Thursday, July 11, 2013

Thursday Thirteen 296: Concert on the Square edition





Getting this up a bit late this week, owing to not being home Wednesday night. Friends and I attended the third of this season's Concert on the Square series. The concerts are performed every Wednesday evening at the Capitol, for six consecutive weeks, and are free to the public. Listeners are invited to bring a chair or blanket, a picnic dinner (though you can also purchase box dinners from one of the pricey vendors), and enjoy a summer night listening to live music.

The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra performs a variety of music each week, often with guest artists. The music selections include classical, swing, pops, and stage-and-movie themes. In short, there's pretty much something for everyone. The first concert of the season included Tchaikovsky's "Waltz" from Sleeping Beauty and Peter and the Wolf by Prokofiev. Last week's was an homage to Independence Day with music by American composers and ending with the 1812 Overture.

And tonight? Well, that's the subject of this week's post: Thirteen of the songs heard at tonight's concert, featuring harmonica virtuoso, Robert Bonfiglio. I've included links to YouTube, should you wish to listen to any of the selections, except the last one. Since I could not find a link to that medley, or even a listing of all the songs included, I've linked to two of the songs I remember being in the medley.

Enjoy!


1. Hoedown from Rodeo (Aaron Copland)
(Americans may recognize this from the “Beef . . . it’s what’s for dinner” commercials.)

2-4. American Frontier (Arr. Calvin Custer)
-- Oh! Susana
-- Shenandoah
-- America, the Beautiful

5-7. Beach Boys Medley (Arr. Calvin Custer)
-- Good Vibrations
-- I Get Around
-- California Girls

8-11. Duke Ellington medley (Arr. Calvin Custer)
-- Don’t Get Around Much Anymore
-- Do Nothin’ ‘Till You Hear From Me
-- Sophisticated Lady
-- It Don’t Mean a Thing (If it Ain’t Got that Swing)

12-13. Suite George (Gershwin Medley) (Arr. Eric Knight)
-- Summertime (Performed by Sissel--a bit slower than the version played tonight, but one of my favorites.)
-- I Got Rhythm (Performed by Judy Garland--it was the best version I could find.)



So...anyone care to take a guess as to which of the above-listed songs has been in my head since leaving the concert? Go on, give it your best shot. ;-)

Next week's concert should be a fun one--a tribute to Sir Elton John, with special guests Jean Meilleur and John Regan.


LINKING TO: Thursday Thirteen







18 comments:

anthonynorth said...

That looks like a very special event.

Ron. said...

Sounds like a good time.
Din't know about you, but for me it would be either "Good Vibrations" or "Don't Get Around Much Anymore."

Shelley Munro said...

Sounds like a fun concert. I've got Rhythm is stuck in my head now :)

CountryDew said...

I'm going to go with I got Rhythm. Looks like a nice way to spend an evening.

Mary Quast said...

I bet you couldn't get the "beef" tune out of your head. LOL We have a Friday Night Jazz in the park here. I love outdoor concerts. I think it brings a little "culture" to everyone.

colleen said...

I love and outdoor concert and when orchestra mix it up like that.

Heather said...

Anthony: It is a pretty special event, one that has become a cherished tradition. This season marks their 30th anniversary.

Heather said...

Ron: It is a good time--and one of your guesses is correct!

Heather said...

Shelley: It is a fun way to pass a summer's eve. Sorry about the earworm. :D

Heather said...

Anita: Definitely a pleasant evening--warm, but breezy. Almost a little too windy at times. As for "I Got Rhythm" -- good guess, but no. Maybe if I actually knew all the words to that one. :D

Heather said...

Mary: Nah, thankfully the "beef" one did not stick. There are also weekly jazz concerts here, on a different night, but they start much earlier, so we have no time to get to them.

Heather said...

Colleen: I love going to Concerts on the Square. The music blends well with a sultry summer night.

Alice Audrey said...

That's quite the lineup. No wonder they attract a crowd.

Heather said...

Alice: Indeed it is. With such beautiful weather for the first three concerts, the crowds have been wrapped around the Capitol Square.

It's a fun place to people-watch, too. Last night I saw Santa Clause. Seriously, the guy was wearing a red t-shirt and had a long white beard. Last week we saw a guy who looked like Big Foot -- or maybe one of those Geiko cavemen. The week before that someone walked by dressed as Eeyore.

Jennifer Leeland said...

Well Summertime is your favorite. I'm going with that one. Awesome TT.

Heather said...

Jennifer: "Summertime" is a favorite song, but -- believe it or not -- it was actually "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" that was stuck in my head. In fact, I was singing it to myself repeatedly to myself while walking last night. They say the sign of a good pace is that you can sing or talk without running out of breath while still working up a sweat.

Paige Tyler said...

Sounds fun! Love the Beach Boys songs! LOL!

*hugs*
Paige

My TT is at http://paigetylertheauthor.blogspot.com

Heather said...

Paige: The Beach Boys medley was fun--I can't wait until next week's Elton John tribute, although it looks like it's going to be hot and muggy. Ugh!