Msoc Information

MSOC offers every young person an opportunity to enjoy classical music, with free admission to all concerts for everyone 18 years of age or under. Another work on the program shows that young talent in Connecticut has always been abundant. Charles Ives was born in Danbury and composed "Variations on America " in 1891 at the age of 17. He was serving as the youngest church organist in Connecticut at the time. The work, as the title implies, is a set of variations on one of Ives' favorite melodies, the patriotic hymn America, more familiar as "My Country 'Tis of Thee. Ives wrote this piece for organ and first performed it in 1892. It is said he continued to improvise the variations as he played. The orchestra will perform William Schumann's arrangement of "Variations" for full orchestra, which became very popular during the U.S. Bicentennial celebrations in 1976. Also on the program is Gustav Holst's "The Planets," which was conceived by the composer as a series of mood pictures meant to convey human ideas and emotions. Profound contrasts of rhythm, harmony, and dynamics evoke the mystical influences of the various planets. The two three-part women's choruses heard at the close of the ethereal Neptune movement will be the voices of the Manchester Chorale. "I think our audience is going to be thrilled with this concert," says Buckley. "Ives' 'Variations on America' is most appealing and Holst's 'The Planets' is a massive work requiring a lot of extra musicians in the orchestra. Our audience will see the largest brass, woodwind and percussion sections we have brought to the stage during my tenure with MSOC." The Manchester Symphony Orchestra's annual "Young Artist Concert" will be held in the SBM Charitable Foundation Auditorium in the Arts, Sciences, and Technology Center at Manchester Community College. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and students over 18, and free for those under 18.