Polymnia pays tribute to Elvis
Memorial Hall in Melrose was “All Shook Up” last Saturday night as the Polymnia Choral Society presented its “Tribute to Elvis, the King of Rock.”
Polymnia and the King share a historical timeline.
Polymnia was founded in Wakefield in 1953, the year Elvis Presley recorded his first demo at Sun Studio in Memphis. In 1956, the year that Polymnia moved its concerts to Memorial Hall in Melrose, “Heartbreak Hotel” was released, becoming Elvis’s first big hit.
Saturday’s concert featured 20 classic Elvis tunes, from the hard rocking “Return to Sender” and “Burning Love” to the mellow gospel of “Peace in the Valley” and “I Believe.”
Saturday’s show opened with the dramatic theme from “2001: A Space Odyssey” before Musical Director and Conductor Murray Kidd burst on stage in full Elvis regalia. He then launched into a rousing solo of “C.C. Rider.” Kidd’s self-effacing comments notwithstanding, his impression of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll was quite good.
Kidd/Elvis then stepped into his normal role as conductor, leading the full chorus in a performance of “Burning Love.” They then slowed things down with “Are You Lonesome Tonight” before picking up the pace again with a lively version of “Return to Sender.”
Polymnia then paid tribute to Elvis’s gospel roots, singing “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” and “Peace in the Valley.” They closed the first half of the show with “You’ll Never Walk Alone”/”Climb Ev’ry Mountain.”
After a brief intermission, the Chorus opened the second half of the show with a rendition of “C’mon Everybody.”
The next tune featured Wakefield Memorial High School sophomore Jillian Casa performing Sara Bareilles “Love Song.” Jillian was one of the “Spotlight on High School Talent” winners. She sings in the WMHS all female a cappella group “She Major.”
Returning to Elvis, the chorus glided into a performance of “Slow Dancing for Two” followed by “A Little Less Conversation.”
Next was another Spotlight on High School Talent winner, Lauren Abramson of Melrose performing her solo of George and Ira Gershwin’s “Someone to Watch Over Me.”
The full chorus then picked up the pace with a medley of Elvis’s “Jailhouse Rock” and “Don’t Be Cruel.”
Carl Perkins composition “Blue Suede Shoes” was next followed by “Rubberneckin’.”
The chorus closed out the evening in style with a grand finale medley of “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Hound Dog” and “All Shook Up.”
The vocal concert was enhanced by some fine instrumental musicians. Dorothy Travis accompanied on piano and keyboards. The band featured Larry Pyatt and Richard Given on trumpet, Jeri Sykes and Heather Cole on woodwinds, Scotty Johnson on guitar, Alexei Doohovskoy on Trombone, Chick Gabriel on Bass and Jessie Stiglich on percussion.
Preparation for Saturday’s concert involved about two and a half months of weekly rehearsals, with several dress rehearsals in the week before the performance, according to longtime member Eileen Worthley of Wakefield. “We began rehearsals for this concert immediately after the previous concert was over in mid-March,” she added.
The Polymnia Choral Society draws many members from the Malden-Melrose-Wakefield area and also has singers from Stoneham, Woburn, Saugus and as far away as Newburyport and Amesbury. Their concerts present a broad spectrum of choral music, from sacred hymns to popular show tunes, and from Johan Sebastian Bach to P.D.Q. Bach.
The name “Polymnia” means “many songs,” after the Greek muse of poetry and music.
[This review originally appeared in the June 5, 2018 Wakefield Daily Item.]
Filed under: Art, Feature stories, History, News, Reviews, Wakefield | Leave a Comment
Tags: Eileen Worthley, Elvis Presley, Jillian Casa, Lauren Abramson, Mark Sardella, Melrose MA, Murray Kidd, music, Polymnia Choral Society, rock, She Major, songs, Wakefield Daily Item, Wakefield High School, Wakefield MA
Search this site
Categories
Flickr Photos
Archives
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
Recent Comments
Mark Sardella on A very Special Town Meeti… John Breithaupt on A very Special Town Meeti… Mark Sardella on A very Special Town Meeti… John Breithaupt on A very Special Town Meeti… Dan Noren on A very Special Town Meeti… Blog Stats
- 368,061 hits
LINKS
No Responses Yet to “Polymnia pays tribute to Elvis”