NEWS RELEASE
Siskiyou Saxophone Orchestra performs Pictures at an Exhibition
(Ashland, Ore.) –Ashland locals and internationally renowned Siskiyou Saxophone Orchestra, under the direction of Dr. Rhett Bender, performs the famous Pictures at an Exhibition by Modest Mussorgsky on Friday, May 14th at 8:00 PM at the SOU Music Recital Hall. Audience members are invited to a cake reception following the concert.
Mussorgsky wrote Pictures at an Exhibition after the sudden death of his friend, artist Viktor Hartmann. The music depicts an imaginary tour of Hartmann’s art. Originally it was a showpiece for piano but it was made famous by its many orchestrations. Most notably are the orchestral arrangement by Ravel and the progressive rock version by Emerson, Lake and Palmer. William Schmidt’s version for saxophone is perfectly suited to the musicians of the Siskiyou Saxophone Orchestra. Also featured on the concert is chamber music from the New People’s Quartet and the SOU Woodwind Trio.
The Siskiyou Saxophone Orchestra (SSO) is comprised of students, both music majors and non-music majors, and faculty, staff and administrators from Southern Oregon University. Under the direction of Rhett Bender, Professor of Music at SOU, the SSO arranges, composes and commissions music of all styles and musical periods. Featuring the rare sopranino and bass saxophones, its performances showcase styles from classical music, opera highlights, American big band hits, world music, and original pieces written for the SSO. In October 2007, the SSO traveled to China where they performed to mobs of admiring music fans. As the guests of Mercury Saxophones, the SSO performed at the China Music Trade Show in Shanghai and at the northern seaside resort city of Yantai. The SSO have performed live on the Oregon Shakespeare Festival Greenshow and KTVL Channel 10 Morning News. They were recently honored by being selected for a performance at the XVth World Saxophone Congress in Bangkok, Thailand.
Tickets for this performance are only $5 for general admission and free for students. Tickets and season passes may be purchased by calling 541-552-6101 or at the Music Box Office prior to the performance. For more information, please visit Southern Oregon University’s Department website at www.sou.edu/music.
-SOU-
Running Tune Robert Baksa (b.1938)
Lullaby
March
Badinage Paul Koepke (1918-2000)
SOU Woodwind Trio
Kaleigh Hull, flute
Malin Judah, oboe
Connie Gardner, clarinet
Misterioso and Final from Quatour de Saxophones Ida Gotkovksy (b.1933)
New People’s Quartet
Holly Kruggel, soprano
Tang Di, alto
Jamie Krull, tenor
Rhett Bender, baritone
INTERMISSION
Promenade arranged by William Schmidt
1. The Gnome
Promenade
2. The Old Castle
Promenade
3. Tulleries
4. Bydlo
Promenade
5. Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks
6. Samuel Goldenberg and Schmuyle
Promenade
7. The Market Place at Limoges
8. Catacombs
Lingua Mortua
9. The Hut of Baba Yaba
10. The Great Gate of Kiev
Siskiyou Saxophone Orchestra
Tang Di, soprano
Jamie Krull, alto
Holly Kruggel, alto
David Whipp, alto
Kirsten Campbell, tenor
Andrew Krug, tenor
Connie Gardner, tenor
Steve Davidson, baritone
Kylee Rohrbacker, baritone
Tovi Olivolo, bass
Rhett Bender, artistic director
