Concert welcomes the return of autumn
Even though fall was still a week away, strains of music associated with fall and harvest were enjoyed at Westlake Porter Public Library on Sept. 18 as the Westlake-Westshore Arts Council (W-WAC) presented their fall program.
The program, Harvest Home, was performed by Sunday in the Park, a husband and wife duo. Karen Ellicott, clarinet and voice, and Christopher Ellicott, guitar and voice, are both accomplished musicians and teachers from Baldwin Wallace University.
The Ellicotts began the program with "We Gather Together," a 16th-century Dutch melody, followed by "Simple Gifts," a 19th-century Shaker hymn. The titles may not have been familiar, but the melodies were immediately recognizable.
Four lively tunes, mostly for fiddle but adapted to clarinet and guitar, immediately followed. Then two 19th-century traditional tunes, "Oh Shenandoah" and "Wayfaring Stranger," were followed by a rousing sing-along of five tunes including "Oh Susanna" and "She’ll be Comin’ Round the Mountain."
The program closed with a lively rendition of Scott Joplin’s "The Entertainer." Karen gave the history of each piece, adding informational and humorous anecdotes. Many of these "folk" songs have been taught in elementary school so they brought back memories to many audience members, and it was an added gift to learn their history.