June 10, 2014
MEDIA CONTACTS
Joseph Holt § [email protected] § 941-953-3124
Su Byron § [email protected] § 941-922-7274
The Gloria Musicae Singers Present
“Patriotic Spectacular”
July 4 at 4:30 p.m. First United Methodist Church, Sarasota
The Gloria Musicae Singers salute Independence Day with rousing songs celebrating America, including the Florida premiere of “One Land: An American Tapestry,” an epic choral work exploring Native American and immigrant experiences of America, and a tribute to Harold Arlen and Leonard Bernstein.
(Sarasota, FL) Sarasota’s Gloria Musicae Singers celebrate Independence Day with “Patriotic Spectacular,” featuring the Florida premiere of St. Petersburg composer Rand Snell’s “One Land: An American Tapestry,” an epic choral work exploring Native American and immigrant experiences of America, July 4, 4:30 p.m., at First United Methodist Church, 104 S. Pineapple Avenue, Sarasota. The concert will also feature traditional patriotic songs and a tribute to Harold Arlen and Leonard Bernstein. Ample free parking is available at the Zenith Garage on Mira Mar Court. Tickets are $35 for general admission or $33.50 if purchased online at www.gloriamusicae.org. Student tickets are $15 at the door on day of concert. For more information and to purchase tickets by phone, call 941-953-3368.
“We’re thrilled to present the Florida premiere of Rand Snell’s epic work celebrating the American immigrant experience,” says Dr. Joseph Holt, artistic director of Gloria Musicae. “His score comprises a variety of musical portraits of American immigrant stories, beginning with the Native American perspective and then leading into the Spanish, English/Northern European, African-American, Chinese, and Ellis Island experiences. The piece concludes with a rousing gospel portrayal of the United States as an eternally young land, imperfect but striving to be a better place.” Holt adds that musical elements reflect ethnic genres and include blues, gospel and klezmer, with hints of Gershwin and Ellington. “One Land: An American Tapestry,” commissioned by Louise Buchanan to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Congressional Chorus, was premiered at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in 2007.
The St. Petersburg-based Snell is a composer, choral accompanist and jazz pianist who is equally at home writing for instruments and the human voice. The son of a piano teacher who began his lessons at age four, he also studied voice, violin and organ, and received his Masters in Music Composition from the University of South Florida. Snell’s music has been performed in concert by the Congressional Chorus of Washington DC, the Orlando Chorale, the Richard Zielinski Singers, the Florida Orchestra Brass Quintet, the University of Maryland Percussion Ensemble, the St. Petersburg Opera Chamber Ensemble, church and community choirs, soloists and instrumentalists, and at numerous events at the University of South Florida in Tampa.
This concert, under the direction of Holt, also features a tribute to traditional patriotic songs and a tribute to two great masters of American song: Harold Arlen and Leonard Bernstein. The final solo performances of singing sensation Maria Wirries will also be featured before she heads to college later this summer.
“This July 4th concert is the perfect prelude to an evening of downtown dining and enjoying the fireworks over Sarasota Bay,” says Holt. “There’s no better way to celebrate our great heritage and national pride!”
About the Gloria Musicae Singers
The Gloria Musicae Singers is a professional vocal ensemble that celebrates choral music through innovative performances. The critically acclaimed group, under the artistic direction of Dr. Joseph Holt, performs a repertoire spanning four centuries, and includes orchestral works, intimate madrigals, church motets, folk songs, close-harmony jazz, and Broadway show music. The ensemble also specializes in premiere performances of lesser-known choral works, particularly music by living American composers. The Gloria Musicae Singers has performed premieres by René Clausen, Dick Hyman, Robert Levin, Gwyneth Walker, and James Grant, along with the premiere of a new edition of a rarely heard score by Rossini. For more information about Gloria Musicae, visit www.gloriamusicae.org.
