Concert hits note of American music

An upcoming concert's "unusual mixture of Americana should be a lot of fun," according to Tom Prindle, describing "America The Beautiful," Nov. 11 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany.

The concert will feature Albany Pro Musica (APM) and the Empire State Youth Orchestra (ESYO) in "a celebration of America's musical heritage," said Mr. Prindle, the Cathedral's development director.

The proceeds will benefit the church's restoration fund.

New tones

"We were trying to think of ways to make the concert new and refreshing," he explained. "The Empire State Youth Orchestra is a time-honored tradition in this area. They have tremendous appeal.

"We thought it would be fun to have ESYO and the Albany Pro Musica -- two great musical traditions in our area -- together."

The program includes a capella pieces sung by APM and orchestra-only selections played by the young musicians of ESYO. The two groups will also perform joint pieces.

Veteran's Day

The concert was constructed to pay homage to the United States, the country's veterans and immigrant heritage, and the Cathedral's Nov. 16 anniversary.

The performance will begin with a rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner," and proceed to selections by Copland, Smetana and Foster, as well as arrangements of American folk songs and spirituals.

Brahms' "How Lovely is Thy Dwelling Place" and Mendelssohn's "Thanks Be To God" honor the Cathedral anniversary. A rendition of "America the Beautiful" will round out the evening.

Favorites

Helen Cha-Pyo, ESYO's director, said, "We are thrilled to be able to revisit some of the all-time favorites of choral and orchestral repertoire.

"'Thanks be to God' is dedicated to the Cathedral anniversary, for all those years of watching over us. We are excited to be in the Cathedral, that beautiful building."

"The opportunity [to the youth] to perform with a choral group like [APM] really expands their musical horizons," said Susan Brome, executive director of ESYO. "And in such a wonderful setting, it's ideal."

(The 7:30 p.m. concert will be followed by a gala reception at the Terrace Gallery of the neighboring New York State Museum. Tickets -- $35 for the concert only, and $100 for the concert and reception -- will be available at the door.)

(11/02/06)