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Toy Orchestra Takes the Stage


PLATTSBURGH, NY (November 28, 2007) - The Champlain Valley Oratorio Society and the SUNY Plattsburgh Choral Union will present music for all ages in "Dually Noted: Music for the Youthful and the Young," on Sunday, Dec. 9 at 3 p.m.

This ambitious and joyful program includes an unusual arrangement that may not have been performed in recent times. The piece is W. A. Mozart's "Mass in C Major K.220" also known as the "Sparrow Mass." A quarter century after Mozart wrote the original piece, Wranitzky put together a new arrangement adding toy instruments.

"This performance in Plattsburgh is, to the best of my knowledge, the first modern day performance anywhere in the world of Mozart's 'Sparrow Mass' as arranged by Wranitzky for toy instruments," said music historian and special guest Dr. John A. Rice.
 
Fourteen area school children will join the orchestra, adult chorus and soloists for this piece. They will be playing the instruments that make up the toy orchestra, including the tin whistle, rattle, celeste, sleigh bells, ratchet, finger symbols, toy trumpet and the nightingale call.

The children will also perform in the "Mass of the Children" by John Rutter.

The concert will be held in the E. Glenn Giltz Auditorium located in Hawkins Hall at SUNY Plattsburgh (corner of Beekman and Cornelia). At 2 p.m., a pre-concert talk on the mass with toy instruments will be given by music historian and special guest Dr. John A. Rice. Doors open at 1:50 p.m.

Tickets are available at the door, from CVOS members and at the Corner-Stone Bookshop and Meyer Pharmacy (Plattsburgh). $5 Children 12 & under, $12 Seniors & Students, $17 General Admission. For more information visit www.champlainvalleyoratorio.com .

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