PERFORMANCE

Gershwin Piano Concerto in F

Description

Mélisse Brunet, guest conductor
John Mayhood, piano
Mélisse Brunet’s and John Mayhood’s appearances are made possible by the Angus Macaulay Visiting Artists Fund.

Charles Ives – Variations on “America”
Five variations on the traditional tune “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee” are full of humorous surprises.

George Gershwin – Piano Concerto in F
Composed during the Jazz Age, the Concerto in F is a riot of rhythms with undertones of ragtime and blues.

Valerie Coleman – Umoja: Anthem of Unity
Umoja (oo-MOH-juh) is a Swahili word for “unity” and the first principle of the African American celebration of Kwanzaa.  Originally composed as a simple song for women’s choir, this expanded  version weaves the melody through the families of orchestral instruments in Coleman’s musical exploration of freedom and unity.

Aaron Copland – Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes
This suite from Copland’s ballet Rodeo is filled with American folk tunes, capturing the spirit of the American West in a tale of the tomboy cowgirl who sets her sights on the head wrangler.