A new work written by a Mizzou composer and performed by MU faculty members will be featured in “Show Me the Music: A Celebration of the Missouri Bicentennial,” a television special that will air beginning this week on PBS affiliates in Missouri.
“Waterways” was written on commission specifically for the bicentennial project by Stefan Freund (pictured), who is MNMI’s artistic director and professor of composition at Mizzou. The work then was performed and recorded in May at the Sheldon Concert Hall in St. Louis by MU faculty members Alice Dade (flute), Eli Lara (cello), Julie Rosenfeld (violin), and Wes Warnhoff (clarinet).
Their performance will be seen as part of the “Show Me the Music…” special, which celebrates the 200th anniversary of Missouri becoming the 24th state to enter the Union on August 10, 1821. The program features what producers call “a kaleidoscope of many of Missouri’s musical genres,” including blues, rock, bluegrass, ragtime, and jazz, performed by musicians from around the state.
In addition to the Mizzou faculty ensemble, other performers include jazz pianist Peter Martin with his trio, augmented by saxophonist Bobby Watson and trumpeter Keyon Harrold; St. Louis vocalist Anita Jackson; ragtime pianist Royce Martin; bluegrass star Rhonda Vincent and her band, The Rage; and fiddler Howard Marshall and friends.
“Show Me the Music…” will premiere at 7:00 p.m. CDT on Monday, August 9 on St. Louis’ Nine Network, followed by multiple repeat broadcasts on all four of Missouri’s PBS affiliates continuing through September 4.
The first airing on Kansas City’s KCPT and mid-Missouri’s KMOS, which covers Columbia, Jefferson City, Warrensburg, and Sedalia, will be at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, August 12, with Ozarks Public Television‘s first broadcast set for 8:00 p.m. Friday, August 13. (For a complete schedule, please consult your local listings.)
After the broadcast premiere, in addition to repeat airings on all four stations, “Show Me the Music…” also will be available for viewing online via The Sheldon’s website.
“Show Me the Music…” was created in partnership by the Missouri Arts Council; The Sheldon; Kemper Foundation – Commerce Bank, Trustee; JPL Development LLC; Sinquefield Charitable Foundation; St. Louis Cardinals; and the Budds Center for American Music at the University of Missouri.