Amherst Symphony Orchestra: Sawyer, Still, and Gershwin (Family Weekend '25)

Описание: The Amherst Symphony Orchestra presented the second concert in its 2025-2026 season on Saturday evening, October 18, 2025 at 7pm. The concert opened with the collegiate premiere of Civil Disobedience by Eric Sawyer, Professor of Composition. Wrds drawn from Henry David Thoreau's famous essay of the same title were narrated to Sawyer's evocative music by Lawrence Douglas, Professor of Law, Jurisprudence & Social Thought.
The program continued with the canonic Symphony #1 ("Afro-American") by William Grant Still, and concluded with the ever-popular Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin. Hampshire College senior Natalie Sandor (a longstanding member of the ASO on violin!) was piano soloist. Mark Lane Swanson, ASO Music Director, conducted.

PROGRAM
0:40 Civil Disobedience (2017), Professor of Dramatic Arts Eric Sawyer (1962- ), Words by Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

Symphony #1 in A-flat major (“Afro-American”) (1930) William Grant Still (1895-1978)
19:28 I.Moderato assai/Pìu mosso/Andante cantabile
27:12 II.Adagio/Pìu mosso à lento.
32:58 III.Animato
36:35 IV.Lento, con risoluzione

46:43 Rhapsody in Blue (1924) George Gershwin (1898-1937)
Natalie Sandor (Hampshire ’26), piano, soloist