Chattanooga Boys Choir presents 'Songs and Stories of the Civil War'

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Music historian Bobby Horton is joining the Chattanooga Boys Choir for "The Blue and the Gray: Songs and Stories of the Civil War." The concert will take place tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of Chattanooga Center for Creative Arts, 1301 Dallas Road. Admission is $5, free for students.

The program is presented in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of Chattanooga-area Civil War battles and campaigns of 1863, according to CBC director Vic Oakes.

Horton, who was the primary music producer for Ken Burns' "Civil War" PBS documentary, will perform solo as well as with the choir. He will share narrative about the music with the audience, as well as accompany the choir on banjo, guitar, fiddle and some original period instruments that date from the 19th century.

"I tell the stories of the people involved in the conflict. North or South, these songs are about the human experience under the most extraordinary of circumstances," says Horton.

The program will include songs of the Union, of the Confederacy, spirituals and songs about soldiers' lives; among them, "When Johnny Comes Marching Home," "Battle Cry of Freedom," "Bonnie Blue Flag" and "Battle Hymn of the Republic."

"A special musical setting of 'Battle Above the Clouds' will be performed," says Oakes. "This piece vividly depicts the Battle of Lookout Mountain, which took place in November 1863.

"I am so proud to present this program to the Chattanooga community, which has such deep and important roots with this war," says 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."

Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.