Sound & Sensory Guide for Season 98

October: Halloween @ the Symphony

● POWERFUL | Night on Bald Mountain

This dramatic music features sudden loud sounds, fast rhythms, and powerful moments from the full orchestra, followed by a quieter ending.

◐ MIXED | This Midnight Hour

This mysterious and energetic music moves between quiet, suspenseful passages and sudden loud, dramatic sounds.

◐ MIXED | Harry Potter Suite

This familiar movie music includes gentle, magical melodies along with exciting, powerful moments featuring loud brass and percussion instruments.

● POWERFUL | Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1

This music features a solo piano with the orchestra, moving between soft, expressive passages and very loud, dramatic moments.

November: Honoring Our Veterans

● POWERFUL | The Star-Spangled Banner

This familiar patriotic song builds to a strong, powerful ending with loud brass instruments and the full orchestra.

◐ MIXED | America the Beautiful

This music begins with a warm, gentle sound and may grow louder and more powerful as the orchestra plays.

◐ MIXED | Hymn to the Fallen

Mostly gentle and peaceful music that grows louder and more powerful at times.

● POWERFUL | Armed Forces Salute

Lively and energetic music with loud brass instruments, drums, and exciting moments.

◐ MIXED | Symphonie espagnole

Features a solo violin with soft, delicate passages and louder, faster, exciting moments.

● POWERFUL | Beethoven's Symphony No. 7

Moves between quiet and loud sections, with strong rhythms and powerful, energetic moments.

December: Holiday Pops!

◐ MIXED | Ballet Suite, Movement 1 – Gustav Holst

This lively orchestral music features playful rhythms and changing sounds, with both softer passages and exciting, louder moments.

○ GENTLE | Once in Royal David's City

A peaceful Christmas hymn with gentle melodies and warm sounds that may gradually grow fuller.

◐ MIXED | The First Noel

This familiar Christmas melody features peaceful moments that build into a fuller, more powerful orchestral sound.

◐ MIXED | Inclined to Sing

Our young singers will share festive music, with sound levels varying depending on the selections performed.

◐ MIXED | Sleepers Wake – Johann Sebastian Bach

This graceful music features a steady, flowing melody with mostly gentle sounds and some fuller musical moments.

◐ MIXED | Hanukkah Medley

A festive collection of Hanukkah melodies featuring a mix of gentle passages and lively, energetic moments.

◐ MIXED | Gaudete

This joyful choral music features strong rhythms and energetic singing, with moments of powerful sound.

◐ MIXED | O Lord God

This choral piece features expressive voices, with sound levels that may change as the music unfolds.

● POWERFUL | Rocking Jerusalem

This spirited choral music features strong rhythms, energetic singing, and powerful musical moments.

◐ MIXED | Star of Wonder Medley

A collection of familiar holiday melodies with peaceful passages and fuller, brighter musical moments.

● POWERFUL | Hallelujah Chorus – George Frideric Handel

This famous piece features powerful singing from the chorus and orchestra, with strong, joyful sounds throughout.

● POWERFUL | Polonaise from Eugene Onegin

This grand and energetic orchestral dance features strong rhythms, bright brass instruments, and powerful musical moments.

○ GENTLE | Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

This familiar holiday song features a warm, peaceful melody with mostly gentle and relaxing sounds.

◐ MIXED | Carillon on Forest Green

This festive arrangement features a familiar holiday melody with bright, bell-like sounds and fuller orchestral moments.

◐ MIXED | O Come, All Ye Faithful

This traditional Christmas hymn begins with a familiar melody and may grow louder and more powerful as the music continues.

● POWERFUL | A Christmas Festival – Leroy Anderson

This exciting medley of familiar Christmas songs features lively rhythms, bright brass instruments, percussion, and powerful orchestral moments.

○ GENTLE | Beautiful Savior

This peaceful hymn features a gentle melody and warm, expressive musical sounds.

○ GENTLE | Silent Night

This familiar Christmas carol features a soft, peaceful melody and a calm, gentle atmosphere.

February: Date Night @ the Symphony

◐ MIXED | Titanic

This romantic movie music features gentle, emotional melodies that may grow into powerful, dramatic orchestral moments.

○ GENTLE | The Notebook

This beautiful movie music features soft, expressive melodies and a calm, romantic atmosphere.

◐ MIXED | Dirty Dancing – "(I've Had) The Time of My Life"

This upbeat, familiar song features lively rhythms and joyful musical moments that build in energy and excitement.

○ GENTLE | Casablanca

This classic movie music features warm, romantic melodies with mostly gentle and expressive sounds.

● POWERFUL | Steelers Polka

This lively, spirited music features fast rhythms, bright instruments, and energetic moments that celebrate Pittsburgh football.

● POWERFUL | Olympic Theme

This grand, triumphant music features powerful brass instruments, percussion, and exciting orchestral moments.

● POWERFUL | Monday Night Football

This exciting sports theme features strong rhythms, bold brass instruments, and loud, energetic musical moments.

● POWERFUL | Pitt Fight Song

This spirited college fight song features a lively marching rhythm, bright brass sounds, and a powerful musical finish.

● POWERFUL | Notre Dame Fight Song

This energetic college fight song features strong rhythms, bold brass instruments, and an exciting, celebratory sound.

● POWERFUL | Notre Dame Victory March

This familiar sports anthem features lively rhythms, bright brass instruments, and a strong, triumphant sound.

● POWERFUL | Formula 1 Theme

This fast-paced music features driving rhythms, dramatic orchestral sounds, and powerful moments that create a feeling of speed and excitement.

March: Family Concert Matinee!

A Sensory-Friendly Experience

In addition to our March Family concert, the JSO is offering a special sensory-friendly rehearsal experience designed for individuals who may benefit from a more flexible and relaxed concert environment.

During this rehearsal, guests can expect:

• A Relaxed Environment: Guests are welcome to move around, make noise, or take breaks as needed.

• Adjusted Lighting and Sound: Whenever possible, adjustments will be made to create a more comfortable experience.

• Flexible Seating: Guests may enter and exit the concert hall throughout the rehearsal.

• ASL Interpretation: An American Sign Language interpreter will be available during both the sensory-friendly rehearsal and the concert.

• Hearing Protection: A limited number of noise-reducing headphones and standard earplugs will be available.

Explore Before the Concert!

Join us in the lobby for family-friendly activities and opportunities to explore music!

Regional Libraries

Visit with our regional library partners for fun, engaging activities and opportunities to learn about local library programs.

Instrument Petting Zoo

Get an up-close look at musical instruments! Children and families can explore how instruments work and discover the different sounds they make.

March: Family Concert Matinee (1hr with no intermission)

◐ MIXED | Suite from Frozen

This magical Disney music features familiar melodies, gentle moments, and exciting sections that grow louder as the orchestra plays.

● POWERFUL | Pirates of the Caribbean

This adventurous movie music features strong rhythms, loud brass instruments, powerful percussion, and exciting, dramatic sounds.

◐ MIXED | Carnival of the Animals – Camille Saint-Saëns

This playful music uses different instruments to represent animals, with some gentle, quiet moments and others that are lively, fast, and surprising.

Featuring narration by Jeffrey Webb, who will help tell the story of the animals throughout the music.

● POWERFUL | The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra – Benjamin Britten

This exciting piece introduces the different instruments of the orchestra, beginning with bold sounds and featuring both quiet solos and powerful moments when the entire orchestra plays together.

April: Symphony in Color

◐ MIXED | Chroma – Stacy Garrop

This colorful orchestral work explores seven different colors through music, featuring changing rhythms, contrasting sounds, and moments that range from soft and delicate to bold and powerful.

○ GENTLE | Ye, Who Seek the Truth – Julia Perry

This expressive choral music features warm, flowing melodies and mostly gentle singing, with moments when the voices grow fuller and stronger.

◐ MIXED | Symphony of Psalms – Igor Stravinsky

This dramatic work combines the orchestra and chorus, moving between quiet, reflective singing and powerful passages with strong rhythms and bold instrumental sounds.

● POWERFUL | La Mer – Claude Debussy

Inspired by the ocean, this music moves between soft, flowing sounds and loud, dramatic moments that capture the movement and power of the sea.

May: A Musical Gallery

○ GENTLE | Prelude from Suite No. 1 for Solo Cello – Johann Sebastian Bach

This peaceful music features a single cello playing a flowing melody, with gentle sounds and a warm, calming atmosphere.

◐ MIXED | Flute Quartet in D Major – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

This graceful music features the flute and string instruments, moving between soft, delicate melodies and lively, playful moments.

◐ MIXED | Fantasie for Solo Violin – Georg Philipp Telemann

This expressive solo violin music features a mix of gentle, flowing melodies and faster, energetic passages.

○ GENTLE | Sonata for Flute and Harp – Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges

This elegant music features the soft, airy sounds of the flute and the delicate, plucked strings of the harp, with moments of brighter energy.

◐ MIXED | Fantaisie for Violin and Harp – Camille Saint-Saëns

This beautiful music combines the singing sound of the violin with the gentle harp, moving between peaceful passages and faster, more dramatic moments.

◐ MIXED | Invocation for Piano, Violin, and Cello – Amy Beach

This expressive music features three instruments playing together, with quiet, reflective passages that gradually grow fuller and more intense.

◐ MIXED | Le Grand Tango – Astor Piazzolla

This passionate tango features strong rhythms, quick musical changes, and energetic moments that may feel louder and more dramatic than the earlier pieces.