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The Red Peppers Ragtime Ensemble
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Red Peppers Ragtime Ensemble to Perform in Macomb March 20, 22

March 15, 2018

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MACOMB, IL -- A group of Western Illinois University music faculty will present "American Popular Music from the Tri-States 1899-1915," featuring the Red Peppers Ragtime Ensemble. The program highlights the music of African American and women composers and pianists from the tri-state region.

A student convocation, which is open free to the public, will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 20 in the College of Fine Arts and Communication Recital Hall. A concert will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 22 at the West Central Illinois Arts Center, on the east side of Macomb's downtown square.

Tickets for the concert are $10 for adults and $5 for students and only cash will be accepted.

African American and women composers from the tri-states were well represented in the world of ragtime and other popular music at the turn of the 20th century. These composers turned out some of the best and most finely-crafted music in the popular genres during the pre-WW I era.

 The pieces in the program, all originally for piano, have been arranged for an instrumental ensemble similar to one that would have performed this music on the riverboats on the Mississippi River in the pre-jazz era of the early 20th century.

Members of the Red Peppers Ragtime Ensemble are WIU Department of Music Chair Tammie Walker, piano; Karen Martin, violin; Music Professor Eric Ginsberg, clarinet; John McMurtry, flute and piccolo; Music Professor Bruce Briney, cornet; Associate Professor of Music John Mindeman, trombone; Music Professor Rick Kurasz, percussion and Assistant Professor of Music Matt Hughes, bass.

For more information about the WIU School of Music, visit wiu.edu/music.





Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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