Rubin pays tribute to music that won ‘The Great War’

Joseph N. Rubin’s Orchestra will pay tribute to the music that won “The Great War” in Over There: The Music of World War One on the centennial of the Armistice, Nov. 11.

This concert will play popular music of the war years of 1914-18 by American composers including George M. Cohan, Jerome Kern and Victor Herbert.

“Over There,” “K-K-K Katy,” “Smiles,” “How Ya Gonna Keep ‘em Down on the Farm,” “Goodbye Broadway, Hello France” and more will be brought to life again in their original orchestrations for the first time in a century. Heidi Swinford, leading soprano on Northern Ohio stages, will recreate selections originally introduced by Vaudeville stars Nora Bayes and Elsie Janis. Jay Spencer, acclaimed theater organist and house organist at the Canton Palace Theatre, will lead the audience in a sing-along of 1918 song hits.

Conductor Joseph Rubin is “excited to bring this music to life once again in honor of this monumental anniversary.” Rubin believes “audiences will be surprised at how many of the songs they recognize because they have become part of the musical fabric of the United States over the past century.”

Armistice was declared on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918. This concert marks the centenary of this occasion in world history and is dedicated to all the veterans who have served to help keep this country free.

Joseph N. Rubin’s Orchestra is a 12-piece ensemble that recreates the standard orchestra of the period found in theaters, opera houses, restaurants, hotels and numerous other public places from the 1890s-1920s. Before the proliferation of recorded music, most public places had some sort of live music, and Joseph N. Rubin’s Orchestra continues this tradition.

Founded in 2012, the orchestra draws upon a large collection of published “stock” orchestrations from 1880-1929 including medleys from operettas and musical comedies, ragtime, waltzes, two-steps, and marches. Effort is taken to create a historically accurate performance, from the 1910 Leedy “trap” set to the period attire worn by the musicians.

Music on Market is a program of the United Methodist Church of Wooster and supported by Main Street Wooster Inc. and Wayne Center for the Arts. The series provides a diverse selection of music throughout the year to the entire community. These performances are presented in the Wooster UMC sanctuary, one of the largest historical venues in the downtown area, and it has handicap accessibility, available parking and proximity to downtown restaurants.

All events are free, but a freewill offering will be taken to help cover the costs. Seating is open style, and no tickets are required. Doors will open at 12:45 p.m.

For more information visit www.josephnrubin.com/overthere. United Methodist Church of Wooster is located at 243 N. Market St., Wooster.