Alverno Alpha : Beautiful Dreamer Delivers

Beautiful Dreamer Delivers

Photo Credit: Alverno Presents

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What's Your Rating of Beautiful Dreamer: The Foster Project?

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Kali Stevens, Staff Writer
February 8, 2013
Filed under Arts & Entertainment, Music

Stephen Foster (born in 1826) is known as the country?s first professional composer, and his iconic creations, including ?Camptown Races? (1850) and ?Beautiful Dreamer? (1862), have been performed by numerous musicians, from Yo-Yo Ma to the legendary Johnny Cash.

But during the Alverno Presents performance of Beautiful Dreamer: The Foster Project on February 8, when Bethany Thomas crooned her rendition of ?Oh! Susanna? (1848), she had me thirsty for even more soulful and innovative tributes to this iconic composer.

The event was slow to start, with the welcoming introduction beginning later than the designated 8 p.m. curtain. Tantalizing cello strings and Thomas? sultry vocals soon brought the audience quickly under a musical spell.

Comprised of a widely diverse music scene, The Foster Project included Christopher Porterfield (Field Report), Jon Langford (Mekons, Waco Brothers), Blueprint, Robbie Fulks, Betty Strigens, and a community choir of 20 voices from Milwaukee, as well as the house band, Juniper Tar.

Thankfully, this Alverno Presents performance quenched my thirst for acoustic guitars, heart-pounding drums, and an always lovable banjo solo, but the real flavor of the performance was derived from the dedication to Foster?s musical legacy, quirky rhythm and irresistibly catchy lyrics. Before each set, the performers provided a heartfelt monologue for their reason in supporting The Foster Project. Ryan Schleicher, the man behind The Foster Project?s musical collaboration, and the bassist and vocalist for Juniper Tar, said it simply but sternly: ?American popular culture. It begins with Stephen Foster.?

Foster ?wrote songs from the perspective of African-Americans,? stated Schleicher. In fact, , according to The Foster Project performers, many ?Oh! Susanna? renditions have been revised due to the ?distasteful imagery? representing slavery.

Thomas smoothed the barriers between cultures when she delivered a melancholic masterpiece of Foster?s ?Hard Times Come Again No More? (1854):

?As we pause in life?s pleasures and count its many tears,

Let us all taste the hungers of the poor.

There?s a song that will linger forever in our ears:

Hard times, come again no more.?

Unfortunately, the Civil War began devouring the music industry, chewing up and spitting out many artists who had just begun to make names for themselves, including Foster. The Foster Project performers somberly discussed that on January 13, 1864, Foster passed away at the age of 37, with alcohol on his breath and ?just 38 cents in his pocket.?

Oh, Susanna. The Foster Project?s talented and dedicated renditions proved that there is no need to cry. Beautiful Dreamer: The Foster Project delivered an endearing experience, and, dare I say it, caused an inevitable need to hum, ?Camptown Races? as the rhythmic sounds ceased and the last performer graciously took a bow.

For more information about the performance and those involved, visit: http://alvernopresents.alverno.edu/pages/shows/Beautiful-Dreamer.aspx

To learn more about Ryan Schleicher and Juniper Tar, visit: http://www.junipertar.com/

Source: http://www.alvernoalpha.com/arts-entertainment/2013/02/08/beautiful-dreamer-delivers/

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