Sugar Magnolia: A Tribute to the Grateful Dead |
Sunday, August 9, 8:00 pm
Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium
Tickets: $30-$50
Matthew Hindson: Rave-Elation (Schindowski Mix) [U.S. Premiere]
Lee Johnson: Dead Symphony no.6
|
| |
|
| If ever there was a place where the passion for the Dead never waned, then it would be Santa Cruz. Tonight, on the anniversary of Jerry Garcia’s death, Marin Alsop and the Cabrillo Festival Orchestra will pay tribute to the Grateful Dead with composer Lee Johnson’s acclaimed Dead Symphony no. 6. The epiphany for the project came to its producer, Mike Adams, during a 1974 Grateful Dead concert at Omni Atlanta. He left that night knowing that an orchestra must perform the music! Thirty-five years later, what better place than Santa Cruz, California and what better orchestra than the Cabrillo Festival’s own, to celebrate these icons of another musical genre? Blair Johnson at Dead.net (the official site of the Grateful Dead) describes Johnson’s symphony as follows: “Rather than merely being straight orchestra transcriptions of famous pops tunes…Johnson has used ten Grateful Dead songs as jumping-off points for an imaginative and emotional journey through both obvious and suggested melodies, harmonies and motifs in the various tunes.” |
In this twelve movement work, Johnson has woven themes from Saint Stephen, Here Comes Sunshine, Mountains of the Moon, Blues for Allah, Sugar Magnolia, To Lay Me Down, If I Had the World to Give, Stella Blue, Bird Songs and China Doll, and even included an improvised section. The concert opens with the U.S. Premiere of young Australian composer Matthew Hindson’s Rave-Elation, a piece inspired by dance and ‘rave’ parties, and the party-goers’ single-minded indulgence in physical enjoyment. Wear your tie-dye and join the party. It promises to be one of those not-to-be-missed Santa Cruz moments!
|
“Dead Symphony takes different fragments of the Dead's music and reweaves them into a sparkling tapestry that satisfies a whole 'nother realm of possibility."—Dennis McNally, Grateful Dead Historian and Publicist |
| |
|
|
The celebration ends with a Post-Concert Q&A with composer Lee Johnson; Dennis McNally, longtime Grateful Dead publicist and biographer; and David Gans, author and host of the nationally-syndicated Grateful Dead Hour.
Do us One Kind Favor: Bring along a contribution of canned food or a monetary donation for Second Harvest Food Bank that night, and you’ll receive a Special Commemorative Poster of the event!
Keep on Truckin' right over to the UCSC Library Special Collections: If you're a Dead Head, you'll want to visit the Grateful Dead Archives to complete your experience. Find out more now!
|
Skeleton violin image from a design by Barry Williams
Concert banner design by Salal Moon Rinaldo
|