Due to circumstances surrounding special guest artist Bobby Horton, the Chattanooga Boys Choir is postponing its program The Blue and the Gray: Songs and Stories of the Civil War that was originally scheduled for Friday, Sept. 27.
This program, featuring noted music historian Bobby Horton, will take place on Friday, Nov. 8, at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Chattanooga Center for Creative Arts (1301 Dallas Road).
This concert is presented in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the several Chattanooga-area battles and campaigns in 1863 during the United States Civil War. Acclaimed music historian Bobby Horton – the primary music producer for Ken Burns’ PBS Civil War documentary – will perform with the boychoir and as a solo artist. He will also share informative narrative about the music of the Civil War with audience members.
Audience members will hear songs encompassing several aspects of the war, including Union songs, Confederate songs, African-American spirituals, and songs about the soldiers’ lives. These include such pieces as “When Johnny Comes Marching Home,” “Battle Cry of Freedom,” “Bonnie Blue Flag,” and the “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” A special musical setting of “Battle Above the Clouds” will be performed – this piece vividly depicts the Battle of Lookout Mountain which took place in November 1863. Mr. Horton will accompany the choir on banjo, guitar, fiddle, including some original period instruments dating from the 19th century.
"This music is a celebration of the common man doing uncommon things during a difficult period in our nation’s history," said Mr. Horton. "I tell the stories of the people involved in the conflict. Confederate or Union…North or South…these songs are about the human experience under the most extraordinary of circumstances."
"I am so proud to present this program to the Chattanooga community, which has such deep and important roots with this war," said Chattanooga Boys Choir Artistic Director Vincent Oakes. "In an area as historically rich as Chattanooga, it is a wonderful opportunity to present an aspect of the war with which we can still connect today."