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Upcoming Williamsport Music Club show explores international music traditions

Connections to world-wide musical traditions will be explored during the Williamsport Music Club’s program at 7 p.m. Tuesday, at the Robert M. Sides Music Center, 201 Mulberry Street.

Program Chair Charles Getchell, has arranged for the audience a delightful tour of various musical approaches to the international treasure trove of folk music. French, Scottish, Dutch and Welsh melodies will be explored as well as plainchant, spirituals and an Appalachian folk tune. Various ways of presenting the arrangements will be used, such as piano, solo voice, instrumental ensembles, organ, various quartets and audience participation.

Traditional music frequently has its origins in unwritten melodies transmitted orally. The January Music Club program will highlight compositions and arrangements which show each melody in different ways.

A Mozart setting of a French children’s song “Theme and Variations,” V, VIII and IX will be presented by pianist Dianne Peeling, followed by Benjamin Britten”s setting of a Scottish folk song, sung by tenor Ryan Workman, accompanied by Janet Hurlburt.

The setting of an Appalachian Folk Tune by Luciano Berio will be rendered by an ensemble including soprano Robin Knauth, clarinetist Barbie Smith, pianist Susan Horn, organist Janet Hurlburt and Lucy Henry on the flute.

A vocal quartet will sing an African American Spiritual arrangement by Charles Getchell. Next on the program will be a Brass Ensemble presenting an arrangement by Jari Villanueva, of a score from the movie “Clear and Present Danger,” which is based on a 1922 song by William Arms Fisher and set to the “Largo” from Dvorak’s “New World Symphony,” inspired by the style of traditional spirituals.

Soprano Sara Scott will sing a Welsh folk song by Benjamin Britten. The audience will enjoy participating in a plainchant melody by David Willcocks, accompanied by organist Carol Waltz, who will then complete the evening by presenting a 1597 Adrianus Dutch Hymn in an arrangement by Robin Rokey.

Greeters for the evening will be Lynne Koskie and Eileen Wylie. The Song of the Month will be presented by Lois Williams and Bonnie Horn. The program is free and open to the public.

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