Picky, Picky, Picky

Student guitarists in Utah State University’s Acoustic and Electric ensembles cap the academic with a spring concert, and director Mike Christiansen promises an evening of music ranging from Latin to swing to funk.

The concert is Monday, April 16, at 7:30 p.m. in the Performance Hall. Admission is $5 at the door and USU students are admitted free with a current ID.

 

Four ensembles will perform during the evening, performing music written for four to eight guitars. The electric ensemble will perform music written for five electric guitars, bass and drums. For this semester’s concert, one of the acoustic ensembles will be joined by an upright bass for Dave Brubeck’s classic “Take Five.”

 

The repertoire for the evening includes music for classical guitar by Albeniz and contemporary work by Colibri. Also on tap is “Skippin,” a swing blues piece written by Jack Petersen, a jazz guitarist who visited USU’s campus earlier this semester, and the funk tune “Your Mama Told Me” by the Jazz Crusaders. The lively samba “Samba de Orfeo” is also planned, among other selections.

 

The guitar ensembles are primarily comprised of guitar majors — some majoring in guitar performance and others majoring in music education with guitar emphasis. The students’ advanced level makes it possible for them to perform some of the most demanding music written for guitar ensembles, Christiansen said.

 

“The arrangements are excellent and among the best being written for guitar ensemble,” he said. “All members are members of a minority group — guitarists who can read music.”

 

USU has one of the best known and established guitar ensemble programs in the country. And, guitar ensembles are gaining popularity throughout the nation, Christiansen said.

 

“In the past, audiences have been treated to an evening of fun, interesting, lively and beautiful guitar music,” he said. “This semester’s performance will be no exception.”

 

The Performance Hall is the quintessential performance venue for guitar, Christiansen said. “It allows audience members to hear all of the nuances which are so beautifully generated by the guitar.”

 

 

Contact: Mike Christiansen (435) 797-3011