Audience members will take a trip through the music history and classic periods with the Eastern Symphony Orchestra and Concert Choir on Sunday.

The orchestra and choir will be playing pieces that are representative of the different eras in music history during “Musical Journey Through Time” at 4 p.m. on Sunday in the Dvorak Concert Hall of the Doudna Fine Arts Center.

Richard Rossi, the director of the Eastern Symphony Orchestra and director of orchestral and choral activities, said the groups will six compositions one for each of the six period in music history.

The different periods will include the Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, 20th Century and the contemporary period.

“This is a historical concert, so students who are taking music appreciation will probably greatly appreciate it,” Rossi said. “They will hear different styles.”

“This is one of the biggest concerts for use, because it includes so many people,” Rossi said.

Rossi said their program involves a lot of music that is unique and have interesting backgrounds.

The first piece is “Miserere mei, Deus” by Gregorio Allegri, he said.

“(It) was originally only played on Good Friday at the Vatican,” Rossi said. “It was banned from leaving and (Wolfgang Amadeus) Mozart, being the genius he is, memorized it and wrote it down.”

Rossi said the pieces from the Romantic Period should be familiar, even if the name is not.

The “Concerto Rondo in E flat major for Horn and Orchestra, K. V. 371” piece is by Mozart.

“It’s based on a wonder Hungarian, gypsy sounding, that everyone will know,” Rossi said.

Rossi said he wrote the grand finale contemporary piece himself.

“I’m so excited because we are premiering my piece,” Rossi said. “It’s been published, but this is the first time we’ve done it with an orchestra.”

The piece “Of Beauty” will feature the Eastern Symphony Orchestra and the Charleston High School Advanced Chorus.

“There will be about 130 choir singers and the 80 members of the orchestra,” Rossi said. “It’s going to be a lot of sound.”

Rossi said he thinks audiences will like the combination of vocals and music.

“There is nothing more beautiful than the human voice with symphonic sounds,” Rossi said.

Rossi said he is excited about the performance of his piece and likes what it stands for.

“It’s a contribute to all the art forms,” Rossi said. “Music is one thing that ties all the art forms together. Dance, drama, painting, music ties them all together.”

Samantha McDaniel can be reached at 581-2812 or slmcdaniel@eiu.edu.