If unusual and compelling musical events are your thing, the University of Minnesota Duluth's chamber orchestra is offering up just the right note -- on the musical saw. A Tuesday concert at Weber Music Hall, "Broadway or Bust: Broadway Sawngs," brings nationally known violinist and saw player Dale Stuckenbruck to town, and it's only one of several upcoming concerts for UMD.
The Broadway effort is a fund-raising concert for the chamber orchestra, under the direction of Rudy Perrault, which is looking to fund its first-ever national tour.
"We want to have a little more exposure outside of Duluth," Perrault said in a phone interview.
The effort will be a recruiting trip, bringing the UMD name and the Duluth name outside of Minnesota. He says it's a better way for prospective students to get to know the program.
"They get to actually talk to the students themselves and see what it would be like," he said, noting that he has connections in New York and Philadelphia and may eventually take the 11-member group that far, although he says, depending on funding, it may only be a regional tour outside the state this year.
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"We're going to try it and see if we can have something going every year," Perrault said, noting that eventually he hopes for an international tour for the chamber orchestra and some kind of tours for the 55-member symphony orchestra.
As for the concert itself, it should be exciting. Perrault says he's played with Stuckenbruck before in Broadway productions, and the performer has a solid resume, including work as concertmaster for the Brooklyn Philharmonic.
"He's an accomplished violinist -- he does solo work," said Perrault.
But the musical saw -- an actual saw rather similar to the hand saw one might have in the garage, only specialized and played with a bow -- has become a career for him. He's even produced a CD. Stuckenbruck, in fact, is bringing two saws -- an alto and a tenor.
"It's an amazing sound, the saw. ... It's incredible," he said.
The students are also excited about the project, to the extent that Perrault hopes that they still pay attention to their own work.
"Who knows -- people may be so mesmerized by the music, by the saw playing, that they forget to play."
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It's not as though there's a large library of music for the saw and chamber orchestra in the canon, so the Broadway music, with saw on melody, is a good fit. Perrault even plans a bit of "Name That Tune."
The performance is also going to feature a singer from UMD, Dan Ristrom, who will even perform duets with Stuckenbruck.
Tickets for the show are $15.
More UMD music
The chamber orchestra gig is only one of several upcoming concerts at Weber.
- On Sunday, Nov. 2, at 3 p.m., the Concert Chorale, Chamber Singers, and University Singers, directed by Dick Johnson, explore the concept of change through the eyes of various composers and styles. Tickets: $6, adults, $5, seniors, $4 students and children.
- On Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., check out "Guitars Unlimited," as UMD's guitar Ensembles I & II, directed by Billy Barnard, unveil special sounds and varied repertoire for acoustic and electric guitar. Tickets: $6 adults, $5 seniors, $4 students and children.
- On Nov. 12, it's "All Jazz!" at 7:30 p.m., with Jazz Combos I, II, III and IV bringing a variety of jazz arrangements to the yearly event. Ryan Frane, Daniel W. Eaton and Barnard direct. Tickets: $6 adults, $5 seniors, $4 students and children.
- On Nov. 14, UMD hosts its "Ovation Guest Artist Series: J.Y. Song" at 7:30 p.m. Since her nomination as the 1994 Pro Piano Artist of the Year, Song has established herself as a musician with broad and idiosyncratic musical tastes. Her technical mastery and exquisite transforming of the classics make her performance an exhilarating experience. Tickets: $25 adults, $20 seniors, $15 students and children. All seats are reserved, and advance purchase is recommended.
- Finally, "Opera on the Move" hits Nov. 15 at 7:30 p. m. Under well-known soprano and UMD faculty member Rachel Inselman, the UMD Opera Workshop students bring dynamic staging to Weber Music Hall as they present various opera and musical theatre scenes. Tickets: $6 adults, $5 seniors, $4 students and children.
Ticket information for all the performances can be obtained at 726-8877.
