Music to Lift the Spirits

Needing a little inspiration to improve your February mood? Then drop in to Central United Church at 1PM on Saturday for a joyful musical celebration. Ode to Joy! is a collaborative endeavour between the Brandon Community Band and Prairie Blend Men’s Choir that’s sure to help break your winter doldrums.

The early afternoon musical event will begin with the instrumental ensemble’s presentation of John Philip Sousa’s Liberty Bell, of Monty Python fame. “Another exciting work the community band has prepared is David Marlatt’s Variations on Blue Bells of Scotland,” said conductor Anna Penno. “It features virtuosic solos performed by two gifted young musicians,” adding that the Community Band counts several advanced high school musicians amongst its ranks.

To further enhance the collaborative nature of this concert, local community men’s choir Prairie Blend will be joined on two pieces in their set by young singers from the CP Sings! Equal Voice T/B Choir. “It’s a tremendous opportunity for mentorship, to model and celebrate the beauty of making music in your community no matter where life takes you,” said conductor, Deanna Ginn.

Ginn and Penno agree that the highlight of the afternoon will be the music the ensembles present together. “For this first - hopefully of many - shared performance, we have chosen to start with a piece that is a personal favourite to both of us and our ensembles,” said Ginn. She is referring to Eric Whitacre’s lush and beautiful Seal Lullaby, which the band and choir have learned and performed separately in previous years.

The groups also challenged themselves in preparing Dwight Bigler’s Three Appalachian Songs scored for band and choir. Bigler’s set frames an arrangement of Wayfaring Stranger, a classic folk tune currently featured in the box office hit, 1917. “These early American folk songs are intense, rhythmically challenging, and incredibly fun for musicians and audience alike,” adds Penno.

The afternoon performance will culminate with the title piece, an arrangement of Ludwig Van Beethoven’s final movement from his 9th symphony, Ode to Joy! in which this multigenerational mass of musicians will invite audience participation. Be sure to stop by Central at 1PM this Saturday for music to brighten your day. Admission is $10 at the door.