Symphony!

[altivo]

We were pleasantly surprised. Not only is the Elgin Symphony Orchestra of very high quality, but getting to the Hemmens Center is easy and parking is free and easy. Of course it helped that we got tickets at a two for one price on a special promotion, but I know we'll be going back.

The performance was an Aaron Copland festival, including the Outdoor Overture and Fanfare for the Common Man as well as his piano concerto, which was written in the 20s and I had never heard before. The first and second Old American Folksong Suites were done with the St. Charles Singers and were superb. They finished off with the Suite from The Tender Land which only reminded me how much I like the whole work.

All told, a lovely evening, even though we didn't get home until after 11 pm and now I'm supposed to go birdwatching in a half hour, as soon as it's light enough to see...

Comments

[goldenstallion.livejournal.com]

Dear Rider.

That is something I want to do with Bear, go to a concert. Kellog arena and several other places around the area here often host such events.

Oh, and I will make a point to fly over so you can flap pony watch as well.

Grin.
Imperator

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Western Michigan University has quite a good music program, so they probably have lots of fine concerts all year.

As for the flyover, that would definitely have made everyone's day, though I don't imagine you are in any of the guidebooks. This was part of a biennial "count" where the number of each species gets sent in for national studies, and they do a lot of identification just by sound. We were buzzed quite a bit later in the morning by people flying small planes, and the noise of the engines made it very hard to hear the bird calls. A visit from you would have been quite a nice distraction. ;D

[octatonic.livejournal.com]

I LOVE COPELAND!!!!

*unfurls a banner at the concert and throws the
horns and screams YEEEEAAAH!! When they do
'folksongs'.*

When I was in college I was in a period of deep
depression. I sat in the back of Doctor Wright's
"Symphonic Literature" course and he played Fanfare
For The Common man at uncommonly loud volume. In fact
he'd get complaints from the other teachers even though
the building was designed to have these four enormous
amphitheatre style rooms because of how loud he played
the symphonic music. He said, "this is how my students
listen to music, go fuck yourselves". XD The music
somehow had a psychological force greater than any
pharmacutical company could ever exert. I went on a
tear at the big library, sitting for hours and listening
to classical music from Chant to Copeland. I never
really liked much of the Romantic period or Opera (which
I still think of as 17th century rap) but the rest of
it helped set me aright like a musical lighthouse in
a storm of dark emotions.

Aaron Copeland is a personal hero, glad you got
to hear it done well.

^.~

[altivo.livejournal.com]

The Fanfare was particularly good, though I kept expecting the percussionists to break a drumhead and fall headfirst into the bass or the timpani.

They had a guest soloist for the folk song suites who was a superb, bell-like baritone. I'd not heard of him before. His name is Nathaniel Stampley and he is currently playing the role of Mufasa in the Broadway production of The Lion King (it says here.)

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

I wonder if dad has that music in his collection *peers at the music*