The Grove City College Department of Music will celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation at the annual Fall Concert for the Symphonic Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13, 2017 in Ketler Auditorium in the Pew Fine Arts Center on campus.
The concert is free and open to the public. Those who can't make it campus for the show can watch it online here.
Both orchestras are conducted by Dr. Jeffrey Tedford ’00, associate professor of Music and director of the College’s orchestras.
The orchestras will be paying tribute through music to the religious movement that officially began in 1517 with Martin Luther’s “Ninety-five Theses.” The concert will feature Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 5 “Reformation,” which was written in 1830 to celebrate the Reformation and the Augsburg Confession.
Prior to the concert, Dr. Dr. Joshua Drake, professor of Music and Humanities, and Dr. Paul Munson, professor of Music, will provide a pre-concert lecture at 6:30 p.m. in Arnold Recital Hall, also in the Pew Fine Arts Center, on the elements and history of Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 5 and the history and importance of congregational singing.
Guest conductor Jeff Lippencott will lead the Symphonic Orchestra as it presents the state premiere of his composition “Post Tenebras Lux” (Light after Darkness.) Lippencott is a two time Emmy-nominated composer and is responsible for the music of hit television series, including “The Apprentice,” “The Biggest Loser” and “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.” He has served as guest conductor with the College orchestras in the past.
“I am thrilled to welcome Mr. Lippencott back to our stage. His works blend a contemporary approach to symphonic composition while paying tribute to our heritage of faith,” Tedford said. “Both works featured in this concert are based on ‘A Mighty Fortress is Our God’ but are developed in completely different ways. This presents a traditional and contemporary approach to the same great hymn and challenges our players to be complete players as they approach completely different works.”
The Chamber Orchestra will perform Holst’s “St. Paul’s Suite,” which features the song “Greensleeves” in the final movement.
The Symphonic Orchestra will also invite the audience to sing along as they play two hymns: “Christ the Lord is Risen Today” and “All Creatures of Our God and King” to celebrate the rich history of singing in the Protestant church.