Symphony to tackle classics of U.S. patriotism

Kimberley McGee

Friday, Oct. 19, 2001 | 9:02 a.m.

The spirit of America will swell with musical selections featured in the Henderson Civic Symphony's 15th season opener, "American Overtures."

Conducted by local orchestra teacher Brad Pfeil, the 90-minute concert Sunday at the Lorna J. Kesterson Valley View Recreation Center will feature the works of American composers, including Samuel Barber and Aaron Copland.

"We chose this (theme) of American artists back in May," said Pfeil, who conducts daily as a music teacher at Las Vegas High School. "It fits now with everything that happened on Sept. 11, but I think it's important that we know it and play more of it."

Such composers as Barber and Copland wrote orchestra pieces about the American landscape in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Pfeil said.

"Their music captures that time and place that only we have in America," Pfeil said. "It (the music) has a certain amount of freedom. It captures the spirit of America that way."

Some TV viewers may recognize Copland's music from a recent commercial by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association ("Beef. It's what's for dinner.").

The Henderson symphony will also play "Outdoor Overture" by Copland, because of its early folk and country sound. Copland composed most of his songs while traveling across the country in the mid-1800s, when pioneers headed west in search of gold.

Soprano soloist Lori Laux will perform Barber's "Knoxville: Summer 1915."

While most concertgoers usually expect a bit of classical compositions such as those from Beethoven or Mozart at most symphony concerts, Pfeil said he chose to include Barber's almost-recent composition as a change of pace.

"It's written in the mid-1900s so it's a modern-sounding piece, but also very melodic," Pfeil said. "It's accessible to listeners, although quite often people aren't real receptive to modern music (of the last 100 years.) They expect the classics."

A 1 p.m. pre-concert discussion will be led by symphony member and violist David Green, who is also a librarian at the Las Vegas Academy.

Green will inform guests about what they may want to look for in a certain piece and provide trivia about the composers. He will also answer questions from the audience.

"By understanding the piece, they (the audience) come out of it with a lot more," Pfeil said. "It's beautiful music that the composers wrote about this country. It's our folk music. Our history."

As an encore Pfeil has chosen to play "America the Beautiful."

"After the tragedy we all look for ways to heal and to console each other and music is one of the best ways we can do that," Pfeil said. "Specifically, American music is something that we all share. 'America the Beautiful' makes me feel really proud."