USU Guitar Ensembles Spring Concert

A year-ending spring concert at Utah State University features guitar music by students in multiple ensembles — the USU Electric Guitar Ensemble and the USU Acoustic Guitar Ensemble.

The ensembles are featured in concert Saturday, April 19, at 7:30 p.m. in the Performance Hall on the USU campus (approximately 1090 E. 675 North). Admission is $5, and USU students with current ID are admitted free. Tickets are available at the door.

 

The Performance Hall is the perfect venue for the concert, said Mike Christiansen, head of USU’s guitar program in the department of music. Two acoustic ensembles and two electric ensembles will perform a variety of music ranging from classical to rock.

 

“The music performed by these groups has been arranged especially for guitar ensembles,” Christiansen said. “In this concert, many of the pieces are more difficult than some we have performed in the past. But, the students have met the challenge and are playing exceptionally well.”

 

Christiansen said the demands on the performers is high, not only because of the technical difficulty, but in the variety of styles as well.

 

“For example, ‘BlueOcean/Country Gentleman’ is a piece recorded by Chet Atkins that was originally recorded using a tape-echo machine. The version the acoustic ensemble will perform has been arranged in such a way that the echo is simulated by having the different guitar parts copy each other.”

 

Other selections in the acoustic portion of the program include “Fugue” by J.S. Bach and “Monarch Rag” by Robert Mayeur.

 

The electric ensembles will play music arranged for four-five electric guitars, bass and drums. This year’s electric selections range from Latin to swing to funk to rock. The second electric ensemble will perform a medium swing arrangement of “My Funny Valentine” and a “garage-band style” composition entitled “Silver Threads,” written by Fred Hamilton, the director of guitar studies at North Texas University.

 

Also on tap is an arrangement of the classic Miles Davis tune “All Blues” in a version arranged by Corey Christiansen. The work has a decided funk twist to it. Other selections in the electric portion of the program include “Undecided” by Mike Christiansen and “Bonfa” by New York guitarist Jack Wilkins.

 

“Those who attend the concert are sure to find something to their liking, regardless of their preference of music genre,” Christiansen said.

 

 

 

Contact: Mike Christiansen (435) 797-3011
Source: Music Department