Great Woods Chamber Orchestra rings in the holidays with a Gala Concert

The Great Woods Chamber Orchestra begins its second season under the baton of its dynamic conductor, Earl Raney, at Wheaton College's intimate Cole Chapel on Thursday, December 11, 2003 at 7:30 p.m. This concert combines festive classical and holiday favorites with a dash of Boston Pops-style holiday merriment. The concert begins with Italian master Ottorino Respighi's Ancient Airs and Dances, Suite No. 1, a set of pieces based on enchanting Italian 17th and 18th century songs and dances for lute. Closing the first half of the concert is Emile Waldteufel's Skater's Waltz, Op. 183, reminiscent of the infamous "Waltz King" Johann Strauss, Jr. Sleigh bells, horn calls and the beloved, immediately recognizable melody evoke images of snowy landscapes and 19th century gentility. In Edvard Grieg's Suite for String Orchestra, Op. 40, the composer chose the musical language of the 18th century to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Scandinavian literary giant Ludwig Holberg. Written in the French suite style, Grieg's Holberg Suite opens with a festive, spritely Prelude, followed by the lyrical lines and energetic dances of the Sarabande and Gavotte. The Air that follows is one of Grieg's most expressive slow movements. During the closing Rigaudon, GWCO concertmaster Sheila Falls-Koehane is showcased in the charming fiddler folk melodies of Grieg's homeland, Norway. The program concludes with the all-time Boston Pops favorite, Leroy Anderson's A Christmas Festival, which features Joy to the World, O Come All Ye Faithful, Silent Night, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, and Jingle Bells, among others.

The Great Woods Chamber Orchestra is made up of talented string, woodwind, brass, and percussion instrumentalists. It comprises students from Wheaton College, area high schools, and adults from the region. Now celebrating its second season the ensemble combines elegant musicality with a joyful spirit. The GWCO's richly diverse repertoire includes several styles of music from Renaissance and Baroque chamber orchestra literature to classical, romantic, and modern works for full symphony orchestra. Pops arrangements and new compositions are also showcased each season, and guest artists, including choral ensembles, vocal/instrumental soloists, are often featured with the ensemble. A young artist's concerto competition is scheduled for the Spring of 2004.
The annual fall and spring concerts are presented in a formal concert settingthe intimate, sparkling acoustic of Wheaton College's Cole Memorial Chapelwhile the new summer concert series will be presented in an informal outdoor venue. The GWCO is open to all community string, woodwind, brass, and percussion players. Contact the GWCO for audition dates and locations at chamberorchestra@wheatonma.edu or call 508-339-3742 ext 2.

Earl Raney is an assistant professor of music in performance at Wheaton College, where he is music director and conductor of the Southeastern Massachusetts Wind Symphony. Mr. Raney is also an adjunct professor of music at Atlantic Union College, where he is music director and conductor of the Atlantic Wind Symphony. He has served as guest conductor/clinician and given masterclasses at music festivals, high schools, colleges, and universities across the country. Balancing a dual career as conductor and trumpeter, he is well-known as the artistic director and solo trumpet of the award-winning Epic Brass Quintet. Since founding the Epic Brass in 1983, Raney has given over 1,400 concerts in 46 states, with appearances at the Kennedy Center, Weill Recital Hall and Carnegie Hall, among others. Internationally, Mr. Raney has performed in Canada, Bermuda, Jamaica, US Virgin Islands, England, Scotland, France, Austria, Germany, Poland, Italy, Switzerland, and the Far East. He has recorded numerous compact discs for the Ars Nova Digital record label. In addition to his chamber music career, Mr. Raney has performed in several New England area orchestras and as principal trumpet of the Taipei Festival Orchestra in Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.

Admission fees taken at the door are $10 general, $5 students and seniors and $15 for families of four or more. For directions to Wheaton College, go to www.wheatoncollege.edu/About/Driving.html. For a complete online arts calendar, go to www.wheatoncollege.edu/arts. For more information and updates call the arts information line at 508-286-3300 or email arts@wheatoncollege.edu.