Winter Band Concert

 

On Sunday afternoon on 27 February, the Peru State College Concert Band and Hoyt Street Jazz Ensemble entertained in the College Theater.

As the preceding blog entries indicate, the PSC bands and choral groups enjoyed a busy time.

Camera problems and a dreadful cold slowed my progress, but I posted a number of photographs that should indicate the performers' delight and intensity at the afternoon show on a gray and chilly day.

In addition to the photographs, I also posted on Your Tube three videos from the impressive performances.

First up, you will enjoy the band's version of "The Florentiner," a piece by Julius Fucik that

showcases pretty much each instrument in the Concert Band.  And then I posted the group's performance of "Intermezzo" from Second Symphony for Band by Frank Erickson.

After the Concert Band completed its show, the Hoyt Street Jazz Ensemble jumped to action. 

I recorded two of the Ensemble's pieces, "A Night in Tunisia," a new Mambo number for the band.  In addition, you will enjoy on the same video Jane Henry's belting out "Chain of Fools."  

Unfortunately, camera problems prevailed.  I only got three minutes of Henry's wonderful song, and fewer photographs than I would have liked.

But I figured out the movie camera's problem--actually my own lapse--and over the break, I bought a new camera to replace the older and warm member of my set of two.  

So I am ready for the second half of the term.

PSEA Dr. Seuss and a Show in Tarkio

PSEA held its annual Dr. Seuss Birthday Celebration Thursday and Friday, February 24 and 25.

As the photographs from Day One and Day Two underscore, students, teachers, and parents took an active role in the festivities.

Remember that you can download with a click a large file of any image that you like.

I am not sure how many youngsters, but probably over 1,000, attended the three shows--Friday morning's show got snowed under--but PSEA brought huge numbers to campus.

 

I enjoyed the pleasure--despite a terrible cold--of serving again as Master of Ceremonies, and Dr. Chet Harper and I "performed" once again our "Green Eggs and Ham."  

As the preceding video indicates, the youngsters have pretty much memorized all the lines.

You will find posted other skits from the excitement, including The Lorax, Daisy Maisie, and Horton Hatches an Egg, all performed by PSEA members to the youngsters' delight.

I hope that you enjoy all the skits and the photographs that try to capture something of the delight that dominated the days.

And for probably the ninth year in a row, on Tuesday the First of March, Chet and I spent two hours at Tarkio Elementary School in Missouri reading stories to youngsters there and offering again our ever-changing version of "Green Eggs and Ham."

As the photographs indicate, the kindergarten and first graders always give us a warm reception, and Chet and I are grateful to Jan Taylor and others there who continue to invite us back for Hop on Pop and other joys.

Honor Choir At Peru State College

On Tuesday, February 22, Peru State College hosted the 14th Honor Choir.

As the collected photographs from the Misty Blues and the Honor Choir suggest, all the performers enjoyed themselves and played to an energetic audience that filled the theater with applause.

The Misty Blues got the concert underway with their second performance in three days.  

This time around, I made a video of their delighting the crowd with  "Ours for the Taking" and "At Last."

After the Misty blues Show Choir lifted the audience in the Peru State Theater with music and dance, the nearly two-hundred  high-school students who had practiced all day filled the stage.

I recorded for your enjoyment the three pieces I filmed from the Concert Choir's performance on Sunday afternoon,  "Hallelujah, Amen" and "Gloria in Excelsis Deo" on one video and the fun "The Kerry Dance" on another.

Remember that you can download individual images or the entire album.  And be sure to watch the HD videos at the highest level for your complete enjoyment.

 

Choral Concert at Peru State College

On Sunday, February 20, the Peru State College Concert Choir, the Madrigal Singers, and the Misty Blues entertained a large and enthusiastic crowd in the Peru State Theater.

You will enjoy watching the slide show from all three performances.   As always, you can download individual photographs or the entire album, with one simple click.

The first video features the Concert Choir singing two pieces,  "Hallelujah, Amen" and "Gloria in Excelsis Deo."

I enjoy a great deal the second video, "The Kerry Dance," a wonderful Irish number that puts me in mind of a departed and beloved friend, Dr. Toney McCrann.  He would have enjoyed this piece a great deal.

 

After the Concert Choir left the stage, the Madrigal Singers entertained.  

This video from the performance includes three numbers, "O occhi, Manza mia" ("O eyes of my beloved"), "There Was An Old Man," and "O Mistress Mine."

And as always, Peru State College's Misty Blues brought the concert to a conclusion with their energetic dance and song.

For this show, I posted two videos.  The first features "Blue Skies" and "Bye Bye Blackbird," two new numbers performed live for the first time by the group.  


In the second video, the Misty Blues perform the concluding moments of "Celebration" and the complete "Ease on Down the Road" from The Wiz.


I hope that you enjoy the videos and the photographs from this exciting concert.

Soul Specimen at Cotty's..

Soul Specimen put on quite a show at Cotty's in Peru on Friday, 18 February. 

As the photographs collected indicate, everyone enjoyed the music, which features some special songs.

I added three videos to the growing You Tube collection of Soul Specimen numbers.  Two of the videos feature Laura Fortney in her debut as lead vocalist.

In this number, Laura belts out "White Rabbit," a favorite song from Jefferson Airplane's Gracie Slick.  And she also sang another familiar song, the title of which I will add later.   I think you will enjoy both numbers.

 And the other video captures John Hnida singing a Dylan song, "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues."

As I noted previously, we all enjoyed the good music and the excellent fellowship that occurs when this band plays.

Enjoy the music and the pictures.