Centenary’s Hurley School of Music presents “Tin Pan Alley and Beyond!”
SHREVEPORT, LA — Centenary College’s Hurley School of Music has planned a celebration of jazz tunes from the Tin Pan Alley of New York (and beyond!) for Friday, April 1, at 7:30 p.m. in the College’s Anderson Auditorium. The performance features the talents of voice students from the Hurley School of Music and the Centenary Wind Ensemble with special guest artist Alexander Woods. The concert is free and open to the public.
“This will be a festive night filled with tunes that are instantly recognizable and will evoke a feeling of nostalgia,” said Dr. Janani Sridhar, assistant professor of music at Centenary. “It should make for a fun evening out!”
The Centenary Wind Ensemble will open the program with tunes by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. Ellington, a composer and pianist, was a major figure in the Harlem Renaissance. His songs “Sophisticated Lady, and “In a Sentimental Mood” have firm footing in the canon of jazz standards that are played around the world today. Strayhorn was a multi-faceted artist, composer and arranger, who also often collaborated with Ellington. Some of his most notable compositions include “Take the A Train,” and “A Flower is Lovesome Thing,” both of which are on the “Tin Pan Alley and Beyond” program.
Centenary singers will perform selections by Tin Pan Alley composers George and Ira Gershwin, Irving Berlin, and Cole Porter. The Gershwin brothers were of Jewish-Ukrainian ancestry, with hits such as “Embraceable You,” “I Got Rhythm,” and “Nice Work If You Can Get It” becoming integral pieces in the repertoire of jazz standards. Porter’s hits such include “I get a Kick out of You” and “Just One of those Things,” while Berlin contributed classics such as “White Christmas” and “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm.”
For more information, contact Dr. Janani Sridhar at jsridhar@centenary.edu.