Musical Performances

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2004

Dinner Performance, 6:30 PM

Gettysburg College
World Music Ensemble

This ensemble is a mixed choral group with supporting instrumental players. Participants gain a better understanding of the role of music in world cultures, including those within the United States. They become familiar with different ways to learn and perform world music, and experience varied vocal and instrumental styles, techniques, and traditions. The ensemble performs in concerts each semester in conjunction with other choral ensembles, as well as performances in the community.

15th Annual Winter Jazz Concert
Gettysburg College Jazz Ensemble

The Gettysburg College Jazz Ensemble returned as a performing organization in 1989 after a five year hiatus.  All styles of Jazz are studied encompassing swing, Latin, fusion, bop and Great American Songbook tunes from the Swing Era.  The band has performed at the Montreux,     Vienne and North Sea Jazz Festivals while touring in Europe in 1993, 1997 and 2002.  Guest soloists featured with the 20 member GCJE have included John Fedchock, Lewis Soloff, Denis DiBlasio and Chris Vadala.  The guest artist for this concert is trombonist Jim McFalls.  Jim is a 20 year veteran of the famed Jazz Ambassadors, the United States Army's premiere jazz ensemble.

Axiom Asunder Concert
Majestic Jazz Orchestra

Composer Buzz Jones, Professor of Music and Music Department Chair at Gettysburg College has created a new work Axiom Asunder.  A composition in four episodes for jazz orchestra, dancers and narrator, Axiom Asunder will be premiered on April 30, May 1 and May 2 at Gettysburg, Franklin and Marshall and Dickinson Colleges.  Episodes 1 and 2 trace seminal influences of Jazz from West Africa and the Caribbean to its early days in New Orleans, Chicago and Kansas City.  Episode 3 addresses the juxtaposition of East Coast and West Coast styles in the 1940s-50s.  The poetry of Harlem Renaissance writer Langston Hughes is an integral part of the composition.  Selected episodes from Axiom Asunder will be previewed at the conference by the Majestic Jazz Orchestra. The Orchestra will also play music of historically important African American jazz musicians such as Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday and Dizzy  Gillespie.