Norman Rockwell Museum Presents “Norman Rockwell: Paintings in Song”

Stockbridge, MA, November 17, 2016—In celebration of Thanksgiving Weekend, Norman Rockwell Museum will present “Norman Rockwell: Paintings in Song,” a special music program, on Friday, November 25, starting at 5:30 p.m.

The Crescendo Vocal Ensemble and members of the Berkshire Children’s Chorus, accompanied by a small ensemble of instrumentalists will perform, conducted by Christine Gevert, Founding Artistic Director of Crescendo. “Paintings in Song: Visions of Norman Rockwell,” is the result of a collaboration of the Norman Rockwell Museum, Crescendo, and the work’s composer Dr. John Myers, a faculty member of Bard at Simon’s Rock College. Throughout this preview, John Myers and Christine Gevert will offer insights into the creative process and explain some musical aspects of the composition.

The finished work featuring nine movements relating to Rockwell works will premier this spring, performed by a full chorus and a jazz/chamber instrumental ensemble, with a multi-media accompaniment.

This presentation is made possible in part by Norman Rockwell Museum. The participation of the accompanying musicians, who are all faculty members at Bard College at Simon’s Rock, is supported by a grant from the College’s Faculty Development Fund.

The program is free for Museum members, included with Museum admission, or $10 for the performance only. A reception will follow the hour-long presentation.
Also on view:
Norman Rockwell’s Spirit of the Holidays
November 22, 2016 through January 29, 2017

Many of Rockwell’s depictions of the holidays are inspired by the work of Charles Dickens, which he read as a child with his family. In addition to Christmas covers for The Saturday Evening Post and other periodicals of the day, family gatherings were forever frozen in time in the artist’s many advertisements and Hallmark greeting cards. Norman Rockwell’s Spirit of the Holidays shows how the artist’s paintings and drawings inspired feelings of warmth and good cheer for generations to come.