MEDIA ADVISORY
EISEMANN CENTER PRESENTS RICHARDSON, TX – Duke Ellington’s Sacred Concerts Featuring The Duke Ellington Orchestra, Barrie Lee Hall, Jr. Musical Director and The Ann Swain Clark Sacred Concert Chorale, Ann Swain Clark, Choral Director will appear at the Charles W. Eisemann Center for one performance on Saturday, February 25 at 8:00 PM along with Richardson’s own Hamilton Park Men’s Chorus. Jazz Maestro Duke Ellington wrote three massive spiritual works between the years of 1965 and 1973, that combined elements of jazz, classical music, choral music, spirituals, gospel, blues and dance. He called them his Sacred Concerts and they were performed in churches and cathedrals around the world. “Every man prays in his own language,” Duke Ellington once said, “and there is no language that God does not understand.” Music was Duke Ellington’s language-the manner in which he expressed himself, his feelings and unique perspective on the world. He did, indeed, consider his Sacred Concerts, “the most important thing I’ve ever done”. It was his way of expressing his gratitude for the many blessings and the gift of music that had been bestowed on him during his life and career. He was very specific about the works being SACRED; the concerts were meant to bring people of different backgrounds, cultures and faiths together to share what we all have in common. The Hamilton Park Men's Chorus consists of approximately 100 African-American men whose careers are as diverse as the music they sing. Some are attorneys, doctors, educators and corporate executives; while others are students, bus drivers and policemen. The common denominator that inextricably binds them one to the other is that they are Christians whose mission is to promote brotherhood and goodwill here and abroad through song. Under the direction of John Sherow-Tatum, Minister of Music of the First Baptist Church of Hamilton Park (Richardson, Texas), this chorus has developed a vast repertoire which includes classical anthems, Negro spirituals, traditional and contemporary Gospel song. They have toured extensively within the United States, Europe, the Caribbean and South America. Duke Ellington’s Sacred Concerts is supported by Mid-America Arts Alliance with generous underwriting by the National Endowment for the Arts, Texas Commission on the Arts, and foundations, corporations and individuals throughout Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas. Tickets for the Saturday, February 25, 8:00 pm performances range from $24-$48 and are available online at www.eisemanncenter.com or by calling the Eisemann Center Ticket Office at 972-744-4650. Ticket Office hours are 10:00 am until 6:00 pm Monday through Saturday and one hour before performances. Group discounts are available for 10 or more persons by calling 972-744-4657. The Eisemann Center’s Prelude Café is open for pre-show dining for this performance. Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling 972-367-2000.The Charles W. Eisemann Center is located at 2351 Performance Drive in Richardson, Texas. The Eisemann Center is easily accessible from Highway 75 North taking the Galatyn Parkway/Renner Road exit going north and the Galatyn Parkway/ Campbell Road exit going south or from the DART light rail station at Galatyn Park. Radio sponsor for this performance is WRR Classical 101.1 FM. Sponsors for the 2005-2006 Season include WFAA-TV/The Dallas Morning News and ticket sponsor The Renaissance Dallas-Richardson Hotel. |