Guitar trio to perform with JSO

By Mary Barber, Jackson Citizen Patroit, Staff Writer
Sunday, January 30, 2005
 

 The Falla Guitar Trio will perform with the JSO on Saturday

Falla Guitar Trio Web-Site
If you go...
  • Who: Jackson Symphony Orchestra, "Destination: England"
  • When: 8:00 p.m. Saturday, February 5, 2005
  • Where: Sheffer Music Hall, Potter Center, Jackson Community College, 2111 Emmons Road.
  • Tickets: $15-$26  Call 517-782-4133
  • Also: Family Music Festival & Fair, 1 to 4pm Feb. 6, Jackson High School, 544 Wildwood Ave.  Falla Guitar Trio and JSO to perform at 3 pm
  
It isn't often that a small-city orchestra gets the chance to be the first to play a new composition.

But that's what the Jackson Symphony Orchestra will do Saturday when it performs with the Falla Guitar Trio.

Kenton Youngstrom said the trio will perform its tentatively titled "World Music for Guitar Trio and Orchestra" with the JSO. Each member of the trio -- Youngstrom, Dusan Bogdanovic and Gyan Riley -- has composed one movement of the piece.

It fits in with the concert's "South of the Border" theme only because it sounds somewhat Spanish, Youngstrom said. The piece uses influences from India to the Balkans to Spain, and includes some improvised sections.

"We're kind of pushing the bounds a little bit," he said.

That's fine with JSO conductor Stephen Osmond.

"Lots of orchestras are more stodgy and scared than we are," Osmond said. "And their audiences are, too."

 

   Youngstrom said premiering the piece with the JSO has advantages all around. First, the audience gets to hear internationally recognized musicians, who otherwise would not be invited here. Jackson does not have a performing arts series dedicated to bringing in classical musicians.

Second, the trio gets a chance to perform for an audience who might otherwise ignore them.

Third, Youngstrom said, "It may attract more listeners (for the JSO). The guitar by itself has a following, and it may bring in people who are interested in guitar but don't really know the orchestral literature."

Fourth, and possibly most important, it gives people a chance to enjoy world-class music, live on stage.

"That's the mission for live performers -- to get people off their chairs and out from their computer screens," Youngstrom said. "We want to have a rapport happen."

-- Reach reporter Mary Barber at 768-4971 or mbarber@citpat.com.

© 2005 Jackson Citizen Patriot. Used with permission

© 2004 Jackson Citizen Patriot.
All rights Reserved. Reprinted with permission