The Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra (KSO) brought a cinematic twist to its stage during their tribute to iconic scores featured in American film on Friday at the Boutell Memorial Concert Hall in the Music Building.
According to KSO Director and Conductor Linc Smelser, the inspiration behind the program started with wanting to pay homage to these works and their artists and to resonate with audiences who may not typically be in attendance.
“Movie music is near and dear to a lot of people for a number of different reasons. First of all, a lot of it is truly great music, but at the same time, it gives people a chance to associate with some of their favorite films and brings kind of a sentimental connection to a past movie, maybe that they even saw way back when they were a kid,” Smelser said.
Before the orchestra began their performance, the crowd ramped with excitement as the concert hall darkened and musicians finished tuning their instruments.
Beginning with the Symphonic Suite from “The Magnificent Seven” (1960), composed by Elmer Bernstein, The KSO took audience members on a nostalgic deep dive as the set list continued on into American’s favorite movies.
To further establish the whimsical vibes of the first piece, the concert transitioned into the Symphonic Suite from the “Lord of the Rings: the Fellowship of the Ring” (2001), composed by Howard Shore and arranged by J. Whitney, where the brass section dominated as the strings played an ominous arrangement that would make one feel as if they’re standing in Mordor itself.
While the music may feel familiar to musicians and audience members alike, the compositions used in these films are typically known for their technical demands on players and the detailed orchestration required from the conductor.
“You might get the impression that because it’s movie music that it’s not difficult. Or, since everybody kind of knows the themes from famous movies it’s not that challenging. But actually, movie music, especially by these composers, is extremely challenging to play for the orchestra,” Smelser said. “And the composers we’re highlighting and the selections we’re highlighting are some of the best in the industry, and what makes them so great is they’re able to write music that can be so closely associated with things or or even characters in movies.”
This concert is a part of the KSO broader season lineup for their spring concerts with a mix of contemporary pieces like these, and more traditional classical.
For the orchestra’s upcoming finale, titled “Springtime in Vienna,” the KSO will feature Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 5 and Johann Strauss II’s “Blue Danube Waltz,” performed by a full orchestra.
“Anytime an orchestra performs a symphony by Mahler, it’s a real event because his symphonies are amazing works in their own right,” Smelser said. “So our big season finale is going to be featuring that symphony, and then we’ll be playing the opening with Johan Strauss’s “Blue Danube Waltz,” which is a favorite of many people. Mahler and Strauss were Viennese composers, so the concert is called “Springtime in Vienna.” The performance will take place at 7:30 p.m. on May 2 at the Boutell Memorial Concert Hall in the Music Building. For adults tickets are $20, tickets for seniors 62 and over are $15, and for children under 12 as well as students with their school ID tickets are $8.
To purchase tickets for their season finale, or for more information on any future events, visit the Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra’s website.
