September 27, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Portland, Ore. … Third-, fourth- and fifth-graders from the Portland metro area will learn about the essential elements of rhythm as the Oregon Symphony, led by Conducting Assistant Jonathan Pasternack, presents the first Youth Concert of the season, "Upbeat, Downbeats!" on Tuesday, Oct. 29 and Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 9:30 and 11 a.m. at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.
Whether dancing to the beat of the latest hit or feeling the pulse of the human heart, we're all surrounded by rhythms of daily life, said Director of Education and Community Programs Michael Kosmala. Symphony musicians, under Pasternack's direction and with help from the music of Handel, Bruckner, Mozart, Grieg, Rossini and others, will explain and demonstrate basic rhythmic concepts, including pulse, tempo, beat, meter, and repetition of rhythmic patterns.
The program features Mexican composer Jos Moncayo's "Huapango," inspired by folksongs of Mexico; the "Minuet II" from Handel's "Music for Royal Fireworks," the "Scherzo" from Bruckner's "Symphony No. 4 in E-flat major," Mozart's "Overture" from "Cosi fan tutte," "In the Hall of the Mountain King" from Grieg's "Peer Gynt Suite," and excerpts from Rossini's well-known "William Tell Overture," as well as other works. This concert also includes links to the following curriculum subjects to further assist teachers: Visual & Performing Arts, English/Language Arts, Social Sciences, Math, Science, and Physical Education.
Oregon Symphony Youth Concerts are designed for elementary and middle school students throughout the state of Oregon and are attended by more than 20,000 students each year. The Symphony presented its first "Music for Youth" Concerts in 1962 to junior and senior high school students in the Portland Public Schools. Youth Concerts are age-specific and support common curricular goals of the Oregon Content Standards in multiple subject areas. Oregon Symphony Education and Community Programs work with area teachers, administrators and parents to develop concerts that provide students with quality experiences in the arts and that are relevant to their current learning skills and knowledge.
Tickets are $3 per student; the concert is free for students in the free-or reduced-lunch programs. For more information call 503-228-4294 or visit the Symphony's Web site at www.orsymphony.org.