Famous melodies revisited: Bosque Civic Music Association's Bosque Chorale presents Songs of the People Spring Concert at the BAC's Frazier Performance Hall April 7
CLIFTON – Twice a year – in the spring and in the winter – the Bosque Chorale under the direction of Maestro David Anavitarte, brings magnificently sung music to its audience. And they like to mix up inspirational pieces with deep meaning with some lighter fare.
This spring, the Bosque Arts Center’s Civic Music Association is pleased to present “Songs of the People,” scheduled for Thursday, April 7 at 7:30 p.m. in the Frazier Performance Hall. The concert will feature an orchestra and includes a treasured collection of favorite pieces sure to please every music lover. It will be hard not to softly sing or hum along with these immortal musical melodies.
BCMA President Donna Jarman says the evening will be a “stroll down memory lane.” The evening features two pianists, an orchestra, and some two dozen singers who have been in rehearsals the past two months. The show will showcase a collection of favorites by composer Stephen Foster (1826-1864).
Foster wrote more than 200 songs, many of which remain popular today. He has been called the most famous songwriter of the nineteenth century and is also called the “Father of American music,” creating many foundation stones of the American songbook.
Foster was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970. According to the Songwriters Hall of Fame website Foster was “a melodic genius with tender, sympathetic lyrics and infectious rhythm, Foster is often credited as ‘America's First Composer’ and widely regarded as one of the first who made professional songwriting profitable. Fosters' songs were the first genuinely American in theme, characterizing love of home, American temperament, river life and work, politics, battlefields, slavery and plantation life.”
His works include “Oh! Susanna," "Camptown Races," "Swanee River," "My Old Kentucky Home," "Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair" and "Beautiful Dreamer.” Other tunes the audience may recognize during the concert include “Ashokan Farewell,” “Home on the Range,” “Amazing Grace,” and “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”
During the Civil War his songs featured themes like homesickness, missing loved ones and heroic soldiers.
In spite of his success, his increasing debts, loneliness and alcohol dependency led to his early death at 37. His death followed the completion of his last great song "Beautiful Dreamer." Tickets are on sale online at bosqueartscenter.org or by calling Bosque Arts Center at 675-3724 and priced at $20 each. The door opens at 6:30 p.m. A reception will follow in the BAC atrium after the show.
Chisholm Country correspondent BRYAN DAVIS contributed to this article. Photos by SIMONE WICHERS-VOSS & courtesy of the BOSQUE CIVIC MUSIC ASSOCIATION
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