South Carolina Premiere of Byna

(PRWEB) September 13, 2006 -- What: "Appalachian Romanticism" at its best, in this newly created work of music: BYNA: Life Songs of a Southern Appalachian Woman of Cherokee Indian Descent by composer, Rudy Davenport and librettist, Delilah Elsen.

When: Monday Evening, November 20, 2006 at 8:00 PM.
Pre-Concert Events: 6:45PM (See Below)
Where: Newberry Opera House, Newberry, SC
Tickets and Info: Box Office: 803-276-6264
Performance Length: About 1 hour and ten minutes.

A passionate woman who loves deeply--her husband, her family and the changing beauty of the mountains, whose peaks and valleys have sustained and renewed her through love and loss. Byna’s era was from the 1900s – 1970s. Her life story as a part-Cherokee outdoorswoman unfolds through her Life Songs as she reflects on her present and past life. In songs and music that embody unbounded love for her husband, the people, heritage, traditions and beauty of the mountains, Byna recalls the simple joys and heartfelt sorrows from a lifetime of living. She tells us of an afternoon she sat under the hemlocks making baskets with her full-blood Cherokee Indian Grandmother... of hearing her Daddy play his fiddle... of the quilt her Mother made... of riding a horse across Bell Mountain the morning she left home to marry...and recalls one spring day "when childhood seemed t'rise up from the fields."    

The Byna ensemble features soprano Julia Broxholm, pianist John Cobb, oboist Kelly Vaneman and cellist Anthony Fanning. The ensemble sets the tone with the first instrumental piece--Heart of the Mountains; the songs and instrumental music that follow, including an arrangement of Byna's favorite old gospel hymn, beckon the listener to join along in a continuing and moving stream of original Appalachian inspired music.

Pre-concert activities:
6:45: Newberry Opera House Lobby: Cherokee artist, Faren Sanders Crews, display of original pieces of artwork. Newberry Quilting Club exhibit new and old quilts and conduct lap quilting demonstrations. (And perhaps Cherokee potter and wood sculptor, Joel Queen from Joel Queen Gallery of Cherokee exhibiting Cherokee baskets, pottery, wood sculpting and other native
crafts.)

7:15-7:45: A pre-concert discussion with librettist Delilah Elsen. (Or with composer Rudy Davenport if he is available to travel to Newberry.)

LODGING: Opera House Hampton Inn at 1201 Nance Street in downtown Newberry (directly across the street from the Newberry Opera House) is offering a room discount rate to all BYNA concert-goers for both Sunday and Monday evenings. Rooms are $85.00 and Suites are $99.00. In order to get this rate, you must call the Hampton Inn at 803-276-6666 and tell them you are attending the Byna Concert. Reservations must be made prior to November 10th to get the reduced rate.

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