Musicians travel through time with century pieces

When attending “A Musical Journey Through Time,” audience members can expect a wide variety of music styles. The concert includes music from most of the major musical periods in history. This includes the Renaissance (1380-1630), Baroque (1600-1750), Classical (1750-1820), Romantic (1800-1900) and 20th century (which also includes music of the 21st century) periods.

“We start with 17th century then we have an 18th century piece, then we have two 19th century pieces, we have two 20th century coral pieces and a 21st century piece. So that’s why it’s ‘Journey Through Time,” because basically it’s a little bit of everything,” Sergei Pavlov, conductor of the concert choir and Eastern Symphony Orchestra said.

“A Musical Journey Through Time” will involve both the Eastern Illinois University choral ensembles and the Eastern Symphony Orchestra. “Trombone Concerto” by Ferdinand David, two poems from “Opus 88” by Dmitri Shostakovich, “Clarinet Concerto No. 2” by Carl Maria von Weber, “Floating World” by Stephen Andrew Taylor, “The Last Words of David” by Randall Thompson are some of the songs that will be performed.

There will also be works performed by the orchestra alone. These will be a capella choral pieces and one accompanied by Derek Maninfior who will be playing the organ.

Also performing with Maninfior will be two instrumental concertos featuring Mark Rheaume and Moria Tunison, who are the winners of the EIU Concerto Competition. Rheaume will be playing the trombone and Tunison will be playing the clarinet.

“This is our most intense concert of the semester, as it involves both of the EIU Choral Ensembles and the Eastern Symphony Orchestra,” Janet McCumber, director of the university mixed chorus said.

Pavlov said the community has been supportive of the school and the orchestra.

“The great thing is that the orchestra concerts are pretty full. The first time I did a concert here at Eastern I was very surprised,” Pavlov said. “So a lot of people from the community are obviously very supportive of the school and the orchestra and that’s great. You don’t get this everywhere. It’s really impressive. There is great awareness on the part of the community that this is something really important.”

Eastern Symphony Orchestra and EIU Choral Ensembles: “A Musical Journey Through Time” will take place at 4 p.m. Sunday in the Dvorak Concert Hall in the Doudna Fine Arts Center. Tickets are $5 for students, $12 for adults, $10 for Eastern employees and seniors.

Samantha Bilharz can be reached at 581-2812 or denverge@gmail.com