TSU Band Plays Centennial Exposition Music

Come on, put on your dancing shoes, and let’s do the Salute to Nashville Two Step! Did you know that this and other musical pieces, such as the Parthenon Grand March and the Centennial Waltz, were written for special occasions during the Tennessee Centennial Exposition? Although they may have been played often during the six-month long exposition, they haven’t been heard since 1897. Now thanks to Tennessee State University’s Music Department, Nashvillians will once again have an opportunity to hear them.

On Sunday afternoon, October 25th, the TSU Wind Ensemble directed by Dr. Reginald McDonald, will perform these and other pieces of the symphonic/classical repertoire at the Centennial Park Band Shell. The hour-long concert, which begins at 3:00 p.m., will be interspersed with historical information about period music and the task of orchestrating and editing the music for contemporary performance. Interested audience members will receive an educational hand-out that includes a coupon for $1 off admission to the Parthenon.

TSU Music Education graduate student Barris Johnson has taken the challenge of arranging three of the pieces as a part of his graduate thesis, and Professor Larry Jenkins has orchestrated three additional works. The band members are excited about learning this century-old music and giving it a new lease on life.

TSU’s Wind Ensemble consists of the top 59 instrumentalists in the band program. They opened the Tennessee Music Educators In-Service in 2009 and in 2014 they were the premier performance group for the HBCU National Band Consortium.

The concert is made possible by Tennessee State University Music Department, Dr. Robert Elliott, chair, and The Conservancy for the Parthenon and Centennial Park.

Questions? Call 615-862-8431 for more information.