THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 26, 1996 TAG: 9601240127
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines
There will be splendor in the brass at the Chesapeake Central Library.
Here's your chance to hear lovely sounds of brass instruments played in sublime harmony, to expose yourself and your family to an array of diverse music performed by experts.
And you don't have to leave Chesapeake or spend a lot of money. In fact, it's free thanks to the Chesapeake Fine Arts Commission and the Chesapeake Public Library system.
For the third year, the Central Library at 298 Cedar Road will present ``Light Library Sounds,'' a series of free concerts through February featuring chamber ensembles of Virginia Symphony musicians.
The schedule is as follows: Tuesday - Brass Quintet at the Central Library, 298 Cedar Road; Feb. 13 - Woodwind Quintet at the Central Library; Feb. 15 - Jazz Quintet at the Russell Memorial Library, 2808 Taylor Road; and Feb. 27 - String Quartet at the Central Library. All concerts begin at 7 p.m.
``This is part of a community outreach program by the Virginia Symphony,'' said the library's adult programmer, Elizabeth Griffing. ``I think it's a way for the symphony to show people that this thing called classical music isn't so boring after all. That it is very lovely and exciting. They feel that if people experience the music firsthand, they may have a tendency in the future to attend a Virginia Symphony concert.''
Griffing said the concert series is the library's way to get more patrons into its facilities.
``We want to offer as much as we can for our patrons, to offer full, rounded programs like this series or Civil War Days,'' she said. ``We offer a series like this to get people to come to the library. They see what a great facility we have and what a good staff of trained people we have. After these kinds of programs, we always see an increase in new applications.''
The series' first concert, featuring the Virginia Symphony's Brass Quintet, takes place at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Central Library's main meeting room.
The Quintet will feature John Bourque and Stephen Carlson on trumpets, David Wick on horn, R. Scott McElroy on trombone and Peter DuBeau on tuba.
Griffing said the five brass players will offer a varied program from Bach to Scott Joplin to Gershwin.
Tuesday's program will include ``My Spirit Be Joyful'' by Bach, The 16th Century Carmina as arranged by John Glasel, ``Fantasia Brilliant'' by J.B. Arban, ``Music Hall Suite'' by J. Horowitz, ``Solace'' by Scott Joplin, ``It's De-Lovely'' by Cole Porter, ``Bess, You Is My Woman'' by George Gershwin, ``East St. Louis Toodle-oo'' by Duke Ellington, ``Stardust'' by Hoagie Carmichael and ``Pink Panther Theme'' by Henry Mancini.
``They always offer a variety of music in their programs,'' Griffing said. ``Last year, they really started swinging. We usually get good crowds to come out to these programs, they've become very popular.''
And the Chesapeake audiences aren't the only people who have fun at these concerts.
``I talked to Peter (DuBeau) the other day, and he said that they're really looking forward to coming here,'' Griffing said. ``He was very upbeat about it and said he and the rest of the quintet are very excited about the concert.''
Griffing advised music lovers to come early Tuesday.
``When we offer these concerts, we put out about 150 chairs and they're usually filled by the time the concert begins,'' she said. ``For those people who come late, we'll only let them in between the musical selections. So, again, my best advice is to come early, it will be well worth it. Where else can one hear a brass quintet of this musical caliber for free?''
More information about the concert series or any other special program offered by the Chesapeake Public Library system is available by calling 547-6578. by CNB