After wrapping up its last season with a European tour, the Sault Symphony Orchestra (SSO) will launch its 2024-25 season with a celebration of music from the Americas. The concert, titled Music of the Americas, is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 27, at The Machine Shop.
“We’ve come back home to North and South America,” said Stephen Mallinger, SSO’s artistic director and conductor, in an interview with SooToday. “The program features nine pieces, as well as O Canada and The Star-Spangled Banner. It offers a nice snapshot of the music from this part of the world.”
Mallinger highlighted that the second half of the concert will showcase lively Latin American dance rhythms. “It’s very upbeat and fun,” he added.
The program will include a diverse range of pieces, including a unique orchestral arrangement of Bob Marley’s Is This Love, arranged by Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser. “Everyone knows Bob Marley. This piece is an orchestral study in reggae, and it’s a lot of fun to play. The arranger, Bartholomew-Poyser, is a fantastic musician who works for the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and brings a modern approach to music for new audiences,” said Mallinger.
The concert will also feature two tangos by the renowned Argentinian composer Astor Piazzolla. “Piazzolla’s music is incredible, especially when it comes to the tango. We’ll perform one slow tango and one fast. The sound and style are unmistakable,” Mallinger explained. Additionally, the program will include works by Mexican composers José Moncayo and Arturo Márquez. “When you hear this music, you can’t just sit still. It brings your whole body to life,” he added.
Indigenous music will also be an essential part of the event, with a performance by the Giigidoo Nimkii Rolling Thunder Drum Group. This drum group, made up of young Ojibway men aged 11 to 15 from First Nations communities across the region, has quickly gained recognition for their dedication and skill. They have performed at various gatherings and have been praised by Grammy-nominated drum groups and First Nations Elders.
Mallinger will also present Three Newfoundland Folk Songs, which he arranged himself. “I’ve been to Newfoundland a couple of times, and I was struck by the powerful musical culture there. These three folk songs are well-known and beautiful, and I wanted to arrange them for an orchestra,” he said.
Another Canadian piece featured in the program is Four Poems, arranged by Christine Donkin. The piece is based on four poems by New Brunswick poet Charles G.D. Roberts and will be narrated by local performer James McShane.
The concert, expected to run for about two hours, promises to be a rich and vibrant showcase of music from across the Americas. “The orchestra is in great shape. Last season was fantastic, and we’ve been playing well together. We had a wonderful response from the audience, and everything is very positive,” Mallinger concluded.
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