Trickster" which involved the entire arts department. O Why Virgo isn‘t returning to The Queen Charlotte Islands may be too painful a topic to broach considering the turn of events there over the past two years. The mystical, magical Séan Virgo leans back in his chair to proclaim, "I‘ll be living in a rural area near Durham. i I‘ve bought a little time to write exclusiveâ€" y. With books and papers obviously packed up for the move he‘ll undoubtedly be missed as yet another young writer waits with manuâ€" script under arm to ask, ‘"Are you st_ill l_\ere yet?" For Séan Virgo, it‘s time to embark on yet another phase of his literary career. Saturday, May 9, at Knox‘s Presbyterian Church, Queen‘s Square, Cambridge, and Sunday, May 10, at St. Luke‘s Lutheran Church, 317 Franklin Ave. N., Kitchener. Concert time is 8 p.m. Patrons are invited to a postâ€" concert reception after the Sunâ€" day evening Kitchener concert, to allow the choir to express its 1987â€"88 season will be announced at that time. FResn reont*® | ORANGES GRAPEFRUIT . & PECANS ORANGE BARN â€" MILLBANK WATERLOO BOWLING LANES While Supplies Last 14 PRINCESS ST. 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