The Washington Heights Chamber Orchestra presents our season opener Dances, exploring music written for and inspired by dance around the world.

Program:

• Béla Bartók: Romanian Folk Dances
• Brian Morales: Harlem Dances (premiere of arrangement for string orchestra commissioned by the Washington Heights Chamber Orchestra)
• Leonard Bernstein: Fancy Free

Dance and music are two intertwined art forms that are a fundamental part of cultures across many periods of history and serve as a vehicle for us to tell our stories. We begin our season of musical heritage with Dances, exploring music written for and inspired by dance around the world.

The program begins with Béla Bartók’s Romanian Folk Dances, a work for chamber orchestra based on several dance tunes from Transylvania. Originally played on the fiddle or shepherd’s flute, Bartók aimed to capture a variety of moods and dance types from his own and neighboring countries. Next, we feature Washington Heights composer Brian Morales’ Harlem Dances, an exciting work that draws from the rhythms and cultures of Harlem and Washington Heights, in a new arrangement for string orchestra commissioned by the WHCO. The performance concludes with iconic New York composer Leonard Bernstein’s Fancy Free, a ballet that pays homage to the jazz-filled and high energy streets of his home city.

Prior to the concert, at 2:15pm, bring the whole family to our “Meet the Instruments” petting zoo where even our youngest listeners can get up close and personal with their favorite instruments before seeing them come alive onstage. This event will take place (weather permitting) in the beautiful setting of the Fort Washington Green, the community garden space at FWCC.

And finally, join the musicians of WHCO after the concert for a reception!