Happy 2011!

Welcome to the new year, MMXI, one which boasts a number of musical anniversaries:

200th Birthday of Franz Liszt, one of classical music's first "rock stars." Besides being a brilliant composer for orchestra, he was a piano virtuoso who could play the most technically challenging pieces of the day. So popular were his electrifying performances that ladies would swoon in the aisles when he played a particularly showy passage.

100th Birthday of Alan Hovhaness, an American composer who was greatly influenced by the music of his Armenian heritage as well as music from India, Japan, and Korea. He wrote 67 symphonies (that's a lot for a 20th century composer) and a piece for orchestra that featured recordings of whale songs.

100th Birthday of Robert Johnson, legendary bluesman who allegedly sold his soul to the devil to become a great guitarist. He wrote a number of standards, including "Sweet Home Chicago."

100th Birthday of Mahalia Jackson, gospel singing legend. She took the bluesy style of Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith and applied it to the gospel songs of Thomas Dorsey to create a deep, soulful blend.

100th Anniversary of the Second Suite in F for Military Band, by Gustav Holst. This year, both SB and WE are studying the music of Holst, and this is the piece the SB is playing. It is one of the cornerstones of band repertoire, and a wonderfully fun and challenging piece that we will be playing on February 3 at our Winter Concert.