A gun was fired at Wharton Center during the College of Music’s MSU’s Home For The Holidays concert Saturday night — a pop gun, that is.
The “gunshot” came from a member of the MSU Symphony Orchestra during the group’s performance of “Pops’ Hoe-Down,” a piece that was arranged by Boston Pops conductor Richard Hayman. In addition to the pop gun, the song featured whistles, wood blocks, triangles and sirens, producing a childlike atmosphere in step with the holidays ahead.
Leon Gregorian, director of orchestras, included the “Pops” number because of the unconventional instrumentation’s effect on the audience.
“Growing up, I had heard that piece many, many times and I always (remember) how much the audience was surprised by the different instruments that the percussion was using and how effective it was,” Gregorian said.
The night, which also featured performances from the Men’s and Women’s Glee Club, the State Singers and the MSU Children’s Choir, was filled with diversity in both classical and contemporary pieces.
The Men’s Glee Club was joined by congas and shakers for the Nigerian carol “Betelehemu,” and the MSU Children’s Choir sang the Hebrew folk song “Torah Orah.” The MSU Symphony Orchestra performed classical compositions and Christmas songs including Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas.”
Violinist Jacob Roege, a first-year College of Music masters student, said he was pleased with the concert.
“I think the performance went really well,” Roege said. “I think we were all well-rested and got all our adrenaline going from all the people there.”
The orchestra was joined by the combined choruses for Christmas favorites “Joy to the World,” and the finale, “The Many Moods of Christmas, Suite IV,” which included “O Little Town of Bethlehem” and “The First Nowell” and “Deck The Halls with Boughs of Holly.”
Ashley Gardhouse, a criminal justice senior and soprano in the Women’s Glee Club, noted the joint effort of the College of Music to make MSU’s Home for the Holidays a reality.
“This just shows how well the different parts of the department work together to make this happen,” Gardhouse said. “It’s so big and trying to get everyone’s schedule together can be hard to make it the best it can be.”
Gregorian said the festivities sailed smoothly and the end result was worth the effort.
“I thought it was an exceptional concert,” Gregorian said. “I thought everybody involved played very, very well, and I think the reaction of the audience was an indication that they thoroughly enjoyed the program.”
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