Everyone loves a good story! From the light-hearted fairy tale to the action-packed war epic, there’s a dramatic lineup of entertainment at A Century of Story, a weekend of performances by the Trinity Western University Concert Band and Orchestra. The ensembles will appear in Langley and Abbotsford on April 8 and 9.
“We looked for engaging stories told through music, and came up with everything from a ballet to a vintage cartoon,” says Allan Thorpe, Chair of Music at TWU’s School of the Arts, Media + Culture (SAMC). “We’ll be playing pieces full of whimsy and fun, like Bernstein’s sparkling Candide overture, and more cinematic pieces like Prokofiev’s well-known march from Love for Three Oranges. It’s a piece that’s been borrowed many times over for film soundtracks, so it will be a familiar tune,” Thorpe adds.
Along with Bernstein and Prokofiev, the concert band will perform highlights from Wagner’s opera, Die Meistersinger, and ballet music from Borodin’s Prince Igor. A lesser-known piece called Abram’s Pursuit brings some contrast with its thrilling Old Testament tale of war and rebellion. The 1945 song Tubby the Tubaserves as the comedic centerpiece for the evening with fun for the whole family as the instruments literally become characters in a story about a tuba with an identity crisis. The song’s original recording featured the vocal talents of Hollywood funnyman Danny Kaye, and the narrator at TWU’s concert is Dan Squires, a multi-talented business student who sings in the SAMC Chamber Choir and performs frequently in comedy improv. The orchestra rounds out the night with Beethoven’s playful and imaginative eighth symphony.
Both ensembles feature TWU students and alumni alongside other talented musicians from across the Fraser Valley. A Century of Story is presented with support from Long & McQuade and Flying Horse Design Studio.
EVENT AT A GLANCE
Date: Friday, April 8
Time: 7:30pm
Place: Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, Langley
Date: Saturday, April 9
Time: 7:30pm
Place: Peace Lutheran Church, Abbotsford
Admission: $10 suggested
Info: twu.ca/samc or music@twu.ca