For Immediate Release
Contacts:
Katherine Eklund or Kristin Fischer Rosel
msomanager@msomn.org
msomediacontact@msomn.org
Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra Presents The Composer Is Dead!!
Free 1-Hour Family Concerts Unite Darth Vader, Bart Simpson,
The Lone Ranger and Lemony Snicket
MINNEAPOLIS, January 13, 2012 – The Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra is pleased to announce its wildly popular Family Concerts, an annual celebration of music that will delight listeners from every generation. This year’s program features orchestral pieces that are associated with famous fictional characters from the world of radio, film and television.
The same program will be performed at each location:
Sunday, Jan 29 at 3pm
St. Matthew’s Catholic Church
480 Hall Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55107
Sunday, Feb 5 at 3pm
St. Joseph’s Catholic Church
1310 Mainstreet, Hopkins, MN 55343
The galloping final section of Rossini’s William Tell overture was the theme music for The Lone Ranger, first on radio in the 1930s and later on TV through 1957, although reruns of the series are still broadcast today. The retro-style Simpsons Theme has become a pop culture favorite during the series’ 23-year run. And the ominous Imperial March still provokes chills for listeners as they recall meeting iconic film villain Darth Vader for the first time in 1980.
"All ages recognize the memorable theme music for Darth Vader, Bart Simpson and The Lone Ranger – but it is rare to hear them all during a single concert!" says MSO Music Director William Schrickel. "In addition to these great symphonic themes, the MSO and I are very pleased to be presenting the local premiere of a wonderful piece based on The Composer Is Dead!!, Lemony Snicket’s hilarious and clever best-selling children’s book."
Local actor and musician Jake Endres assumes the role of The Inspector during the Snicket piece to help the audience unravel the mystery surrounding which orchestral instrumentalist did away with the composer.
At the January 29 concert, Neighborhood House students will join the fun and premiere their "mashup," a composition created by blending several pre-recorded tracks together. The students will use tracks of the MSO playing pieces from the concert's program. They'll transform the original symphonic pieces into a sound of their own using sampling techniques, rap, hip-hop, and even some improvisation and audience participation.
MSO musicians have been partnering with Neighborhood House students since early December in Give-and-Take meetings in which music, dinner and brainstorm sessions have been shared. The Neighborhood House students have been working with hip-hop artist Patrick Pegg in preparation for their performance.
"MSO is thrilled to continue our partnership with Neighborhood House for the fourth year running," says MSO Board Member and musician Laura Baron. "I can't wait to see how the orchestra music and rap skills mix together in the students' own personal musical creation at our concert!"
All MSO concerts are free of charge; free-will donations are appreciated. No tickets or reservations are needed.
The Composer Is Dead!! Program
William Schrickel, conductor
Jake Endres, narrator
Student musicians from Neighborhood House (Jan. 29 performance only)
Gioacchino Rossini – William Tell Overture
Danny Elfman – The Simpsons Theme
Steve Reich – Clapping Music
John Williams – The Imperial March from Star Wars Suite
Nathaniel Stookey/Lemony Snicket – The Composer Is Dead!!
About William Schrickel and The Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra
The Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra celebrates William Schrickel’s 12th season as its Music Director. He was an Assistant Conductor of the Minnesota Orchestra for the 2005-06 season and was the Music Director of the St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra from 2002-2008.
The Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra is in its 30th season. Founded in 1982 by Saint Olaf College graduates, the orchestra has grown from a small chamber ensemble to a full symphony orchestra, a magnet for some of the area’s finest professional and amateur instrumentalists. The primary goal of the orchestra is to reach all corners of the metropolitan area with a full spectrum of orchestral music and to encourage audiences to experience the excitement of live symphonic performances.
About Jake Endres, narrator
Jake Endres lives in St. Paul and performs as an actor, singer, music director, composer, director and producer. He has appeared with many regional groups, including The Minnesota Orchestra, The Children’s Theatre Company (The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins), G.R.E.A.T. Theatre, Skylark Opera, Park Square Theatre, Sapphire Chamber Consort, Frank Theatre, and Minnesota Dance Theatre as well as with The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and Actor’s Theater of Saint Paul.
About Neighborhood House
Founded in 1897 on Saint Paul’s historic West Side, Neighborhood House provides basic needs assistance, educational opportunities and a youth leadership program dedicated to developing skills, knowledge and confidence to thrive in diverse communities. The Arts Access program at the Neighborhood House is focused on embedding the arts into the St. Paul West Side community, and to using the arts as a tool to engage people across cultures. Visit www.neighb.org for more information.
This activity is funded, in part, by a grant from the Travelers Arts & Diversity Program through COMPAS