World War I officially ended at 11:11 a.m., November 11, 1918. Join us throughout the season as we offer repertoire that honors that terrible war. In addition to performances that include significant repertoire, on November 11, the Conservatory presents a concert of music, dance, and spoken word events, including work by Stravinsky, Holst, Schoenberg, Ravel, and more! Steven D. Davis, Rose Ann Carr Millsap Missouri Distinguished Professor of Music and one of the organizers notes, "On behalf of all the faculty and students at the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance, I am honored to commemorate and celebrate the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day with fellow Kansas Citians. World War I took an immense and painful toll on humanity; our great nation alone mobilized over four million individuals, more than 110,000 of whom lost their lives. Remembering WWI offers us a chance to reflect on this world-changing conflict, and to pay tribute to those who served. Featured repertoire includes works by composers and musicians who lived through, and even fought in the Great War, and a variety of styles and genres will be represented. We look forward to sharing a powerful and poignant artistic experience with you on November 11, 2018."
The November 11 program, 2 p.m., which is free and open to the public in the Kansas City Public Library's Helzberg Auditorium, 14 W. 10th St., KCMO includes:
STRAVINSKY: L'Histoire du soldat
HOLST/arr. ZUGGER: Thaxed
SCHOENBERG: Die eiserne Brigade
ELGAR: Concerto for Cello and Orchestra in E Minor, Op. 85
DEBUSSY: Sonata for Violin and Piano in G Minor, L. 140
IVES: Three Songs of the War
RAVEL: Le tombeau de Couperin
COHAN: Over There
Related performances throughout the fall semester:
September 23. Conservatory Wind Symphony. This exciting program includes R. Strauss: Festmusik der Stadt Wien; Stravinsky: Concerto for Piano and Wind Instruments featuring new piano faculty Thomas Rosenkranz; and Hindemith: Mathis der Maler. 7 p.m., Helzberg Hall, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets, $25 general public, $10 UMKC faculty, staff, and all students with valid UMKC or student ID.
October 12. Conservatory Orchestra, directed by Steven D. Davis. The program includes faculty Mike Mermagen performing Elgar: Cello Concerto in E Minor, Op. 85, written in the aftermath of WWI.
7:30 p.m., White Recital Hall, Tickets: $8, $6 seniors: UKC faculty, staff, and all students FREE with UMKC or student ID.
October 18. Conservatory Wind Bands, directed by Joseph Parisi and Steven D. Davis. The program includes Messiaen: Et exspecto resurrectionem mortuorum; Barber: Commando March; Del Tredici: In Wartime; Sousa: Bullets and Bayonets. 7:30 p.m., Folly Theater, Tickets: $12 general public; $5 UMKC faculty, staff, and all students with UMKC or student ID.
October 25–27. Fall Dance, This exciting program includes Stravinsky’s L’histoire du soldat (The Soldier’s Tale) with the Conservatory Wind Symphony. 7:30 p.m., White Recital Hall, Tickets: $8, $6 seniors: UKC faculty, staff, and all students FREE with UMKC or student ID. Oct. 27, extra free and informal performance at 2:30 p.m.
November 11. A myriad of music, dance, and spoken word events in one concert (see above). Attendees may come and go throughout the concert, depending on their preferences. 2 p.m., Kansas City Public Library, Helzberg Auditorium, 14 W. 10th St., KCMO. FREE
William Everett, Curators’ Distinguished Professor of Musicology at the Conservatory, concludes “We often forget nowadays the importance of music as a source of solace and comfort during the war. Soldiers took record players with them to the trenches, where they would listen to music that reminded them of home. The importance of popular songs such as Ivor Novello’s Keep the Home Fires Burning and George M. Cohan’s Over There for morale building cannot be overstated. Offering a musical commemoration to the war, therefore, provides a heartfelt and meaningful tribute to those who lost their lives in World War I and those who lives would never be the same.”