Symphony To Showcase Americana Connection

The Nashville Symphony and the Americana Music Association are teaming for a one-of-a-kind musical event on Sept. 12, 2009 at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center. The innovative concert called “Classical Americana” will explore the links between classical and American roots music with performances by Alison Brown, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Byron House, Buddy Miller, Karen Parks and Abigail Washburn alongside the orchestra, led by Resident Conductor Albert-George Schram. A highlight of the opening week of the Symphony’s 2009/2010 season, the concert will feature everything from blues and gospel, to Aaron Copland and George Gershwin.

Americana Music Association Executive Director Jed Hilly, points out that “Some of the best-known classical composers, from Dvořak to Copland, have long used roots music as a foundation for composition.”

“Classical Americana,” a First Tennessee Special Event, will be partially arranged into segments which will be introduced by a narrator. A unique feature of the program is that a musician will present a traditional version of a familiar work, such as “Simple Gifts,” “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” or “When the Saints Go Marching In,” which then will be followed by the full orchestra performing a well-known classical composition that makes use of that original.

Tickets go on sale Saturday, July 18. Details at http://www.nashvillesymphony.org.