ROCK ISLAND, IL (10/14/2010)(readMedia)-- Music enthusiasts are invited to join the Augustana Symphony Orchestra for their free fall concert on Saturday, October 16, at 8 p.m. in Centennial Hall (3703 7th Ave.). The concert will feature the debut performance of contemporary composer James Romig's "Percussion Concerto," as well as classical pieces by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy and Maurice Ravel.
The orchestra's first piece, "Symphony in 'Italian' Op. 90," was inspired by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy's trip to Italy in the early 1830s. Today, it is considered one of Mendelssohn's most famous and fascinating works. Culver says, "This piece is perfect for the orchestra because the complexity requires such musical discipline."For their second piece, the Symphony Orchestra will debut James Romig's newly composed "Percussion Concerto." The piece features a highly intricate percussion solo, which will be performed by professional percussionist and Augustana music faculty member Tony Oliver. Romig, who is an associate professor at Western Illinois University, will attend the concert to celebrate the official launching of his new piece.
The final piece of the concert will be the colorful "Ma Mère L'Oye," composed by nineteenth century French musician Maurice Ravel. The piece's title, which translates to "Mother Goose," gives a hint at its style and theme; each of the five movements is based on a different children's fairy tale. Ravel originally composed the piece as a piano duet for his children and developed it into a full orchestra piece several years after.Symphony Orchestra members participating in the fall concert from our area include :
Nicholas Kendell from Davenport, IA. Kendell is a first year majoring in liberal studies.
Abigail Jones from Milan, IL. Jones is a first year majoring in liberal studies.
P.J. Wiese from Davenport, IA. Wiese is a sophomore majoring in psychology and mathematics.
Anne Van Speybroek from Rock Island, IL. Van Speybroek is a sophomore majoring in liberal studies.
Guy Iaccarino from Davenport, IA. Iaccarino is a junior majoring in music general and anthropology.
Martha Ade from Moline, IL. Ade is a junior majoring in music general and English.
The Augustana Symphony Orchestra is a full-size orchestra, which performs several classical concerts throughout the year under the direction of Dr. Daniel Culver. Culver received his doctorate in orchestral conducting from the University of Iowa. In addition to conducting the Symphony Orchestra, he teaches and serves as the co-chair in the Department of Music.
About Augustana: Founded in 1860 and situated on a 115-acre campus near the Mississippi River, Augustana College is a private, liberal arts institution affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The college enrolls 2,500 students from diverse geographic, social, ethnic and religious backgrounds and offers more than 70 majors and related areas of study. Augustana employs 287 faculty members and has a student-faculty ratio of 11:1. Augustana continues to do what it has always done: challenge and prepare students for lives of leadership and service in our complex, ever-changing world.
