Arizona’s Tucson Symphony Orchestra will feature songs written by Arizona natives in three March pops concerts designed to showcase southern Arizona’s musical heritage. The orchestra will be joined in the concerts by local country-Western group the Bill Ganz Western Band in a program to include “Riders in the Sky,” written by National Park Ranger Stan Jones; “Tumblin’ Tumbleweeds” and “Cool Water,” inspired by composer Bob Nolan’s experiences as a high school student in Tucson; and “Spanish is the Loving Tongue,” based on a poem by “cowboy’s poet” and Tombstone rancher Charles “Badger” Clark. Led by Music Director George Hanson, the orchestra will also perform “Hoedown” from Aaron Copland’s Rodeo, “On the Trail” from Ferde Grofé’s Grand Canyon Suite, and selections from other popular Western-themed symphonic works.
Posted March 24, 2010
