A Turkish history is told via symphony

%2AThis+photo+from+fall+2013+shows%C2%A0the+Missouri+Southern+music+department+makes+an+extraordinary+effort+to+present+themed+semester+music+to+the+hometown+audience.Members+of+the+Missouri+Southern+Symphony+Orchestra+rehearse+for+a+performance+of+La+Musica+Italiana.+The+performance+is+at+Taylor+Hall%2C+on+Friday%2C+Nov.+8+at+7+p.m.

Brad Stout/ The Chart

*This photo from fall 2013 shows the Missouri Southern music department makes an extraordinary effort to present themed semester music to the hometown audience.Members of the Missouri Southern Symphony Orchestra rehearse for a performance of La Musica Italiana. The performance is at Taylor Hall, on Friday, Nov. 8 at 7 p.m.

This year at Missouri Southern the Southern Symphony Orchestra will have a special opportunity to display their talents, and in a noisy fashion. Dr. Jeffrey Macomber, production director, has set the stage with music inspired by Turkey and fire.

The Symphony Orchestra has split the night’s production into two parts. Part one, titled Turkish Delights, focuses on Turkish inspired music. Macomber explains that the decision to use music inspired by Turkey rather than Turkish music is because he wanted the music to be relatable to the audience.

The songs tell a tale of Turkey from the past. The first piece of the performance, Turkish March by Mozart, was inspired by janissary bands. Janissary bands are Turkish military bands with huge, noisy, metallic instruments.

“It is mainstream artists, such as Mozart, that celebrate Turkey,” Macomber said.

The next piece in part one of the performance will highlight a talented soloist from Denver, Erik Peterson. He will be performing Mozart, Violin Concerto No. 5 “Turkish”. Peterson will also stage a master class, which is free and open to the public. In this class he will allow students to play for him, mostly violinists, and then critique them. The master class will take place in Corley auditorium on Thursday Nov. 6, at 4 p.m.

“He is talented and was always destined to be a soloist, and his has lived up to it,” Macomber said in reference to Peterson.

Part two of the performance is called Orchestral Fireworks. In this performance the orchestra will be challenged through rigorous bars of music. Both parts are free and no tickets are required. The performance will take place on Friday, Nov. 7, at 7:30 p.m. in Taylor Auditorium.