The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

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November 5, 2009

MSSU’s Canadian concert features international flavor

By Scott Meeker

smeeker@joplinglobe.com

Though it is billed as an all-Canadian concert, those attending tonight’s performance by the Southern Symphony Orchestra can expect plenty of international flavor.

Under the direction of Kexi Liu, the orchestra will present “Clinking Maple Leaves” at 7:30 p.m. today in the Taylor Performing Arts Center at Missouri Southern State University.

“This concert is part of the Canada Semester at Missouri Southern,” said Liu. “Basically, the pieces will be in the classical period, but with some modern styles.”

He said that throughout the years, Canadian composers have offered a diverse repertoire of music.

The opening selection will be “Fantasy on Scottish Melodies,” by composer Sir Ernest MacMillan.

The program will continue with a performance of “Concerto for Percussion and Orchestra” by Allan Gordon Bell. It will feature Greg Haynes, a new percussion professor at Missouri Southern, on a variety of percussion instruments, Liu said.

Haynes previously was director of the marching drum line at the University of Kansas and was the principal timpanist with the KU Wind Ensemble. He also is on the substitute musicians list for the Kansas City Symphony and was the sole percussionist for “The Only Good Indian,” a film selected to screen during the 2009 Sundance Film Festival.

“The percussion concerto is semi-modern,” Liu said. “It is 20th century but very rare. It is very interesting and will really attract the attention of the audience.”

“Temple Steps,” by Jim Hiscott, will have an Indian-Balinese flavor, he said.

“The last piece, ‘Rhapsody Thessaloniki’, is based on Greek folk dances,” said Liu.

“There is a very international style to this program,” he said.





Music to the ears

Admission to the Southern Symphony Orchestra performance is free.

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