In celebration of Music Director David Lockington’s Tenth Anniversary, the Grand Rapids Symphony presents a season-ending spectacle of sight and sound. Emulating the colors of David’s personality, the audience will hear stirring and evocative musical works spanning four centuries, with two pieces featuring dancers from the Grand Rapids Ballet Company.

                 “The essential ingredients are collaboration, colorful contrast, and dazzling drama,” said Lockington.  “I’m very excited about these concerts.”

  The concert pair on May 8 and 9 at 8 p.m., marks the season finale of the Symphony’s Richard and Helen DeVos Classical Series, and the second collaboration with the Ballet during the Symphony’s Classical Series.

“Having the opportunity to create the choreography with a live orchestra will make the music and dance come alive even more,” said Gordon Peirce Schmidt, Grand Rapids Ballet Company Artistic Director and Choreographer.  “Grand Rapids can be proud of all of its arts groups and excited to see partnerships like this take place.”

Works by Beethoven and Christopher Rouse will include dancers.  The program also includes some of Lockington’s favorite works: Copland’s “Appalachian Spring,” Ralph Vaughan Williams’ “Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis,” and Respighi’s “Roman Festivals.” 

           Opening the concert are two, short works to “herald” this evening of fine music: selections from Giovanni Gabrieli’s “Sacrae Symphoniae.” Written in 1597 for the Basilica of St. Mark’s in Venice, the pieces reflect the cathedral’s layout.   Built in the shape of a Greek cross, each arm of the cross houses a choir loft.  The piece calls for the choruses to echo each other from their locations.  In this performance brass instruments will be substituted, and will perform from various locations in DeVos Performance Hall.

Featuring ballet dancers, Beethoven’s “Grosse Fuge,” or “Grand Fuge,” engages listeners with its vigorous melodies by the string section.  A series of contrasting keys, rhythms and tempi make this a wonderful work to include the addition of dancers to visually interpret the music.  One of Beethoven’s great masterworks, it concludes with a dashing finale that will leave audience members spellbound.

Also featuring dancers is Christopher Rouse’s “Bonham,” written in 1988 in honor of John Bonham, drummer for the rock group, “Led Zeppelin.”  Bonham’s drumming and especially his drum solos were legendary. His role in the rock group was so key, that the band broke up in 1980 when he died.  “Bonham” features eight percussionists.  Rouse is a Grammy Award-wining composer, who has written numerous works for major orchestras across the country, many of which were dedicated to today’s popular musicians.

Copland’s “Appalachian Spring” is one of the most frequently performed contemporary orchestral works perhaps because of its optimistic and hopeful sound.  While this performance of the work doesn’t include dancers, it was composed between 1942 and 1944 for a ballet commemorating the American pioneering spirit. The ballet and music tells the story of a soon to be married couple building their home during spring among the hills of Pennsylvania in the early 1900s. 

Another of Lockington’s favorite works, Ralph Vaughan Williams’ “Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis,” features the string section of the orchestra and is resplendent with meditative as well as sweeping melodies, described by David Lockington as “cinematic” in scope.  As the title would suggest, the inspiration for this work was the great British composer Thomas Tallis.  The theme for the “Fantasia” comes from a hymn by Tallis published in 1567 in the “Metrical English Psalter.”  Three-and-a-half centuries later, when Vaughan Williams was serving as an editor for the Anglican Church’s English Hymnal, he included Tallis’ hymn.  In 1908, Vaugham Williams used Tallis’ tune when he was asked to write a musical work for the Three Choirs Festival at Gloucester Cathedral in Great Britain.

The concert concludes with a bang, featuring a work by master composer Ottorino Respighi.  His works: “The Fountains of Rome” and “The Pines of Rome” are audience favorites, and his “Roman Festivals” also makes tremendous use of all the colors of the orchestra.  The 28-minute piece’s four movements are titled: “Circus Games,” “The Jubilee,” “Harvest Festivals in October,” and “The Epiphany.”  After completing this work, Respighi wrote that he couldn’t top this piece and would concentrate on writing chamber orchestra music.  After hearing the finale, you’ll understand why he felt he couldn’t outdo himself.

Tickets start at $18 and can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800/982-2787, online at ticketmaster.com or in person at the Symphony office, open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, at 300 Ottawa NW, Suite 100. 

  “Upbeat,” a free pre-concert conversation sponsored by BDO Seidman, LLP, is at 7 p.m. in the DeVos Place Recital Hall.