Wheaton's Great Woods Chamber Orchestra presents a Family Concert
The Great Woods Chamber Orchestra closes its second season under the baton of its dynamic conductor, Earl Raney, at Wheaton College’s Cole Memorial Chapel on Wednesday, May 5 at 7:30 p.m.
The Great Woods Chamber Orchestra closes its second season under the baton of its dynamic conductor, Earl Raney, at Wheaton College's Cole Memorial Chapel on Wednesday, May 5 at 7:30 p.m.
Raney has programmed an all-string concert for all ages that features beloved favorites from Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and 20th century composers. The concert begins with Johann Sebastian Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 3, BWV 1048, a dazzling showcase of alternating string choirs of violins, violas, cellos, and basses, brilliantly punctuated by virtuosic solos. Closing the first half of the concert is a favorite of children and adults alike, Franz Joseph Haydn's Toy Symphony. Although attributed to Haydn, this delightful piece was actually composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's father, Leopold, a few months before Wolfgang's birth. This enchanting work is scored for strings with additional parts for toy instruments, featuring Wheaton College faculty and staff performing on trumpet, various bird whistles, rattle, drum, and triangle. Following the intermission, the GWCO will perform Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Andante Cantabile, Op. 11 from his String Quartet No 1. This tender movement, based on Ukrainian folk tunes, is often performed with full string orchestra. Scored for muted strings, Tchaikovsky creates a hushed masterwork containing some of his most beloved melodies. The program concludes with the Gustav Holst's St. Paul's Suite, written for Holst's pupils at the St. Paul's Girls' School. The work opens with a tuneful, lively jig, followed by a delicate waltz offset by flowing violin passages. In the Intermezzo, Holst uses powerful and exotic melodies from Algeria. During the closing Finale, listeners are treated to another rollicking jig that weaves two old English tunes, The Dargason and Greensleeves. $10 general admission, $5 students and seniors, $15 families of four or more. Tickets available at the door.
