WSC Holiday Gala Concert, Dec. 6
Nov. 22, 2011 -- The Western State College of Colorado (WSC) Music Department will present a free Holiday Gala Concert at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 6 in the Taylor Auditorium.
The WSC Concert Choir will perform “Shiloh,” a Christmas tune with words and music by William Billings, an arrangement of the French carol “Sing We Now of Christmas,” “Adam Lay Y Bounden,” a rhythmically complex arrangement on a 15th century text, and Beethoven’s “Hallelujah” from the oratorio “Christ on the Mount of Olives.”
The WSC Chamber Orchestra will begin with a “Suite for String Orchestra” written by retired University of Northern Colorado theory and composition professor Evan Copley. The suite is reminiscent of works written by Samuel Barber, Gustav Holst and Edward Grieg. In addition, the strings will be joined by selected members of the WSC Music Department in the performance of the “Toy Symphony. “The symphony is attributed to Franz Joseph Haydn as well as Leopold Mozart. There is some disagreement about the composer, however, it is noted that the symphony was traditionally performed around the Christmas season and the use of ”toy” instruments was done to reflect the sentiment of the season.
The WSC Symphony Band will be performing a variety of holiday favorites. The program will include the classic medley “Christmas Festival” by Leroy Anderson, selections from “The Nutcracker” by Peter Tchaikovsky and a tuneful setting of "Greensleeves” featuring Erin Wright and Stephanie Grote on flute. The Symphony Band will open their portion of the concert with a rousing fanfare based on "Adeste Fidelis." The grand finale will be Leroy Anderson's "Sleigh Ride,” a timeless holiday piece that will feature the band, the choir and the orchestra to kick off the holiday season in style.
