Tri-M, Garden City High School’s chapter of the national music honor society, is sponsoring an evening of New Orleans music on Tuesday, October 18 at 7:30 pm in the GCHS Auditorium. Performances will feature the school’s Jazz Ensemble, Chamber Choir and Vocal Jazz Ensemble and proceeds of the evening will benefit the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation Emergency Fund for Schools Affected by Hurricane Katrina. The Foundation had joined forces with the International Music Products Association to put musical instruments back in the hands of the students displaced and affected by Hurricane Katrina. There is a suggested minimum donation of $5 per person.

Music presented at the October 18 concert will include the world premiere by GCHS Chamber Choir of an arrangement of “When the Saints Go Marching In” by GCHS alumnus, James Ludwig. In contrast to many rousing arrangements of this popular New Orleans “signature” tune, Ludwig’s is a contemporary choral meditation on it, with complex harmonies and unusual syncopations. The last verse combines the traditional text and melody with the hymn, “Abide With Me.” Another interesting feature of his arrangement is the use of authentic, historic stanzas seldom heard, but highly appropriate in Katrina’s aftermath - “And when our leader learn to cry...” and “Oh when we all have food to eat.”

The GCHS Vocal Jazz Ensemble will sing “Doctor Jazz” by King Oliver (born in New Orleans in 1885) and “My Soul’s Been Anchored in the Lord”, a traditional spiritual arranged by Moses Hogan (born in New Orleans in 1957). Chamber Choir will sing music by the Alabama Gospel Group, Take Six, as well as “John the Revelator,” made famous by Blind Willie Johnson and Son House. The GCHS Jazz Ensemble will present instrumental selections including “Just a Closer Walk With Thee,” performed in the style associated with the New Orleans funerals, street beats in the “Crescent City Ramble,”and a version of “America the Beautiful” in the style of Ray Charles.

The public is cordially invited to attend this exploration of the valuable musical heritage of the Gulf Coast area so tragically devastated by the recent natural disasters. For more information, please call 478-2081.