Russian Masterworks benefit, honoring Randy Bewley

Athens Brass Choir: Russian Masterworks at Emmanuel Episcopal
June 15, 2009

7:00 PM

The Athens Brass Choir, a community brass ensemble, opens its sixth season with "Russian Masterworks", a benefit concert for Nuçi’s Space in memory of Randy Bewley.

Emmanuel Episcopal Church Street

498 Prince Avenue

Athens, GA

PROGRAM:

Marche Slave

P.Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)

Pictures At An Exhibition (complete)

M. Mussorgsky (1839-1881)

We open the Athens Brass Choir's sixth season with two major works of 19th Century Russian music. Both "Marche Slave" and "Pictures At An Exhibition" are very familiar to modern audiences; however, the story behind the works may not be. Pictures, in particular, has a very personal meaning for the group; Mussorgsky composed it to honor a close artist friend, Viktor Hartmann, who died of an aneurysm at the age of 39. The music depicts a posthumous exhibition of Hartmann's works, connecting movements representing several diverse paintings, sketches, and watercolors with a "Promenade" theme (representing the walk between paintings, when the old images are still with you, while the new ones approach). The observer is suddenly presented with a stark reminder of mortality at "The Catacombs", feels anger and denial through "The Hut on Hen's Legs (Baba Yaga)", and ultimately reaches acceptance with the grandeur of "The Great Gate of Kiev".

With this work, we honor our own artist and dear friend, Randy Bewley, who died earlier this year. This is a free concert, but donations are encouraged; all money collected will go to benefit Nuçi’s Space, a non-profit health and music resource center in Athens, GA, dedicated to providing low-cost rehearsal opportunities for young musicians, helping prevent suicide by treating musicians for depression and other disorders, and otherwise assisting the emotional, physical and professional well-being of musicians.

For more information check out The Athens Brass Choir online.

David Schools: Guitar String Charity Project

Wear Your Music is a website that allows music fans to buy bracelets created from used guitar strings - specifically donated by their favorite artist.
In turn, the artist chooses a charity for the proceeds from each of their bracelts to be sent to.

Dave Schools, Athens resident and bassist for Widespread Panic, is donating the proceeds from his bracelet to Nuçi’s Space!

Click here to see Dave's guitar string bracelet.

FROM WEAR YOUR MUSIC:
Each bracelet is handcrafted from used guitar strings donated by the artist. The seal, which binds the unisex bangle-style bracelet, is Harmony recycled fine silver and is hand stamped with the artist's initials. WYM is an environmentally friendly company and in keeping with our philosophy, each bracelet comes packaged in a recycled DVD case with a certificate of authenticity. All profits from each bracelet goes to a charity chosen by the artist. As each bracelet is custom made upon ordering, please allow up to three weeks for production.

Don Chambers, Lake City and Still, Small Voice

FRIDAY MAY 8th 9 PM
Nuçi's Space $5 donation

Don Chambers + GOAT
Lake City
Still, Small Voice & the Joyful Noise

From Don Chambers:
"This will be the last show in Athens for bass player Fritz Gibson, who is off to culinary school. We will miss his solid playing and great humor, plus - damn it - he can already cook like hell! Matt and Fritz’s other great band - Lake City - will open, as will our friends Still Small Voices. I expect no tears and plenty of volume. Tonight’s show is a benefit for our favorite benevolent non-profit place - Nuci’s Space (www.nuci.org)"

LISTEN TO THE BANDS:
Don Chambers
Lake City
SSV + the Joyful Noise