UGA Symphony Orchestra to perform in Ensemble Series

The Hugh Hodgson School of Music’s Ensemble Series continues on Thursday, September 26 at 7:30 with a concert by the University of Georgia Symphony Orchestra in Hodgson Hall. “This concert celebrates nationalism in music,” says Director of Orchestral ActivitiesMark Cedel. 

The first part of the concert features favorite works of two of our greatest American composers.  To open the concert, Dr. Jaclyn Hartenberger, Associate Director of Bands, will guest conduct Samuel Barber's hauntingly beautiful Adagio for Strings. 

Next, the orchestra's assistant conductor Jean Gómez will lead the orchestra in a performance of Aaron Copland's Appalachian Spring Suite, which dancerand choreographer Martha Graham commissioned and it premiered as a ballet in 1944. It was originally composed for thirteen instruments because of the limited seating available to musicians at the Library of Congress.  In 1945, Copland made a suite for a full orchestra, preserving the essential features of the original music. “Suite from Appalachian Spring, Ballet for Martha” has eight sections which have beautiful descriptions by the composer, such as “Introduction of the characters, one by one, in a suffused light…a sentiment both elated and religious gives the keynote…extremes of joy and fear and wonder… muted strings intone a hushed prayer-like chorale passage.”

After the intermission audiences will hear a piece by Antonín Dvořák. “He was one of the great nationalistic composers of the romantic period, and his Symphony No 7 is a shining example,” says Cedel. The Czech composer employs rhythms and folk aspects of Moravia and his native Bohemia. He had the support of Johannes Brahms who helped him to publish his music, which launched his international reputation. Upon his first visit to London in 1884, his music was already very well known. The London Philharmonic Society elected him as honorary member and commissioned a series of concerts in London. In response, Dvořák composed his Symphony No. 7and was premiered on April 22nd, 1885, at the St. James’s Hall in London.

Tickets for the performance are $12 for adults and $3 for students and children, and are available through the Performing Arts Center. They can be purchased online at pac.uga.edu, by calling 706-542-4400 or in person at the Box Office. The Ensemble Series includes concerts by the Hodgson School’s premiere large ensembles, with all proceeds from ticket sales directly benefitting its students. For those unable to attend, live streaming will be available at music.uga.edu/live-streaming.