On Sunday, October 27th, the Raritan Valley Symphonic Band will open its 2019/20 season with its concert, “Days of Old”. The concert will take place at Bridgewater-Raritan High School (600 Garretson Road in Bridgewater) at 3 PM. Admission to the concert is free.
Travel back in time to the days when chariots raced, Vikings sailed and Nostradamus was predicting the future. Under the baton of Music Director Dr. Christopher Sumner, the band will perform a varied selection of pieces all set in ancient history.
The “Ben Hur Overture” is set during the first century AD based on the life of Judah Ben-Hur played by Charleton Heston. Michael Sweeney’s “Ancient Voices” uses special effects to evoke the feel of prehistoric times. Ron Nelson’s “Homage to Machaut” is based on several beautiful chant melodies of the 14th century composer Guillaume de Machaut. Steven Reineke’s “Fate of the Gods” is a large and intense work that will bring you back to the time of the Vikings.
“The Pines of Rome” is part of Ottorinio Respighi’s Roman Trilogy and depicts the Roman army marching into the city complete with trumpet fanfares. Another work by Steven Reineke, “Pilatus:Mountain of Dragons” illustrates the enormity of Switzerland’s Mount Pilatus while interpreting the legends of the mountain. The program concludes with a major work by Otto Schwarz, “Nostradamus” based on the predictions of the 16th century prophet, Michel Nostradamus.
Funding for this performance is made possible, in part, by a grant from the Somerset County Cultural and Heritage Commission.
For more information, please visit our website at www.rvsb.org and like us on Facebook!
