Carmel Symphony Orchestra (CSO) will present a special Masterworks 2 concert event for Veterans Day with a performance at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 11 at the Palladium.
Opening with a powerful and evocative performance of Valerie Coleman’s “Umoja, Anthem of Unity,” this CSO performance will weave together intricate melodies and rhythms inspired by African and African American musical traditions, creating a celebration of unity and cultural richness.
“This is truly a concert about unity in diversity,” Guest Conducter David Commanday said. “Coleman’s ‘Anthem of Unity’ is a tribal, choral piece that was orchestrated 20 years later for the Philadelphia Orchestra, the first time the orchestra had ever played a piece by an African American woman composer. It is truly a brilliant orchestration.”
Next, prepare to be transported to a bygone era with its Baroque influences and graceful melodies by Maurice Ravel’s “Tombeau de Couperin.” Ravel was a veteran of World War I. Unable to serve in a combat role due to medical reasons, he drove an ambulance during the war. He worked on Tombeau, a memorial to an 18th century French composer, through that war for piano, but orchestrated, brilliantly for full orchestra, himself. He dedicated each movement to a friend who had died during the war.
Charles Ives’ “Variations on America” injects an element of playfulness into the concert, where symphony musicians tackle this innovative and daring exploration of the American national anthem. With its surprising twists and turns, Ives challenges the conventional boundaries of orchestral music.
Lastly, delve into William Grant Still’s groundbreaking “Afro American Symphony, No. 1.” This pioneering work, the first symphony by an African American composer to be performed by a major orchestra, exudes a profound sense of pride and identity. Its blend of African American folk themes with European classical forms showcases the rich cultural tapestry of America. This piece was started in the 1920s and finished in the 1930s. It became a most popular, often-performed American symphony.
Special guest soloist
J’lan Stewart, an 18-year-old from Kokomo, will join the orchestra as a soloist, fresh off his work with The Songbook Academy run by the Great American Songbook Foundation Founded in 2007 by five-time Grammy Award nominee Michael Feinstein. J’lan is currently pursuing musical theater and human services at Ivy Tech after a high school career that included performing in Show Choir, Solo and Ensemble, and scholarship competitions.
“The CSO is proud to present this concert of diversity and unity, especially on Veterans Day,” Executive Director Anne Marie Chastain said. “We need to remember the importance of unity and shared values, during times of peace as much as during times of war. We are so grateful to our Veterans, who make freedom, necessary to unity, possible.”
Experience awe and inspiration at the Palladium. This Carmel Symphony Orchestra’s Masterworks Concert stands as a testament to the enduring power of music to connect contemporary voices and perspectives.
You can see the full CSO season schedule at CarmelSymphony.org.
Season tickets for 2023-24 are available at the Palladium Fifth Third Bank Box Office by calling (317) 843-3800 or online at thecenterpresents.org. Tickets for individual performances are also on sale.