Grinnell College Presents Selections from Duke Ellington's Sacred Concerts at Saint John's Luran Church

Please join the Grinnell College Jazz Ensemble, Grinnell Singers and the Grinnell Oratorio Society in a collaborative performance of selections from Duke Ellington’s “Sacred Concerts”. Featuring selections pulled from the first and second of Ellington’s three “Sacred Concerts”, this music represents the first time in the history of jazz that a composer created a body of work specifically for use as worship music. As Grinnell alumnus Gary Giddins suggests, Ellington was not trying, in these works, to take on a musical idiom that was foreign to him; rather, he was attempting to “bring his own music intact to the church.” This music requires the collaborative effort of a jazz ensemble, full choir, and will feature soprano soloist Graciela Guzman, baritone soloist Christopher Johnson, tap dancer John Cumming-Meininger and guest narrator prof...

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Please join the Grinnell College Jazz Ensemble, Grinnell Singers and the Grinnell Oratorio Society in a collaborative performance of selections from Duke Ellington’s “Sacred Concerts”. Featuring selections pulled from the first and second of Ellington’s three “Sacred Concerts”, this music represents the first time in the history of jazz that a composer created a body of work specifically for use as worship music. As Grinnell alumnus Gary Giddins suggests, Ellington was not trying, in these works, to take on a musical idiom that was foreign to him; rather, he was attempting to “bring his own music intact to the church.” This music requires the collaborative effort of a jazz ensemble, full choir, and will feature soprano soloist Graciela Guzman, baritone soloist Christopher Johnson, tap dancer John Cumming-Meininger and guest narrator prof. Steve Andrews. The performance will take place on Friday April 20th at 7:30pm in Sebring-Lewis Hall (Bucksbaum). This concert is free and open to the public (all ages).

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