On July 27th at 6:30pm, Dr. Andrea McCrady, Canada’s Dominion Carillonneur, will perform a free hour long concert on the Hopeman Memorial Carillon in Rochester, New York. McCrady’s concert is garden-themed, and will include a world premiere of “Highland Park Morning,” based on Charles Zettek Jr.’s entry to the National Association of Olmsted Parks Carillon Composition Contest. The concert can be attended in person on the University of Rochester’s Eastman Quadrangle in front of Rush Rhees Library, or live-streamed online on the Hopeman Carillon’s Facebook page (https://fb.me/e/b1OCFp1R5). This event is sponsored by the Arthur Satz Department of Music at the University of Rochester as part of the 2022 Hopeman Carillon Summer Concert Series. A link to the full concert series program can be found here (bit.ly/3QEeq7u).
Prior to the concert, John McIntyre, U of R’s Horticulture Manager, will host a free tour of parts of the
University’s accredited Arboretum Mt. Hope Properties, formerly the largest nursery of its kind
worldwide, as well as River Campus. Attendees should arrive at Library Lot opposite Rush Rhees Library at 4:45. A bus will be available to transport 29 attendees; other attendees can drive between Mt. Hope Properties and campus by car. The tour will conclude by 6:20, giving people enough time to get set up for the concert. Wear your tennis shoes!
About the Composer of “Highland Park Morning”
Charlie Zettek played the 19-bell Hopeman Memorial Chime at the University of Rochester as an
undergraduate member of the Bellman Society in the early 1970s. In 2012, he was invited to attend the
40th anniversary celebration of the 50-bell Hopeman Memorial Carillon, which replaced the chime, at
which time he discovered what a unique and wonderful instrument the carillon is. He has been an active supporter of the University of Rochester Carillon Society and the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America (GCNA) ever since. The GCNA has published six of Zettek’s pieces. His primary compositional focus is to utilize the multi-dimensional harmonics of the bells to create pleasing music for a broad audience.
About “Highland Park Morning”
“Highland Park Morning” was written as a contribution to the Olmsted 200 national celebration of
Frederick Law Olmsted’s legacy. Highland Park is one of the crown jewels of the public parks in
Rochester, New York, designed by Mr. Olmsted. “Highland Park Morning” is meant to convey through
music the sense of beauty, awe and wonder one feels as a summer day begins in Highland Park.
Part 1 – First Light – captures the park waking up in the early dawn light.
Part 2 – Sunrise – evokes the grandeur of the rising sun spreading over the landscape.
Part 3 – Awakening – celebrates birds singing the park to life, welcoming another glorious day.