Alma Symphony Orchestra Opens 48th Season
An eclectic mix of Beethoven and bagpipes will be heard at the first concert of the Alma Symphony Orchestra’s 48th season.
“We have a fun season of interesting and exciting music scheduled,” says Murray Gross, director of the orchestra.
The Alma Symphony Orchestra performs at 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7 in the
Remick Heritage Center. Tickets are $10 for adults and free for Alma
College students and staff and youth 18 and under. Call (989)
463-7304 for ticket information.
The concert features a mix of old and new with classical works by
Beethoven and a modern composition by Peter Maxwell Davies. Joining the
orchestra is faculty pianist Tony Patterson.
“The program is a great introduction to the Alma Symphony Orchestra,”
says Gross. “There are two very noble and well-known numbers by
Beethoven as bookends with a very unique and fun modern piece between
them.”
The program opens with “Egmont,” which was composed by Beethoven in
1810 for the revival of Goethe’s play by the same name. Powerful and
expressive, the music deals with the history and heroism of the famous
Flemish warrior of the 16th century, Count Egmont.
Following “Egmont” and concluding the first half of the concert is
Davies’ “An Orkney Wedding, with Sunrise,” which was commissioned and
premiered by the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1985. The piece describes
an all-night celebration after a wedding on Orkney, an island off of
Scotland. “An Orkney Wedding” is unique for its musical depiction
of festive and natural sounds as well as the entrance of bagpipes at
the end of the piece.
“We actually hear wind blowing, people dancing and drinking—you hear it
all in the music,” says Gross. “It’s very different and enjoyable
for everyone.”
The second half of the program features Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No.
5, popularly known as “The Emperor’s Concerto,” with Patterson as
soloist. The last piano concerto he composed, Beethoven wrote this
piece between 1808 and 1811 and dedicated it to his friend and pupil
Archduke Rudolf. With its bold melodies and heroic spirit, the concerto
quickly earned a place in piano repertoire.
Members of the orchestra are primarily Alma College students of a
variety of disciplines. Musicians from the community also participate
in the ensemble.
Posted: Fri, September 28th, 2007 at 4:43PM
