Homeland Voices: Bernstein and Thompson
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This fall, the Paducah Singers will continue our homeland musical celebration as the United States observes its 250th anniversary. The focus of this concert will be two great 20th-century American composers, Leonard Bernstein and Randall Thompson, alongside Thompson’s musical arrangement of poetry by Robert Frost. As always, admission is free.
The first half of the concert will feature Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, a commissioned work premiered in New York City in 1965. Accompanied by an instrumental ensemble of harp, organ, and percussion, the work is filled with dancing rhythms, haunting melodies, and “crunchy” harmony. Chichester Psalms is truly a masterpiece and from a musical standpoint, it is considered one of the most exciting works to conduct and perform.
The second half of our concert is a complete contrast to the dramatic music of the first. Randall Thompson’s Frostiana: Seven Country Songs is an American classic, a setting of seven of Robert Frost’s poems. The work was composed and premiered in 1959, with Robert Frost in attendance. In fact, as Frost was so pleased with Thompson’s musical settings, he prohibited his poetry from being set to music by anyone else. It is only in recent years when many of his poems have entered the public domain that they are being set to music by other composers. Thompson takes Frost’s pastoral words and adds exactly the right musical settings to illuminate the poet’s words.
We look forward to sharing this music with you! Admission is free. Come join us and bring a friend.
The first half of the concert will feature Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, a commissioned work premiered in New York City in 1965. Accompanied by an instrumental ensemble of harp, organ, and percussion, the work is filled with dancing rhythms, haunting melodies, and “crunchy” harmony. Chichester Psalms is truly a masterpiece and from a musical standpoint, it is considered one of the most exciting works to conduct and perform.
The second half of our concert is a complete contrast to the dramatic music of the first. Randall Thompson’s Frostiana: Seven Country Songs is an American classic, a setting of seven of Robert Frost’s poems. The work was composed and premiered in 1959, with Robert Frost in attendance. In fact, as Frost was so pleased with Thompson’s musical settings, he prohibited his poetry from being set to music by anyone else. It is only in recent years when many of his poems have entered the public domain that they are being set to music by other composers. Thompson takes Frost’s pastoral words and adds exactly the right musical settings to illuminate the poet’s words.
We look forward to sharing this music with you! Admission is free. Come join us and bring a friend.
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Where is it happening?
Immanuel Baptist Church, 126 N Sycamore Dr, Paducah, KY 42001, United States
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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Host or PublisherPaducah Singers
