FOUR-MINUTE FANFARE A PORTRAIT OF 1812 HERO BY TED SHAW, THE WINDSOR STAR
Brent Lee calls his four-minute fanfare Gen. Brock in Detroit, a character portrait of War of 1812 hero, Sir Isaac Brock.
"He was very clever, bold and efficient," said Lee. "An excellent soldier and leader."
That inspired Lee's brassy, succinct musical portrait, a sort of military tattoo in miniature, premiering today at a 6 p.m. concert by Windsor Symphony Orchestra at Riverfront Festival Plaza as part of the city's daylong celebration of the 200th anniversary of the capture of Detroit by British forces and their native allies.
Lee explained that after a flurry of brass lines, the work ends on an almost sombre note. "That's partly because Brock was killed in battle (at Queenston Heights) several weeks later," Lee said.
A music professor at the University of Windsor, Lee is a former WSO composer-inresidence. He will spend the next year on sabbatical, during which he plans to finish a string quartet piece, start work on the score for a feature documentary film by U of W's Kim Nelson, and continue collaborations with his experimental group, Noiseborder.
SPEAKEASY TRIO AT BALLOONAPALOOZA
Hugh Leal's retro-jazz combo Speakeasy Trio is a featured act 11 a.m. Sunday at the downtown Balloonapalooza festival.
The trio of Leal on rhythm guitar, Ray Manzerolle on reeds and Mike Karoub on cello will be bolstered with the addition of guitarist John Tetrault, a Django Reinhardt specialist and leader of the Nova Scotia ensemble, Swingology .
ROCK THIS WAY SERIOUS FUNDRAISER
Rock This Way is not just a clever spin on Aerosmith's Walk This Way, it's a new fundraiser performed by local rock musicians.
The full day of activities on Sept. 23 begins with a parade of musicians, a Rock Walkath-on along the river, led by Pete Palazzolo.
Pledges to the Rock This Way benefit fund will be collected along the 45-minute route from the Ambassador Bridge to Dieppe Gardens.
A matinee concert featuring dozens of local players, hosted by The Tea Party's Jeff Burrows, will be staged at the Chrysler Theatre at 2 p.m.
Tickets for the show are $20, or $10 for teens and children 16 and under.
There is also a songwriting contest, Rock Your Talent, in conjunction with the event.
Money raised will go to charities In Honour of The Ones We Love, A Life Worth Living, and St. Clair College's HealthPlex.
For more details, call Kathy Vincent at 519-982-2713, or visit rockthiswaywindsor.ca.
'HARP' WORKSHOP OPEN TO ALL
In blues, the harmonica's called a harp, and you can pick up some pointers from one of Canada's top harp players, Chuck Jackson, at a free workshop on Sept. 1 at Long & McQuade Music Shop, 1801 Walker Rd.
Later that day, Jackson and his band will perform at the 8th Annual Riverside Blues Festival at Riverside Sportsmen's Club. For information on the workshop, call 519-252-3442.
STEEL MAGNOLIAS OPENS SEPT. 1
Contrary to information in last week's Artbeat, The Sunparlour Players' inaugural production at Leamington's new Bank Theatre, 10 Erie St. S., will be Steel Magnolias, which runs from Aug. 31 to Sept. 2.
The production is directed by Ruth Owens and features a cast of six women.
Work still needs to be done on the lobby area and roof, said Sunparlour president Penny Gil, who called the theatre a "work in progress."
Gil said plans call for renovations to be completed by spring 2014.
"We have applied for a provincial Community Infrastructure and Improvement grant," she said. The Players need to raise $180,000 through the grant, fundraising and the town of Leamington.
Tickets to Steel Magnolias are $12, or $10 for students and seniors, available at the door or by calling 519-326-3094.
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