Release date: October 4, 2006
American Music Week: “Extreme Spirituals” at Kennesaw State University
Contact: Cheryl Anderson Brown, 770-499-3417
Kennesaw, Ga.—The Department of Music at Kennesaw State University will highlight American Music Week, November 6-10, with a weeklong celebration of African-American spirituals, featuring new innovations and arrangements as well as the longevity of the musical genre. A variety of lectures and performances are planned Tuesday through Friday, culminating in a performance of Extreme Spirituals.” All events are free and open to the public.
The week begins on Tuesday with keynote speaker Dr. Barbara Steinhaus-Jordan, professor of music at Piedmont College, addressing “Black Spiritual Art Song: Interpretive Guidelines for Studio Teachers,” at 12 noon in the Music Building Recital Hall.
On Wednesday, Dr. Uzee Brown, head of the Department of Music at Morehouse College, will discuss “Oral Tradition” and conduct a masterclass on the techniques of performance practice, beginning at 3:30 p.m. in the Music Building Recital Hall.
KSU students will perform a recital of African-American spirituals and other American music on Thursday afternoon at 12:30 p.m. in the Music Building Recital Hall. That evening, the KSU Orchestra, under Dr. Michael Alexander’s direction, will perform the “Afro-American Symphony” by William Grant Still at 8 p.m. in Howard Logan Stillwell Theater. This performance features the winners of the 2006 KSU Concerto Competition.
This very special week culminates in Friday’s concert, “Extreme Spirituals.” by the legendary Boston ensemble Birdsongs of the Mesozoic with vocalist Dr. Oral Moses, professor of music at Kennesaw State. The ensemble’s unique blend of acoustic instrumentals and electric sounds in combination with the majesty of Moses’ voice has been described as “profound—a deeply moving musical experience.” The “Extreme Spirituals” CD has been released worldwide.
For more information about American Music Week and the Department of Music at Kennesaw State, call 770-423-6650 or visit www.kennesaw.edu/music.
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Kennesaw State University is a comprehensive, residential institution with a growing student population approaching 20,000 from 132 countries. The third largest state university out of 35 institutions in the University System of Georgia, Kennesaw State offers more than 60 graduate and undergraduate degrees, including a brand new Doctorate of Education in Leadership.
The KSU College of the Arts is one of only four Georgia institutions to have achieved full national accreditation for all of its arts programs.