Star Wars, the concert - not so far away...

From left: University of Adelaide music student Stevan Pavlovic (tuba) with Star Wars fan Matt Tucker as Darth Vader.
Photo by Randy Larcombe.
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Wednesday, 12 September 2007

You've seen Star Wars the movie, now come along and experience Star Wars the concert, in the University of Adelaide's Elder Hall on Saturday 13 October at 6.30pm.

The concert will feature the highly acclaimed, award-winning Elder Conservatorium Wind Orchestra conducted by Robert Hower, and helps to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the first Star Wars movie.

Audience members will be able to mingle in the foyer of Elder Hall with some of their favourite Star Wars characters: Darth Vader, Princess Leia, Jedi and Stormtroopers.

The first half of the evening will showcase outstanding works from the wind orchestra repertoire, including Percy Grainger's The Power of Rome and the Christian Heart, Blasket Dances by Matthew Taylor and Resonance by Christopher Marshall. Blasket Dances and Resonance are both Australian premières.

The second half of the program will feature the popular Star Wars theme, composed by John Williams for the 1977 movie and arranged for wind ensemble by Donald Hunsburger.

Director George Lucas hired Williams to write "a grand musical sound" for Star Wars, and Williams convinced him that an original score would be "unique and more unified" than orchestral pieces as Lucas had originally requested. In March 1977, Williams conducted the London Symphony Orchestra to record the film soundtrack in 12 days.

"John Williams's music has definitely caught the public's ear over a period of decades, and almost everything he composes seems to be popular. The music for Star Wars is right up there with the best of his music that people know and love. To many people, that music is as memorable as the movie itself," says Robert Hower.

"The music we're using is probably the most intricate arrangement around. It combines music from different scenes across the Star Wars movies and includes the main theme, the Darth Vader theme, Princess Leia's theme, and music from the forest battle in Return of the Jedi. It's a great arrangement - Princess Leia's theme is so beautiful it will make you cry."

Star Wars - the concert - is the latest in the Elder Conservatorium of Music Evening Concert Series.

Tickets are $25 adult/$20 concession/$14 student, available from BASS or dial'n'charge 131 246 or at the door. Special price for students under 12 years of age: $10.

For more information, please contact the Manager, Evening Concert Series, on (08) 8303 5286 or email: helen.simpson@adelaide.edu.au

www.music.adelaide.edu.au

The Evening Concert Series is generously supported by: ETSA Utilities, Helpmann Academy, Allan's Music, Phil Hoffmann Travel, Sunlover Holidays, Palazzo Versace Hotel, Wirra Wirra Vineyards, Cooper's Brewery and Radio Adelaide.

The Elder Conservatorium of Music is a Helpmann Academy partner school.

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