The music of politics
Tired of Election 2016 yet? For a lighter take on the presidential pitches and party conventions, "Tippecanoe and Gershwin Too!" could be the answer. In what's called a "whirlwind tour of campaign songs from 'Tippecanoe and Tyler Too' through 'Click With Dick,' " singers Maria Jette, Lisa Drew, Vern Sutton and James Bohn, with pianist Sonja Thompson, showcase the sound-bite ditties that candidates have adopted across the decades to enhance their electoral prospects. Also included are selections from "Let 'Em Eat Cake," a rarely aired musical by George and Ira Gershwin (the sequel to their Pulitzer-winning "Of Thee I Sing") lampooning the American political system, especially the antics of President John P. Wintergreen and his erstwhile veep Alexander Throttlebottom. (7 p.m. Tue., Plymouth Congregational Church, Mpls.; free, plymouth.org)
Also Recommended
For most of its history, classical music has been dominated by white male composers. Slowly that's beginning to change, and a recital assembled by the Vox Nova Chorale, an auditioned ensemble that gathers annually as a performing forum for emerging choral singers and conductors, nudges the process forward. It's devoted entirely to female composers, with music ranging from Hildegard of Bingen and Fanny Mendelssohn to four contemporary writers — Stephanie K. Andrews, Marjorie Halloran, Julie Mitchell and Shruthi Rajasekar (a Minnesota native) — selected from more than 90 who submitted pieces for this concert. (7.30 p.m. Sat., 3 p.m. Sun.; St. Mary's Chapel, St. Paul Seminary, St. Paul; free, voxnovachorale.org)
Vaughan Williams' "The Lark Ascending," with its solo violin spiraling wispily into the ether, is quintessential summer music. It fronts a typically audacious program in the latest concert of the Lake Superior Chamber Orchestra's holiday series, which also includes pieces by Kenji Bunch, Mary Alice Smith, Robert Spittal and Gideon Klein. (7:30 p.m. Thu., Mitchell Auditorium, College of St. Scholastica, Duluth; $5-$20, lakesuperiorchamberorchestra.org)
Flute followers have a treat in store as Adam Kuenzel, principal flute at the Minnesota Orchestra, plays a special recital at the University of Minnesota's "The Complete Flutist" workshop. Henri Dutilleux's Sonatine, John La Montaine Sonata for Solo Flute, and Nikolai Kapustin's Divertissment for two flutes, cello and piano are the works featured. (7 p.m. Wed., Lloyd Ultan Recital Hall, Ferguson Hall, Mpls.; free, events.umn.edu)
Thirty brass and wind ensembles from across America converge on Northfield this week for the 10th anniversary of the city's Vintage Band Festival. A four-day schedule of wide-ranging repertoire is on offer, with bands of every shape and description taking the platform at various venues. (Thu.-Sun., free, vintagebandfestival.org)
TERRY BLAIN
