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American Muse

Muses

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Saturday, February 9, 2008 / 8:00 pm
Sunday, February 10, 2008 / 2:00 pm

Town Hall Seattle
8th Avenue at Seneca

Non-reserved seating: $25 (General), $20 (Senior), $10 (Under 25)

February is a month full of uniquely American observances, and Maestro Coleman has found the perfect music for it! Hear what happens when classical American composers find their inspiration in American pop culture in a concert called “American Muse.”

“This concert was fun to program,” admits Coleman. “While most choral composers find inspiration in traditional sacred, historic or poetic texts, there are American composers who find their “Muse” in elements of popular and contemporary culture. “American Muse” will be fun, often ironic, definitely eclectic, and full of surprises!”

Oakland composer, Paul Crabtree, will lead off the program with his “Five Romantic Miniatures from The Simpsons.” While Crabtree is a dedicated classical composer, he began watching The Simpsons cartoon series more carefully and realized it had all sorts of deep, emotional messages. And so, he sat down at his grand piano and composed sweeping, dramatic sounds with lyrics straight out of the Simpsons' mouths!

Philip Glass’ highly successful “Songs from Liquid Days” remains his only real song cycle. In creating this cycle, Mr. Glass enlisted as lyricists four of New York's most respected pop songwriters with poetic leanings—Paul Simon, Suzanne Vega, David Byrne and Laurie Anderson. After the 1986 debut, Glass gave permission to English composer, Jeremy Marchant, to rework the cycle into a major vehicle for chorus, chamber orchestra and two pop singers. For this first Seattle performance of “Songs from Liquid Days,” the Seattle Choral Company will be joined by Portland tenor, Victor Morris, and Seattle jazz vocalist, Greta Matassa.Bobby McFerrin

Other choral works on the program will include:
“Brief Eternity” by Bobby McFerrin/Lyrics by Don Rosler
“Presidential Suite” by Jack Gottlieb/Lyrics by seven American presidents
“Afro-American Fragments” by William Averitt/Lyrics by Langston Hughes


American Muse Program

I.

Five Romantic Miniatures from The Simpsons
by Paul Crabtree

  1. Abe - You remind me of a poem
  2. Lisa - I like Langdon Alger
  3. Homer - Marge, you make the best...
  4. Marge - I love you so much
  5. Homer - Marge, I need you

Presidential Suite
by Jack Gottlieb

  1. Ask Not: Anthem (Kennedy)
  2. Advice from Honest Abe: Riff (Lincoln)
  3. Calvin’s Creed: Softshoe Shuffle (Coolidge)
  4. Whistle Stop: Madrigal (Truman)
  5. No News: Barbershop (Jefferson)
  6. In the Jungle: Soundscape (Teddy Roosevelt)
  7. Rendezvous with Destiny: March/Finale (FDR)

Afro-American Fragments
by William Averitt/Words by Langston Hughes

  1. Song for Billie Holiday
  2. Feet O’Jesus
  3. Fire

II.

Brief Eternity
Bobby McFerrin & Roger Treece/Words by Don Rosler

Songs from Liquid Days
by Philip Glass

  1. Changing Opinion (Words by Paul Simon)
  2. Lightning (Words by Suzanne Vega)
  3. In Liquid Days (Words by David Byrne)
  4. Open the Kingdom (Words by David Byrne)
  5. Freezing (Words by Suzanne Vega)
  6. Forgetting (Words by Laurie Anderson)