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The Arts

Chorale, Concert Band Perform, Dec. 10-11

By November 30, 2010November 16th, 2018No Comments

Kirkwood Community College presents a weekend of music as the college’s Concert Chorale and Concert Band perform on successive nights in Ballantyne Auditorium. The Concert Chorale will perform a collection of pieces evoking the Renaissance on Friday, Dec. 10 at 7:30 p.m., under the direction of Kirkwood Vocal Music Director Ray Salucka. The Concert Band plays a repertoire of music spanning many centuries and cultures Saturday night in a 7:30 p.m. performance under the direction of Kirkwood Music Professor Dr. Beth Zamzow.

The chorale’s nearly 40 voices will showcase two strong musical traditions in “Madrigal Mayhem,” a collection of works reflecting deep traditional style of the Renaissance and Medieval era. The chorale concert will be structured to reflect vocal traditions at two of the most venerated British universities, Cambridge and Oxford.

Listeners will hear pieces of music dating back to the 16th century from countries such as Spain and England. The night features a special Recorder Consort, with interplay of wind instruments to complement the voices of the “Oxford Madrigal Society” and “Cambridge Renaissance Choristers.” As a conclusion to the concert, the Kirkwood Concert Chorale will perform “All Music Be Praised,” by Giovanni Gabrieli.

Saturday evening the Kirkwood Concert Band will perform selections in a wide variety of both European and American styles. The concert opens with the “Star Spangled Banner,” then moves to “Washington Grays” by Claudio S. Grafulla. Musical scholars say this piece was a prototype of the modern concert march that displays both German and Italian march characteristics.
The music turns to the 20th century with pieces including “Passages” by Michael Sweeny, “Third Suite” by Robert E. Jager, and “Deep River,” arranged by James Swearingen. The latter is a time-honored Afro-American spiritual. The program will conclude with a selection Zamzow calls a “challenging piece” by Sergey Prokofiev–“March, Opus 99.”

Zamzow believes the crowd will be pleased with the eclectic program. “We hope it brings a smile to your face and a lift to your step,” she said.

The membership of the band reflects a diversity as wide as its repertoire. The group is made up of Kirkwood students, alumni and music-loving community players. The volunteers range in age from teenagers to senior citizens, joined by an appreciation of the traditional concert band repertoire.

Tickets to the Dec. 10 Concert Chorale and Dec. 11 Kirkwood Concert Band are $8 for adults and $5 for seniors and students with current ID. Kirkwood students, faculty and staff are admitted free of charge. For advance tickets, please call (319) 398-5899 ext. 4331.