Music Guild
Music Guild performances cover a wide range of genres from country to classical. Held the second weekend in May, the annual Georgia String Band Festival carries on the legacy of Gordon’s own old-time musicians, the Yellow Hammers and the Baxter Brothers.
Chamber Players Of The South Saturday March 3, 7:30 PM
The Harris Arts Center is proud to partner with the GEM Theatre to present the Chamber Players of the South at the GEM. The program will feature Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue and Copland’s Appalachian Spring.
The Chamber Players of the South is an ensemble under the umbrella of Rome’s Own Musical Ensembles, Inc. (R.O.M.E.) and is directed by Dr. Sam Baltzer. Dr. Baltzer is director of the music education program at Shorter College in Rome, GA. Besides his responsibilities at Shorter, Dr. Baltzer also directs all of the R.O.M.E. musical ensembles – the Northwest Georgia Winds, Chamber Players of the South, and the Clocktower Jazz Ensemble. He is an active composer, arranger, performer, and clinician and is a past recipient of the Rome Area Council for the Arts “Artist of the Year” award.
Appalachian Spring was originally written in 1944 as a ballet score at the request of the famed choreographer Martha Graham. For this piece Copland borrowed the flavor of Shaker songs and dances and directly used the dance song Simple Gifts. The title of the piece came not from Aaron Copland, who had no particular setting in mind while writing the music, but rather from Martha Graham when titling her ballet. Appalachian Spring became one of Copland’s most beloved works and helped establish his international fame.
Rhapsody in Blue is a musical composition by George Gershwin for solo piano and jazz band written in 1924, which combines elements of classical music with jazz-influenced effects. Brian Wilson has said on multiple occasions that “Rhapsody in Blue” is one of his favorite pieces. It was also a heavy influence on his Smile album. Michael Stipe of REM has cited this as one of the largest influences in his musical development. Rhapsody in Blue established Gershwin’s reputation as a serious composer and has since become one of the most popular of all American concert works.
“American Classics Concert”
Saturday, March 3, 7:30 PM at the GEM Theatre
$20 General Admission $18 HAC & GEM Members
Tickets may be purchased online @ www.calhoungem.org or by visiting or calling the HAC at 706 629-2599.
2012 Georgia String Band Festival May 12
Y’all Come, and bring your Mama and ‘em!
The Georgia String Band Festival
Northwest Georgia Fairgrounds, Hwy 53 at Liberty Road
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Noon until – Dark-Thirty
$10 General Admission, Children 12 & under – Free
Featuring the Gordon County Fiddler’s Convention
String Band – $500/$300/$200
Fiddle – $200/$100/$75
Banjo – $100/$75/$50
Buck dancing – $75/$50/$25
Junior Players Competition – Age 15 & Under – Medals awarded to 1st, 2nd & 3rd place
Based on last year’s participation, the very best musicians from surrounding states will be here to vie for first place and generous cash prizes. The Junior Players Competition is a new category for 2012. Spontaneous jam sessions are encouraged throughout the day. Bring your instrument and join in or bring your lawn chair to “set a spell” and soak up the entertainment. The strains of old-time and contemporary music will fill the air from two stages. A traditional dance will end the festivities after dark, complete with caller. Food vendors are on location.
Volunteers needed!
HAC The First Stop For Smithsonian Exhibit – New Harmonies
Calhoun will host the exhibit New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music, coming to the Harris Arts Center in the spring of 2012.
The Georgia Humanities Council, in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution, selected Calhoun as the first site in the state to present the traveling exhibition that shares America’s story by examining the origins of American music. The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, a partner in the Georgia exhibits, will send orchestra members to each community for special programs exploring musical heritage.
In Georgia, New Harmonies will travel from 2012 through 2013, stopping in Calhoun April14–May 26 and then going for six weeks each to Americus, Bremen, Darien, LaGrange, Moultrie, Madison, Nashville, Perry, Thomson, Toccoa, and Waycross. (more…)
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