The Elegant Savages Orchestra In concert
TTU Celtic Ensemble
with assisting guests: Ms Zoe Carter (voice); Dr Ben Robinette (voice)
This event will be streamed online at https://www.youtube.com/user/ttuschoolofmusic 09.22.14 8pm (-6 GMT).
On Monday September 22, at 8pm in Hemmle Recital Hall at TTU School of Music, the TTU Vernacular Music Center?, the College of Visual and Performing Arts, The Caprock Celtic Association? and the Roots Music Institute present the Texas Tech University Celtic Ensemble a/k/a The Elegant Savages Orchestra. The program features symphonic orchestra and chamber settings of music from Ireland, England, Sweden, France, and Peru, played by an exciting new version of the band (33 players!)
Admission is free. Students, families, and seniors are especially welcome.
About the Music
The premise behind the expansion of the TTU Celtic Ensemble, to a full chamber orchestra (winds, brass, strings, rhythm, voices), was to explore the possibilities for a “quasi-symphonic” approach to traditional folk musics. Because the Ensemble itself contains players of widely divergent experience from both worlds, we felt that an element of compositions and arrangements specifically tailored to that meeting ground might provide interesting and stimulating possibilities for learning.
Practically speaking, we operate in a fashion similar to that of a college jazz program, in which all personnel participate in the “Big Band,” with smaller chamber groups breaking out for the voluntary “combos”. In those chamber groups, singers and players work together to develop their own individual interpretations of specific songs, tunes, and dances.
About Bassanda
Major inspiration comes from the fictional country of “Bassanda,” a creation of Taos-based musicians and VMC partners Chipper Thompson (chipperthompson.com) and Roger Landes (rogerlandes.com), who for purposes of our January 2014 debut assumed their Bassanda personae (“The Rev” and “The General”) as guest performers. When TTU Theatre & Dance faculty member Nicole Wesley (alias “Bronislava Nijinska”) joined the creative team as choreographer, the die was cast, and we were committed to exploring this “symphonic folkloric” music and dance in whatever directions it took us. We imagined the fictional “Elegant Savages Orchestra,” in which, as part of an “alternate-history” frame, it’s alleged that a Soviet satellite’s official state ensemble (the “Bassanda National Radio Orchestra”) had mutated, after the fall of Communism, into a free-lance ensemble engaged in a Never-Ending Tour.
Correspondence, personal biographies, timelines, galleries, historical & archival commentary at:
www.elegantsavagesorchestra.com; likewise search Facebook for “Elegant Savages Orchestra”
Individual titles will be introduced from the stage
Co-sponsored by the Vernacular Music Center, the School of Music, and the Roots Music Institute (rootsmusicinstitute.com)
We thank our brother & sister Ben and Zoe for helping out on their signature pieces!
Special thanks as always to School of Music Director William Ballenger a/k/a “Vilyum Balandjeor”
VMC staff
Media contact: Director Christopher J Smith (christopher.smith@ttu.edu)
Administrative Coordinator: Abi Rhoades (thegoddessreborn@hotmail.com)
Administrative Assistant: Candice Holley (candice.holley@ttu.edu)
Documentarian: Marusia Pola Mayorga (marusia.pola@ttu.edu)
The Elegant Savages Orchestra (formerly “The Bassanda National Radio Orchestra”)
Dr Christopher Smith (director)
Ashley Allen (fiddle); Chris Arcy (bass); Zac Barron (percussion); Heather Beltz (flute, whistle); Rachel Boyd (piano, guitar, voice); Anthony Cahill (clarinet, whistle); Xavier Degrate (fiddle, banjo); Nikit Desai (viola); Rachel Elder (fiddle, voice); Jesus Espinoza (cello); Carrie Evans (clarinet, whistle); Joanna Gatlin (flute); Mark Gurrola (accordion, trumpet, piano); Kathryn Mann (voice, dance); Garrett McNutt (viola, tenor banjo, voice); Corey Metcalf (fiddle); James Patterson (percussion); Jaclyn Paul (percussion, voice, dance); Jakob Reynolds (fiddle, bouzouki); Abi Rhoades (fiddle, voice, dance captain); Felicia Rojas (fiddle, voice, dance); Nasr Sheikh (viola); Steve Stallings (guitar); Stephanie Streseman (voice, dance); Cassie Vandersloot (flute, voice, dance); Morgan White (voice, whistle, dance); James Wilkinson (ukulele, voice)
Eagle’s Heart Sisters Dance Company director & choreographer:
Nicole Wesley
The Vernacular Music Center Scholarship at Texas Tech University
The competitive Vernacular Music Center Scholarship at Texas Tech University provides financial assistance to a student in the College of Visual and Performing Arts (in 2007-08, Ms Lauren Joiner; 2008-09, Ms Kalli Burk; 2009-10, Ms Jillian Schmitt; 2010-11, Ms Bridgette Mireles; 2011-12, Ms Emily Furillo; 2012-13, Mr Ben Robinette; 2013-14, Mr Jakob Reynolds; 2014-15, Mr James Patterson) who is a practitioner of one or more traditional performance idioms. For more information, please be in touch with Dr Christopher Smith at christopher.smith@ttu.edu
The VMC Outreach Scholars Program helps fund young performers of great promise for attendance at workshops, summer camps, and festivals, in order that they may develop teaching skills to share in future with their communities.
To find out more about the Outreach Scholars, and for news & information on VMC events: visit vernacularmusiccenter.org
Can I participate?
Yes! If you are interested in participating in one of the VMC ensembles or partners (Celtic Ensemble, Tzumba World Music, Early Music Ensemble, Irish Set Dancers, Caprock Morris, Americana Ensemble, Balkan Ensemble, Mbira Group, Elegant Savages, Mariachi Los Matadores, or other), feel free to contact their respective directors (see vernacularmusiccenter.com/ensembles.html). Auditions typically occur in the first weeks of each academic semester.
You can donate directly in support of the VMC Scholarship, Outreach Scholars, and Concert Series. Visit Give2Tech.com and search “Celtic Ensemble VMC Gifts” to make an online, tax-deductible donation.
VMC photographer: Dr Tiffany Holmes
tifholmes.com
Social Media Wrangler:
Christopher Hepburn
Brewmasters:
Milhouse Brewing Co.
Upcoming Vernacular Music Center Events:
- September 29: Balkan Ensemble, HRH
- October 8: World Music Ensemble, HRH
- October 30: Caprock Morris with TTU University Symphony Orchestra
- October 31: Pirates & Cowboys Halloween Ball at Yoga Bean (3135 34th St)
- November 21: Early Music Ensemble, St John's Methodist Church
- December 11: 14th Annual Caprock Celtic Christmas, Maedgen Theater
- January 20: José Guzman, guest teacher
- February 8: Celtic Ensemble / ESO Winter concert “Into the West,” HRH
- February 13: Jazz-Age Mardi Gras with the VMC, Yoga Bean
- March 9-10: Carlos Núñez & Band, Legacy
- March 28: Dancing with Mr Darcy and Dr Who, TTU Art Museum
VMC Partner: Roger Landes-curated House Concerts at Yoga Bean (3135 34th St):
- November 15: Steve Smith & Tim May
- November 22: Landes/Flanagan/Milton
- January 31 2015: Randal Bays
Broadcast
We are recording and streaming live tonight, and we appreciate your participation! However, because of this, we ask you to be especially thoughtful about cell phones, pagers, and any extraneous noise during the performance. Many thanks!
Notice Regarding Electronics
Please refrain from use of flash photography during this concert. Such use is an infringement of TTU copyright policy and represents a safety hazard for performers. Thank you for your consideration.
Websites:
