A lavender background has the text ‘John Kander, composer.’ written as a title in large purple letters. A portrait of an older white man wearing a brown jacket and black t-shirt, paired with a black scarf is in the bottom right, and next to it on the left is the quote “I guess it proves, much to our delight, that corruption never goes out of fashion.” with ‘Speaking on ‘Chicago’’ written underneath in black text.
Black text on a lavender background reads ‘About the composer: John Kander was born on 18th March 1927 in Kansas City. He grew up Jewish and middle class. He served in the US Merchant Marines and then the Army Reserves between WWII and 1957. Kander’s music degree was obtained from Oberlin College in 1951, and his master’s degree from Columbia University in 1953. Kander is best known for his work with friend and lyricist, Fred Ebb. They worked together on numerous musicals including ‘Flora the Red Menace’, ‘Cabaret’, and ‘Chicago’. Kander is a big figure in the musical theatre world, and has continually brought important and difficult themes into mainstream musical theatre. In 2010, Kander married his partner, who he’d been with since 1977 - Albert Stephenson.’ Underneath the text is an artistic drawing of a music stanza.
Black text on a lavender background reads ‘About the piece: ‘All That Jazz’ is the opening song from the musical ‘Chicago’. The lyrics are by the other half of the composing duo - Fred Ebb. The musical is based on the play of the same name by Maurine Dallas Watkins. The plot of ‘Chicago’ comes from the 1924 trials of Beulah Annan and Belva Gaertner. They were accused of murdering their husbands, and both were acquitted. The character Roxie Hart was based on Annan, and the character Velma Kelly on Gaertner. The story follows Roxie as she is accused of murdering her husband, and her trial following this. The changing views on women during the Jazz Age and the Cook County juries acquitting many female murderers (leading to the legend that at the time, attractive women could not be convicted of murders in Chicago) serve as the setting for the musical. The music in ‘Chicago’ is vaudeville style, and most of the musical moments are loosely based on vaudeville performers of the time. We will be playing a 5-part arrangement of this song, which we typically use for busking purposes.’
Introducing Saturday's composers! John Kander!
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#JohnKander #CardiffQueerOrchestra #CardiffMusic #Cerddoriaeth #AllThatJazz #AndAllThatJazz #QueerMusic #Chicago #ChicagoTheMusical #CerddoriaethCaerdydd
