Lafayette Online » Long Center

Purdue Bands beats winter blahs with musical treats

Carolyn Shelby — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 20:52:46 +0000

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Music that takes you on an armchair voyage from Brazil to Japan, an appearance by Indianapolis Symphony hornist Julie Beckel Yager and the introduction of Purdue’s new Wind Ensemble are all part of Purdue Bands & Orchestras’ Winter Music Gala this weekend at the Long Center.

The debut of the Wind Ensemble, conducted by University Bands Director Jay Gephart, combines with a performance by the Symphonic Band at 8 p.m. Friday (Feb. 19). Varsity, Collegiate and Purdue Concert Bands are featured at 8 p.m. Saturday (Feb. 20). The Philharmonic and Symphony Orchestras perform at 2:30 p.m. Sunday (Feb. 21).

All concerts are held at the Long Center, 111 N. Sixth St., Lafayette, and all are free.

“The great thing about the new Wind Ensemble is that it’s a smaller group, so you have a chance to work on details and get a cleaner, more refined performance,” Gephart said of the department’s top concert ensemble.

The 77-member group, made up of the department’s top student musicians, offers Gephart the chance to play pieces like Shostakovich’s “Festive Overture” as well as Maslanka’s “Morning Star” that demands advanced technique from the woodwinds and might not be performed otherwise.

Maslanka’s contemporary “Morning Star” is written as a rondo, which typically has a recurring musical theme. But in this complex piece, the recurring theme’s never quite the same.

“You hear it 20 some times and each time it’s a variation,” says Gephart. “We’ve really enjoyed working on this piece. It’s very tuneful and has a colorful use of percussion.”

The Wind Ensemble also performs Malcolm Arnold’s “Tam O’Shanter,” based on a classic poem by Scotland’s Robert Burns; “Hymn of Brotherhood” by Scandinavian composer Egbert van Groningen; and Samuel Hazo’s “Arabesque.”

Highlighting the Symphonic Band’s portion of Friday’s concert is a concert band setting of “For the Beauty of the Earth,” a Christian hymn linked with Thanksgiving, and “Clowns” by Philip Parker. Written in the style of a gallop, the piece’s pace and unpredictable harmonies depict the zany antics of circus clowns. The band also performs John Mackey’s “Aurora Awakes,” which is inspired by the Roman goddess of the dawn and ends in an explosion of energy.

On Saturday, Feb. 20, there’s an international feeling to the pieces performed by the Varsity, Collegiate and Purdue Concert Bands. Opening the concert, Varsity Band performs “Amparito Roca” by Spanish composer Jaime Texidor, which is paso doble dance tune depicting the drama of bullfighting. It also presents Percy Grainger’s “Australian Up-Country Tune,” which represents the composer’s attempt to tap into the feelings of common folk like Steven Foster did in the American Midwest.

Collegiate Band references Grainger’s music in Robert Sheldon’s “A Longford Legend,” based on three poems in a collection of “Irish Street Ballades” and created as a tribute to Grainger, Holst and Vaughan Williams. In Jim Casella’s “Stormbreak,” a percussion octet will be featured, and Collegiate Band’s portion of the concert concludes with “The Winds of Poseidon” from Robert Smith’s “Second Symphony.”

Traveling to another part of the globe, the Purdue Concert Band presents Robert Smith’s “Brazil: Ceremony, Song and Samba,” based upon authentic Afro-Brazilian percussion grooves. It illustrates the impact of the African experience on South American music.

On Sunday, Feb. 21, guest hornist Julie Beckel Yager from the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra will perform Mozart’s “Horn Concerto No. 4″ with the Purdue Symphony Orchestra.

Their portion of the concert also includes Joseph Haydn’s “Symphony No. 104″ known as the “London Symphony” because the Austrian composer created it, among others, while visiting England.

Under the baton of Andrew King, the Philharmonic Symphony concludes Sunday’s program with the Shostakovich “Symphony No. 5.” The piece was written in 1937 during the height of the “Great Terror” under Stalin in Russia. The finale is based on melodic material from the Shostakovich song “Rebirth” inspired by a Pushkin poem.

Snow storm forces LSO to cancel Lollipop Concert

Carolyn Shelby — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 20:22:25 +0000

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Lafayette Symphony Orchestra is cancelling this evening’s annual Lollipop Family Concert due to inclement weather. The concert had been scheduled for 7:00p at the Long Center for the Performing Arts in Downtown Lafayette.

Also cancelled is the Instrument Petting Zoo, which was to precede the free concert at 6:00p in the Virgil St. John Pavilion at the Long Center, 111 N. Sixth St.

Despite the snowfall, the LSO this morning and afternoon was able to get in the two Symphony-on-the-Go performances of “Compose Yourself,” a free interactive concert for fourth-graders and their teachers from school districts across a 14-county area in the Lafayette-West Lafayette region.

The Lollipop Concert will not be rescheduled.

Forecasters say anywhere from 4 to 9 inches of wet snow is expected throughout the Lafayette-West Lafayette area tonight and into Saturday morning. Several schools were forced to cancel their participation in today’s Symphony-on-the-Go concerts because of the snow and the slick roads.

Conductor Jim Stephenson, formerly of the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra, wrote this performance of “Compose Yourself” for 15 musicians (one on each instrument) and a narrator. Stephenson today served as narrator of the two performances, which were led by LSO Conductor Nick Palmer.

For more information or other details about the cancelled performance, go online to: http://www.lafayettesymphony.org/concerts.php#lollipop.

Heywood Banks returns to Long Center for 20th anniversary performance

Carolyn Shelby — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 06:56:51 +0000

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Family-friendly funny man, Heywood Banks makes his 20th anniversary appearance at the Long Center in Downtown Lafayette on January 16, 2010 at 8:00pm.

Banks, who will have his guitar, his toaster, his fly-eyes and other wacky props, has delighted sell-out crowds on every visit. His comedy can best be described as stream of consciousness, and includes numerous silly ditties and his (sometimes, literally) off-the-cuff comments on life, show biz and one particular garden utensil.

Good seats are still available by calling the Long Center at 765-742-5664 or at the Long Center’s website at www.LongCenterTheater.com. Tickets can also be bought at the Long Center office in the St. John Pavilion, 111 N. 6th Street in Lafayette.

Purdue bands and orchestras open concert season Homecoming weekend

Carolyn Shelby — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:47:48 +0000

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University bands and orchestras will kick off their 2009-10 concert season during homecoming weekend.

Orchestras will perform its Homecoming Concert Saturday (Oct. 3) in the Long Center, 111 N. Sixth St., Lafayette. The Purdue Symphonic and Concert bands will perform a tribute to “Main Street USA” at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4, also at the Long Center. Admission to both events is free.

The Purdue Orchestra will perform its Homecoming Concert Saturday, October 3, and the Purdue Symphonic and Concert bands will perform a tribute to Main Street USA on Sunday, October 4th -- both at the Long Center in Downtown Lafayette. Admission to both events is free.

From the galloping rhythms of Rossini’s famous “William Tell Overture” to Mendelssohn’s Fifth Symphony, which paraphrases the hymn tune “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” in its finale, the Purdue orchestras will showcase a variety of classical music during its Saturday event.

Both Purdue orchestras will be featured under the baton of Andrew King. The Purdue Philharmonic will perform Edward Elgar’s “Enigma Variations.” The unique piece takes one melody and explores different ways of playing it, each way influenced by the preferences of a friend or, in one case, a dog close to the British composer. “Enigma Variations” secured Elgar’s reputation as a composer of national, even international, standing and remains one of the most popular works in the classical repertoire, King says.

Before tackling Mendelssohn’s Fifth or “Reformation” Symphony, the Purdue Symphony opens its portion of the program with a “Hi Ho Silver and Away.” Those words will leap to audience’s minds when they hear Rossini’s “William Tell Overture” which became famous in the 20th century as the theme to “The Lone Ranger.”

Felix Mendelssohn’s Reformation Symphony, written in 1829, is a highly original piece of religious music depicting the triumph of Protestantism. In its fast stormy first movement, Mendelssohn musically depicts an intense spiritual struggle away from Catholicism. The finale, written as a celebration opens with the Lutheran chorale “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.”

Bands concert

Nearly every element of fall in America, from festivals and Friday night football to walks down picturesque country lanes, will be described musically in “Main Street USA,” the bands’ concert on Sunday.

Two John Phillip Sousa marches, David Moore’s “Small Town Sketches,” Charles Ives’ “Variations on America” and Broadway composer Robert Russell Bennett’s “Autobiography Part 1″ set the tone for the afternoon of music by American composers.

“Small Town Sketches,” the concert opener performed by Fall Concert Band under the direction of Ishbah Cox presents a series of musical pictures ranging from “Friday Night Football” to “Winter Walk” and from “County Fair” to “Concert in the Park.” The group also performs another highly descriptive work, “Down a Country Lane,” by Aaron Copland.

“Students are embracing many different styles on this concert from classical to Broadway,” says Jay Gephart, conductor of the Purdue Symphonic Band. “They move from one to another very easily, which shows a great deal of maturity as musicians.”

Although influenced by folk and traditional music, Ives was no stranger to compositional techniques of the 20th century, which are showcased in the Symphonic Band’s performance of “Variations on America.”

Symphonic Band also tackles Robert Russell Bennett’s “Autobiography Part 1″ at the Oct. 3 concert and will present “Part 2″ at a subsequent concert.

“H. Owen Reed’s ‘Heart of the Morn’ adds a nice balance to the other pieces on the program,” says Gephart. “It’s just a beautiful chorale based on the poem ‘Michigan Morn.’ ”

“Main Street USA” is presented by Purdue Bands & Orchestras. For more information on upcoming events visit www.purdue.edu/bands

LSO presents Spanish Fiesta featuring guitarist Jason Vieaux

Carolyn Shelby — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 18:21:14 +0000

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — In their final performance of the 2008-2009 season, the Lafayette Symphony Orchestra presents “Spanish Fiesta” on Saturday, April 25th. Spanish Fiesta is a celebration of the Latin rhythms by composers like Gershwin, Rodrigo, Galindo and more. Classical guitarist, Jason Vieaux, is the guest artist and will perform the solo during Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez.

Guest artist Jason Vieaux is the youngest First Prize winner in the history of the prestigious Guitar Foundation of American International Competition, and was honored as the Artistic Ambassador of the U.S. to Southeast Asia.

Vieaux is expanding the definition of “Classical Guitarist” with over 50 performance dates internationally this season. He has eight recordings to his credit and many more to come. Vieaux is the youngest First Prize winner in the history of the prestigious Guitar Foundation of American International Competition, and was honored as the Artistic Ambassador of the U.S. to Southeast Asia. The LSO will be performing a variety of symphonic works from Cuba and Mexico, while Vieaux joins in with a work from Spain.

Join the LSO for a fiesta after the show with complimentary appetizers and a chance to meet Jason Vieaux in person.

Tickets: Adults $17-35, Senior (65+) $15-32, Students $8-15
Location: Long Center for Performing Arts, Downtown Lafayette, Indiana
Date/Time: Saturday, April 25, 2009. 7:30p curtain.

Program:
GERSHWIN – Cuban Overture
RODRIGO – Concierto de Aranjuez (Jason Vieaux, guitar)
GALINDO – Sounds of the Mariachis
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV Capriccio Espagnol
RAVEL – Bolero

IN THE MOOD, 1940s Big Band Swing Dance Musical

Carolyn Shelby — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 01:52:23 +0000

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — IN THE MOOD is coming to the Long Center for the Performing Arts, 111 North Sixth Street, Lafayette on Thursday, March 19th with its 13-piece big band orchestra and 6 singer/swing dancers performing the songs of the 1940s. Presented by Artbeat, a Washington not-for-profit arts presenter.

This retro 1940s musical captures the music that moved a nation’s spirit and helped win a war. More than a concert, IN THE MOOD is a Big Band Theatrical Swing Revue that brings to life the era when all of America was listening and dancing to the same kind of music: Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, Harry James, Erskin Hawkins, The Andrews Sisters, Frank Sinatra, and other greats of the 1940’s. The show has a company of 22 including the In the Mood Singers and Dancers with the sensational String of Pearls big band orchestra on stage, and to quote the theater director at Luther College, “the show’s arrangements, costumes and choreography are as authentic as it gets!”

IN THE MOOD began as a celebration of an unusual era in American music, the 1940's.....the Swing Era.

Reserved seats cost $25.50 to $35.50, plus ticketing fees and can be purchased at www.longcentertheater.com or by phone 765-742-5664. The Long Center Box Office is open Monday through Friday, noon to 5 pm and is located at 111 North Sixth Street.

IN THE MOOD takes a look at the life and time of America’s greatest generation. This was a generation where everyone listened and danced to the same style of music which ranged from up-tempo big band rhythms to mellow intimate ballads, and inspired America with a vision for the future filled with hope, promise and prosperity. This was a time like no other in our Nation’s history, a time when music moved the Nation’s spirit. Come experience the swing, rhythm, jazzy, brassy, sentimental and romantic music of this important time.

IN THE MOOD began as a celebration of an unusual era in American music, the 1940s…..the Swing Era. On radio, in theaters and ballrooms, the Big Bands were drawing record crowds. Vocal groups and soloists sang a repertory of great songs, and for the last time in the 20th century, the entire country shared a common popular music. This body of song did much to sustain national morale during World War II, the pivotal event of the 40’s.

A great deal of attention is paid to authenticity and detail: The wigs and make-up are carefully researched for the era and many of the arrangements were commissioned to Vic Schoen who was the arranger for the Andrews Sisters. Many of the costumes are in fact actual uniforms from World War II.

The National Archives in Washington, DC brought IN THE MOOD to their audiences as part of their commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of WWII, and the response was extraordinary, with crowds lining up for hours before curtain time. The engagement was twice extended to extra performances.

In 1993, the Archives presented a repeat performance, out-of-doors on Constitution Avenue. Thousands attended, and many stayed to dance the night away. As a result, IN THE MOOD, in affiliation with the USO, began a series of tours which played to audiences across the United States during the 50th Commemoration of WWII. The show’s association with the National Archives and the USO was altogether appropriate, for much of the underpinning research was drawn from resources of these national organizations.

Since then, IN THE MOOD has visited Europe and in 1997, the band and singers were selected to be part of the entertainment for the 53rd Presidential Inauguration Ball. Touring since 1994, the show’s upcoming national and international performances will continue to portray the spirit of the music that moved the nation.

IN THE MOOD was developed by Washington, DC musical producer, Bud Forrest.

The Lafayette Performance is sponsored in part by WLFI – 18 and the Journal & Courier.

Long Center screens Elf after Lafayette Christmas Parade

Carolyn Shelby — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:19:52 +0000

Will Farrell stars in Elf. Elf will be shown at the Long Center on Saturday, December 7th following the Lafayette Christmas Parade.

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Long Center for the Performing Arts will host a screening of “Elf” with hot cocoa from Kathy’s Homemade Kandies at approximately 4:30 PM, immediately following Lafayette’s Christmas Parade on Sunday, December 7.

Elf stars Will Ferrell, Bob Newhart, Zooey Deschanel, James Caan, and Ed Asner as Santa, and is the story of a very, very large, misfit elf in Santa’s Workshop who discovers he is not who he thinks, and sets out to find his real family.

Tickets will be available at the door at the Long Center, 111 N. 6th Street in Downtown Lafayette, and are $5 for adults and $2 for children 5-12. Children under 5 are free.

Information is available by calling Long Center Operations Manager Shannon Sabel at 765-742-5664.

Lafayette Online » Long Center

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