085 PRESIDENTIAL CONCERT SERIES BEGINS OCT. 7th at MTSU

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sept. 27, 2006
CONTACT: Tim Musselman, 615-898-2493

Four-Concert Series Offered Free of Charge, Public Invited to Attend

(MURFREESBORO)—Representatives from the Robert W. McLean School of Music announced the return of the Presidential Concert Series at MTSU, which will open with Requiem by Frigyes Hidas and feature the MTSU Wind Ensemble, MTSU Concert Chorale and soloists beginning at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 7 in the Hinton Music Hall of the Wright Music Building on the MTSU campus.
Sponsored in part by MTSU President Sidney McPhee, this year’s series will also feature the Austrian-Philippine pianist Aima Maria Labra-Makk at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 10; the Boston Brass at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 22; and the Blair String Quartet at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 10.
Regarding the opening concert, Requiem has been noted for its groundbreaking scoring for wind ensemble and chorus. Written in memory of the deceased from every war in history, it is the first work of its kind composed for winds rather than full orchestra although it follows the traditional form of a requiem.
"We are very excited to be doing this new setting for a requiem," said Raphael Bundage, MTSU choral professor and conductor of the MTSU Concert Chorale.
"Having performed requiems by Mozart, Verdi and Fauré, we are finding it to be a very beautiful and lyrical setting of the requiem text in the style of Bruckner and Faure." Bundage said. "(Hidas) combined the German and French traditions of vocal writing."
Reed Thomas, director of the MTSU Wind Ensemble, said he met composer Hidas at the Mid-West convention in Chicago and that Hidas autographed a score and recording of the requiem for him.
"(Ever since) I have been looking forward to the opportunity to perform it," Thomas remarked.
"The music is very beautiful and the colors of the winds with the choir are brilliantly intertwined,” he continued. "It is performed regularly in Europe, but has only received three to four performances in the U.S., primarily because it is difficult to assemble the required personnel.
“This is the Tennessee premier,” he noted, “and I hope it will be performed several times in the future as it is worthy of the effort."
Bundage said two MTSU alumna will join in as soloist; namely, Alice Matlock Clements and Deanna Wright. Other two soloists for the requiem are MTSU professor and tenor H. Stephen Smith and Allen Saunders, guest bass.
Requiem premiered on Nov. 3, 1996, at The Bakats Square Temple in Budapest, Hungary.
The Oct. 7 concert is free and open to the public.
For more information on this and other events in the McLean School of Music, please call (615) 898-2493 or visit the calendar of events at www.mtsumusic.com.
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