APSU music, theater and dance faculty collaborate on Stravinsky concert
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. 鈥 The Russian composer Igor Stravinsky鈥檚 extraordinary musical/theatrical/dance work 鈥淭he Soldier鈥檚 Tale鈥 premi猫red at the end of World War I, during a time of moral and economic turmoil. Nearly 100 years later, with the world in a similar state, two Austin Peay State University creative arts departments are resurrecting the complex work for a rare, one night only collaborative performance.
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. 鈥 The Russian composer Igor Stravinsky鈥檚 extraordinary musical/theatrical/dance work 鈥淭he Soldier鈥檚 Tale鈥 premi猫red at the end of World War I, during a time of moral and economic turmoil. Nearly 100 years later, with the world in a similar state, two Austin Peay State University creative arts departments are resurrecting the complex work for a rare, one night only collaborative performance.
鈥淚t鈥檚 based on a Russian folk tale about a soldier on leave who unknowingly makes a deal with the devil,鈥 Dr. Gregory Wolynec, APSU associate professor of music, said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 based on the basic moral that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.鈥
At 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 13, APSU鈥檚 Gateway Chamber Orchestra and its Area of Theatre and Dance will present the Stravinsky work in the Music/Mass Communication Building鈥檚 Concert Hall. The performance will feature a neoclassical score, spoken narration and modern dance.
鈥淒uring graduate school, I had the opportunity to do the suite, and I鈥檝e always wanted to do the full performance,鈥 Wolynec said. 鈥淏y being involved in the Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts, I got in touch with Marcus Hayes (associate professor of dance) and said this would be an interesting collaboration between our two departments.鈥
鈥淕reg says Stravinsky, and I鈥檓 there,鈥 Hayes added. 鈥淲hen you say Stravinsky to a dance person, they鈥檙e there. I was instantly interested in working with it. The more I get into it, I鈥檓 finding all these layers. It鈥檚 really beautiful.鈥
Stravinsky wrote the piece following a highly successful period in his career, when he composed masterworks such as 鈥淭he Firebird鈥 and 鈥淭he Rite of Spring鈥 ballets. With the war in Europe ending and money tight, he scaled back this new composition, opting to write it for a chamber group of seven instruments 鈥 clarinet, bassoon, trumpet, trombone, violin, bass and percussion.
鈥淭he music is very approachable but very different,鈥 Wolynec said. 鈥淗e took textures, which has to do with the way different layers of sound are put together, back to the time of Bach, Mozart and Haydn. He鈥檚 also starting to get fascinated with jazz.鈥
The Gateway Chamber Orchestra will be on the Concert Hall stage, performing in the midst of the dancing and acting. For Hayes, who is directing and choreographing the production, the work lends itself to showcasing these different artistic elements.
鈥淭he way that it鈥檚 written, it kind of oscillates between the acting and the dancing and the music,鈥 he said. 鈥淭here are times when the stage goes dark and we focus on the musicians and times when the musicians provide the tapestry for what鈥檚 happening.鈥
Tickets to this performance are $5 for adults, $3 for military and students and free for APSU faculty, staff and students.
For more information on 鈥淭he Soldier鈥檚 Tale,鈥 contact the APSU Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts at 221-7876.