Music Review: Oregon Chamber Players Children’s Concert Feb. 13

  Even though the crowd that nearly filled All Saints on the evening of Feb. 13 was intergenerational,

there was no doubt that the Oregon Chamber Players had one demographic in mind. The focus was

squarely on children for this concert, from the opening number, “Spongebob Squarepants Theme Song”

(with many kids and adults singing along) to the ending “William Tell Overture” (which many children

know as the “clean up song”). My concert companion, who does not know Spongebob, withheld his

enthusiasm until the orchestra played Leroy Anderson’s “The Waltzing Cat”, which featured violins as

very convincing meowing cats, with one lone dog at the end. From then on he was captivated.

Children and adults alike were delighted with the featured work of the program, “The Great Race” by

David Mullikin. Performing as narrator was actor and Oregon resident David Ogden Stiers. Mr. Stiers

has voiced several animated films, including Walt Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Pocahontas and Lilo

and Stitch, so it was a treat to hear him portray the voices of the Hare, Tortoise and other characters in

the story. Also delightful were the musical portrayals of the characters; the Hare by the violin and the

Tortoise by the cello.

  Later in the program All Saints’ Chris Fotinakis, who plays in the viola section, led the audience in a rousing

version of “Polly Wolly Doodle All the Day”. Then the kazoos were passed out and it was time for the

promised “Audience Kazoo Orchestra”, which is a tradition of the annual Children’s Concert. After the

concert the audience and players adjourned to the Parish Hall, where Ron and Eileen Hylton hosted a

reception and the musicians presented an instrument “petting zoo” where children could touch and

try orchestral instruments.