Muscatine, Iowa – The Muscatine Symphony Orchestra will dedicate its November performance to the celebration of one of our country’s most beloved natural landmarks – the Grand Canyon.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Grand Canyon being named as a U.S. National Park. To commemorate this iconic natural wonder and other natural splendors in our country, the symphony will present an eclectic group of works from ballet houses to Tony-awarded musicals and an Oscar-winning film.
MasterWorks II, “The Grandest of Them All,” will start at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 9th, at Central Middle School auditorium, 901 Cedar St. Ticket pricing is $15 for adults, and students are admitted for free. (High school and college students should show ID.)
“Music of Americana is of great importance in the symphonic lexicon,” said Maestro Brian Dollinger, describing the concert theme. “The United States may have a shorter musical history than Europe, but American music is not devoid of culturally important styles and sounds. The early memories of the 1800s and the settling of this untamed landscape bring about visualizations and characters beloved and shared by generations.
“In Aaron Copland’s ballet, Rodeo, he takes the listener on a romantic journey in the great Southwest, originally subtitling the ballet – The Courting at Burnt Ranch. One of the most famous and exuberant tunes from symphonic literature is from the final movement of this suite of pieces. His Hoedown has been widely performed by all types and levels of ensembles and used on various television and radio marketing campaigns. I’m sure you all remember the commercial that ends, ‘Pork, the other white meat.’”
The 2019-20 Season includes exciting collaborations with guest artists and musical programming that sparks the imagination or marks special anniversaries in history.
Support for the 2019-20 Concert Season is provided through a grant by the Iowa Arts Council, a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs.
Additional Resources:
Muscatine Symphony Orchestra website: https://muscatinesymphony.org
Brian Dollinger website: www.briandollinger.com
