Symphony offering free concert geared for families and children Sunday
On Sunday, March 19 Bremerton WestSound Symphony presents "Peer Gynt" and "The Jazz Fly." This one-hour concert is filled with glorious orchestral music, Jazz, tall tales, singing and acting. The program is specifically designed for families and children. The Bremerton Symphony will perform Edvard Grieg’s "Peer Gynt" with fantastic travel to other lands and battles with two-headed trolls who attempt to eat Peer Gynt.
Many of you will be familiar with Grieg’s "Hall of the Mountain King" but may not recall that the original was an accompaniment to Henrik Ibsen’s play, which included spoken dialogue, songs, choruses, and music for the Norwegian Hardanger Fiddle. We will perform selections from all of these. You will also hear music of the Lur, the ancient Norwegian horn. If you are familiar with the post office in Poulsbo, you have seen the long wooden Lur above the door. Our production includes traditional music for a Norwegian wedding and a sleigh ride. Peer Gynt’s travels take him to Africa and desert lands with a chorus of Bedouin Women and the song of Anitra, the chief’s daughter.
Back in Norway, Peer Gynt explores caves until he is confronted by trolls — teenage trolls. As everyone knows, to be beautiful, a troll must have at least two heads (three is preferred) and a tail. The girl-trolls all make fun of Peer Gynt. All except the daughter of the Mountain King who agrees that, though he is from an ugly race of one-headed beings, she will take him as a boyfriend. This is entirely too much for the conservative, xenophobic troll leadership. Elder trolls sound the alarm and summon the troll-pack to deal with Peer Gynt. He tries to escape by tiptoeing from the deep Hall of the Mountain King back up to earth but is spotted by troll-watchman. The trolls fall upon Peer and begin beating him and planning their dinner menu with Peer as the main course. At the last moment, just as Peer is giving up, the early-morning church bells ring. Since trolls cannot stand the light of day, they scatter back into the deep caverns and Peer is saved. Our soprano soloist is Dr. Emerald Lessley and our Peer Gynt is Terry McCauley.
As a delightful prelude to this drama, we present "The Jazz Fly," performed by our Youth Jazz Ensemble. This Benjamin Franklin Book Award winner, celebrates language, the inventive spirit of jazz, and will have you tapping your toes. These performances will be an inspiration to all our students and will encourage them to learn more about the music and the cultures we present.
This special concert is completely free of charge and may fill up quickly. Please contact us with any questions.
Bremerton WestSound Symphony, Bremerton Symphony Chorale, Youth Jazz Ensemble, and guest artists
Where: Bremerton High School, 1500 13th St.
When: 3 p.m., Sunday, March 19
Tickets: Free admission
Information: 360-373-1722, www.bremertonwestsoundsymphony.org
This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Bremerton WestSound Symphony presents free concert March 19
