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Evangel University Orchestra Fall Concert, Nov. 14

Published on Nov 8, 2019 by Paul K. Logsdon

The Evangel University Orchestra // PHOTO BY Michelle Retherford

 

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — The Evangel University Orchestra will present its Fall Concert on Thursday, Nov. 14, at 7:30 p.m. in the Robert H. Spence Chapel Auditorium.

The concert is free and open to the public. The Spence Chapel is located south of the main entrance to campus, at 1111 N. Glenstone Ave.

The all-orchestra program will feature music of four composers from European nations.

Pieces to be performed include Sibelius’ Finlandia, Bizet’s Carmen Suite No. 1, the first movement of Dvorak’s Symphony No. 6, and Metropolitan Portrait by German film composer Ulrich Sommerlatte.

Dr. Larry Dissmore //

The Evangel University Orchestra is under the direction of Dr. Larry Dissmore, who is in his 32nd year on the Evangel faculty. The 40-member orchestra is comprised of student musicians pursuing majors in music, as well as a variety of other fields available at the University.

About the composers

1)  The Finnish composer, Jean Sibelius wrote his tone poem Finlandia in 1899 as part of a political protest against the Russian control. The music depicts the heavy-handedness of the Russians as well as the faith of the Finnish people.

The lyrical theme of the middle section was later used for the Christian hymn, “Be Still My Soul.”

2)  Composed in 1875, the opera, Carmen, was destined to become French composer Bizet’s most famous work. Set in southern Spain, the work centers around the wily Gypsy girl, Carmen. Carmen initially falls in love with Don Jose, a naïve soldier who deserts his military unit. Later, Carmen rejects him for a glamorous bullfighter which brings about a jealous rage in Don Jose.

Unfortunately, Bizet did not live to see the tremendous success of Carmen on the world stage. He died of a heart attack three months after the first performance.

3)  The highly acclaimed Czech composer, Antonin Dvorak composed his 6th Symphony in 1880. As with Bizet’s Carmen, it was the 6th Symphony that placed Dvorak firmly on the International stage. In general, the Sixth is a “sunny” and contented work.

It contains music suggestive of Czech national folk song as well as the symphonic influences of the composer’s friend, Johannes Brahms.

4)  Ulrich Sommerlatte is a twentieth-century German composer who found success in writing music for films, big bands, and the symphony orchestra.  Composed in 1955, Metropolitan Portrait provides a good musical depiction of the optimism that pervaded the post-war era in both Europe and the United States.

Music at Evangel 

The Department of Music at Evangel University offers majors in music education, music performance, recording technology and worship leadership. Each program is carefully designed to ensure that students build strong musical skills, gain professional training and experience a wide range of musical activities.

The department is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music and the Missouri Association of Departments & Schools of Music.

For more information, contact Dr. Dissmore at (417) 865-2815, ext. 7214.

Evangel University, with the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary (AGTS), is a comprehensive Christian university committed to excellence in educating and equipping students to serve the church and society globally. Evangel and AGTS serve more than 2,300 students from all 50 states and numerous foreign countries, offering 70 undergraduate majors and 19 master’s and doctoral degrees.

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