A Performing Arts Series Electronic Letter from the

Audiovisual Department of the

Schaumburg Township District Library

October, 2004

 

 

The Audiovisual Department has successfully begun its fall concert season, and appreciates the complimentary letters from patrons. Many thanks to each of you who have supported the library’s musical program since its inception. Without your support, we would not have been able to schedule professional entertainers who have presented outstanding events.  For a sneak preview of our 2005 Outdoor Summer Concert Series, please go to:

http://www.yorkvillebigband.com/AAAA-WHERETHEBIGBANDSAREPLAYINGSummer2004SCHEDULE.htm

Simply scroll down to the 2005 schedule. 

 

The library has purchased a web-based e-mail marketing software package. Musically Yours will soon have a new professional and attractive appearance. Please feel free to forward the newsletter to your friends. I also encourage you to empty your mailboxes occasionally so you don’t miss the monthly newsletter. Sometimes mailboxes are too full to receive Musically Yours and it bounces back. If this happens five times, the new software package will automatically remove your email address from the subscriber list.

 

The Audiovisual Department will be taking on a new look, with a reconfigured layout, new shelving and other changes. As a result, there will be more space for our CD-ROM collection and the growth of other formats such as DVDs and CDs. We do not have an exact date yet from Taped Editions; however, MP3’s will be introduced to the Audiovisual collection as part of the leased tape program. Only abridged titles will be discontinued at this point and replaced with purchased unabridged editions when available.  

 

The following events are planned for October.

 

Two Trees: Native American and World Music

With Al Jewer and Andy Mitran

Monday, October 4 at 7 p.m.

Audiovisual Department

 

Al Jewer is an internationally acclaimed flutist, composer, studio musician and record producer. His collection of flutes contains instruments from every major culture of the world.  Jewer’s work can be heard in scores for film and video and on over 25 CDs spanning the last 15 years. His albums have received many award nominations and recognitions including “Best Native American CD” and “Best New Age CD.”  His first disc, Prairie Plain Song, made its debut at #4 on the nationwide radio charts and still receives International airplay and worldwide distribution. Jewer has received critical acclaim for live performances at festivals, fine arts concert series, museums and other events. Recent appearances include CBS’s 48 Hours, Chicago’s whole Life Expo, Milwaukee’s Indian Summer, Chicago’s Adler Planetarium, and worldwide syndicated TV shows taped at WGN Chicago.

 

Andy Mitran is a veteran composer, producer percussionist, keyboard player and drumming facilitator. Mitran is now in his 16^th year of commercial music production in Chicago and just completed 14 years as music director and onscreen character “Professor Andy” on WGN-Television “Bozo Super Sunday Show.” He has composed, arranged, produced and performed music for advertising, film, documentary, interactive media, corporate use and children’s video. In his private recording studio, he also does post scoring, sound design and audio post production. Mitran has received five Regional Emmy Awards, a Gold Award from Worldfest Houston, a Cine Golden Eagle, Parents Choice Award, BPME Gold Medallion and an INTV First Place Award.

 

 

The Vienna Waltz Ensemble

With Clara Lindner, Greg Sarchet and Carl Johnston

Monday, October 11 at 7 p.m.

Audiovisual Department

 

The Vienna Waltz Ensemble, a traditional combination of two violins and double bass, presents unique Viennese dance music composed from about 1770 to World War I in the Austro-Hungarian Empire.  The ensemble specializes in performing irresistible period dance music rarely heard outside central Europe.

 

Bassist Greg Sarchet, a Juilliard graduate, formed the group in 1996 as a result of his research into a body of music virtually unknown in the United States. While touring the Czech Republic several years earlier he was captivated by unfamiliar music he heard in restaurants and cafes by trios composed of a double bass and two violins. His research led him from the Czech Republic across Germany, Austria and Hungary to Great Britain. The collection of rare musical manuscripts he assembled became the repertoire of the Vienna Waltz Ensemble.

 

Violinist Clara Lindner, who provides the colorful commentary for the ensemble’s performances, said this music has had tremendous influence on both the classical and popular music that came after it.

 

In addition to Sarchet and Lindner, the Vienna Waltz Ensemble includes violinist Carl Johnston. All three musicians bring impressive credentials to the Ensemble. Sarchet is currently a member of the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Lindner and Johnston have both performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Ravinia Festival Orchestra. All have been affiliated with numerous prestigious musical organizations in the Chicago area and across the country.

 

The Vienna Waltz Ensemble has released two CDs devoted to its rare collection of music. The debut CD was the self-titled Vienna Waltz Ensemble, and the second was titled Flourish. The group’s first recording was a Billboard Critic’s Choice.

 

Great Lakes Ghosts

With Lee Murdock

Monday, October 25 at 7 p.m.

Audiovisual Department

 

Lee Murdock’s music speaks to the people who live, work and play around the Great Lakes today. His sparkling musical arrangements strike a responsive chord with audiences of varying musical tastes, and the stories he weaves into the songs captivate both young and old.

 

Not only is Lee Murdock a vocal recording artist, he also is a historian. Perhaps more than any other folk artist, he has given the Great Lakes the limelight, using authentic Great Lakes Source material of the past and present as the basis for his music. The program traces the history of the settlement of the Great Lakes region, including maritime history, songs and stories about the people who settled on the shores. He includes songs from farming, lumber trades, shipping, family life, women’s roles, heavy industry, lighthouse keepers, legends and heroes.

 

Noted as a fluent instrumentalist on the six and twelve-string guitars, Murdock’s musical influences span three centuries, from 17^th century Irish harp music to Scott Joplin guitar rags to original songs. Murdock has been a student of Great Lakes history and music for over a decade, and he has released eight CD/cassettes of Great Lakes music (old and new). He presents over 150 live performances per year, in schools, museums and concert halls all over North America.  His tapes and CDs are in high demand in museums and gift shops along every shore.

 

 

 

 

Midwest Ballroom with John Russell Ghrist

WDCB 90.9 FM radio

WDCB is a non-commercial, educational radio station broadcasting continuously to northeastern Illinois. The station is known for its diverse music programming: lots of jazz, folk, reggae, world, classical and my favorite, Midwest Ballroom, hosted by John Russell Ghrist, which has aired for four years. It is heard Saturdays at 5 p.m. over WDCB 90.9 FM and features Chicago area big bands and musicians. The station is owned by the College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL and can be heard all over Chicago and the suburbs, as well as worldwide on the Internet by going to http://www.cod.edu/wdcb/wdcb_online.htm.

Midwest Ballroom Programs for October

 

October 2         Spring Valley Concert Band directed by John Snow.

This is a community band composed of volunteers from the Schaumburg area founded in 1994.  Highlights of their summer concert in Schaumburg’s Towns Square are presented.

 

October 9         Bill Engberg Orchestra directed by Ken Flodin. 

This is Rockford’s oldest dance band formed in 1932.  The band’s singer is Harriett Ford. Portions of a recent summer concert are presented.

 

October 16       Anthony Scarano Accordionist.

Anthony lives in Evergreen Park and operated a music store in Brighton Park in Chicago. He owns Evergreen Music Company and teaches music lessons.

 

October 23       Glen Ellyn Jazz Ensemble

The program features highlights of one of the band’s summer concerts this year at Lake Ellyn. Drew Fase leads this fine energetic jazz band.

 

October 30       Mark Biegel’s Dixie Dogs and Vintage Jazz Quintet.

The program features music and an interview with Mark, recorded at this year’s Illiana Club of Traditional Jazz Annual picnic in Dyer, Indiana.

 

Thank you for subscribing to Musically Yours. Your email address will be used only to send you messages from the Audiovisual Department of the Schaumburg Township District Library. Email addresses will not be sold or provided to anyone else. If you have news or questions you want to share with other Musically Yours subscribers, just drop me a line at bmarik@stdl.org. I welcome all comments. If you decide to be removed from the list of eletter recipients, please reply to me and I will take your name off the list.

 

Musically Yours,

 

Barbara R. Marik

 

Audiovisual Information Coordinator/Music Programmer

Schaumburg Township District Library

130 South Roselle Road

Schaumburg, IL 60193

(847) 923-3186