Cinematic Music Celebrated
What better way to celebrate our favourite movie heroes throughout the ages than a musical tour-de-force bigger than Ben Hur, with more twists and turns than a great mystery and celebrity appearances galore?
Cinema buffs and music lovers alike will be treated to a tour-de-force of music-making next month (August 6 and 7) when the USQ Keyboard Ticklers present the AT THE MOVIES PIANO RECITAL.
The recital will combine the sounds of two grand and four upright pianos and feature a program of cinematic favourites from movies such as Spiderman, Mission Impossible, James Bond, Star Wars, The Great Escape, Hook, Fantasia, Harry Potter and Casablanca (just to name a few).
The pieces have been especially selected and arranged by members of the ensemble to suit performance by multiple pianos.
Local musician and USQ Bachelor of Creative Arts student, Morgan Chalmers has been working on several of the major orchestrations.
“The program we have chosen is a true celebration of some of the best music from films; so often concerts involving music from movies only play the most famous and iconic pieces,” said Morgan.
“When selecting our program, we wanted to create a balance of well-known classics and also include some not-so-well-known musical gems; some of this music is absolutely brilliant but so rarely heard.
“The pieces have been especially challenging to arrange from movie soundtrack to piano score; but it has been great fun and really exposed me to the world of Twentieth-Century style music.
“They are all fantastic pieces which stand on their own as concert works and many justly represent legendary film composer John Williams’ melodic genius at its best, with each piece (especially Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Harry Potter) comprising soaring and memorable melodies.
“John Williams is my professional hero; his music was the first orchestral music I listened to as a child, and is still amongst my favourite works today.”
Joining the twelve ‘Ticklers’ on stage at various points throughout the concert will be an assortment of instrumentalists and three special guest artists; Marilyn Meier Kapavale (piano), Melissa Forbes (voice) and Phillip Gearing (piano).
“Marilyn and Phillip will be performing one of my personal favourites on the program; Hedwig’s Theme from Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone, which I have arranged and will be conducting.
“It is a brilliantly written score which lends itself so well to a piano medium; it almost seemed to transcribe itself and, knowing that Marilyn and Phillip enjoy a challenge, I have had a bit of fun adding in fast moving and musically challenging parts.”
AT THE MOVIES PIANO RECITAL will be presented in the USQ Arts Theatre at 7.30pm on Saturday 6 August and at 2pm on Sunday 7 August.
Tickets are $26.50 adult, $21 concession, $16 student, $8 child and can be purchased through the USQ Artsworx Box Office on 07 4631 1111.
This recital is proudly sponsored by the USQ Faculty of Education.
Contact Details:Michelle Fox 07 4631 1114