NEWS RELEASE

Contact: David West (west@nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

9/22/2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES - The Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Orchestra will present its annual Pops Concert Thursday, Oct. 7 at 7:30 p.m. in Prather Coliseum. The concert will be the debut of conductor Douglas Bakenhus.

Table reservations are available at $200 for a table of 10 or $160 for a table of eight. General admission for arena seating is $5. NSU students are admitted free with I.D.
Table reservations must be made by Sept. 30 by calling Linnye Daily at 352-7970.

The orchestra will perform selections with a Western theme. Works to be performed include "Hoedown" from the ballet "Rodeo" by Aaron Copland, "Orange Blossom Special" arranged by Robert Wendel, "Ashokan Farewell" by Jay Ungar and arranged by Custer and Rossini's "William Tell Overture."

Also on the program are "Ch'ella mi creda" from "Girl of the Golden West" by Puccini, "Oklahoma" and "Oh What a Beautiful Morning" from Rogers and Hammerstein's "Oklahoma!"

The orchestra will also present "The Cowboys" by John Williams, "Concert Suite" from "Dances with Wolves" by John Barry and arranged by Rosenhaus, "Satchmo!(A Tribute to Louis Armstrong)" arranged by Ted Ricketts and Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA" arranged by Lowden.

"Hoedown" is a scene about a cowboy dancing with his girl. "Orange Blossom Special" is based on a classic fiddle tune that describes a train (The Orange Blossom Special) along with other familiar tunes "Chattanooga Choo-Choo" and "I've Been Working on the Railroad."

"Ashokan Farewell" is from the Ken Burns documentary series "The Civil War," and describes a last dance before going off to fight. On the "William Tell Overture," the orchestra will play the morning scene popularized in several cartoons and then the hunt scene which we in the U.S. know as the "Lone Ranger Theme."

"Ch'ella mi creda" is from a Puccini opera set in the Wild West. This aria will be performed by tenor and NSU faculty member Michael Rorex. The character's name is John and he is singing about how he must go and leave his love Minnie.

"Oklahoma" is the opening signature song from the musical "Oklahoma" and will be sung by NSU choral students. Rorex will perform "Oh What a Beautiful Morning."

"The Cowboys" is one of Williams' earliest film scores. The movie features John Wayne as a cattle driver and is full of beautiful scenery. "Concert Suite" from "Dances with Wolves" includes the main title music, "Journey to Fort Sedgewick," "Pawnee Attack," "The Love Theme" and "End Title" music.

The Armstrong tribute is a medley including "What A Wonderful World," "When the Saints Go Marching In," "St. Louis Blues" and "Hello, Dolly!"

Lowden's arrangement is of a patriotic Country and Western tune by Greenwood.

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