Long Beach Symphony presents American Masterworks

William Eddins, Music Director of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, leads a program rooted in 20th Century America, opening with a performance of Joan Tower?s 1986 work, Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman #1. Inspired by Copland?s Fanfare for the Common Man, it employs the same instrumentation while adding the glockenspiel, marimba, chimes, and drums. The program continues with Bernstein?s Facsimile (Choreographic Essay for Orchestra), a work with rhythmic qualities similar to those in his West Side Story. A quiet woodwind theme representing a cowgirl and a highly rhythmic motif that evokes the trotting of horses are a few elements of Copland?s charming ballet, Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes. The evening culminates with Canadian pianist, Ian Parker?s interpretation of Gershwin?s Concerto in F, in which all three movements are infused with elements of jazz, blues and ragtime. A previous performance of this work garnered high praise from a reviewer who remarked, ?Parker sailed through Gershwin's 'Concerto in F' as if he had written it."