Ragtime and the great Eubie Blake
An exuberant and decidedly American style of music, ragtime introduced the world to exciting new rhythms. It changed the dance scene, influenced early jazz, and broke through the color barrier of early 20th-century music. Ragtime’s heyday may have been in the 1920s, but it has made numerous comebacks – and we’re still enjoying it today. […]
Fun facts about our favorite brass instruments
This month we’re delighted to welcome the incredibly talented Barclay Brass. This ensemble features the trumpet, trombone, French horn, euphonium and tuba. How much do you know about these classic instruments? Read on and get to know them in anticipation of a great performance! Trumpet Trumpets have been around for quite a while, although they haven’t […]
Happy 100th anniversary
This year we’re celebrating an odd anniversary. It may not be well known, but 1922 was a peculiarly notable year in music. Maybe it was an influence from World War I, maybe the planets just aligned. Whatever the reason, some interesting things happened! Here are a few of the events that made 1922 musically memorable. […]
5 Times the Cosmos Inspired Classical Music
As NASA releases the first images from the James Webb Space Telescope, we can’t help but be inspired by the wonder of space. Not surprisingly, classical composers over the years have also been inspired by the heavens. Here are five cosmic compositions worth checking out. Naturally, that first work that comes to mind is The […]
Ahoy! Odyssey Brings U.S. Navy Chorus Ashore
The Howard County Concert Odyssey wrapped up the 2021-2022 season with a FREE concert by the U.S. Navy Chorus, the Sea Chanters! On Sunday, June 12, 2022, St. John’s Episcopal Church, Ellicott City, Maryland, was filled nearly to capacity with an appreciative audience as the uniformed chorus of 8 men, 8 women and 4 musicians […]
Odyssey Presented Seipp/Sheets Organ and Trumpet Duo
A duet between an organ and a trumpet? You won’t believe how great they sounded together! On Sunday, May 15, 2022, the Howard County Concert Odyssey presented the Seipp/Sheets Duo at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Ellicott City, Maryland. Trumpeter Chuck Seipp retired from The United States Army Band, “Pershing’s Own,” in 2012, culminating his 32-year […]
Songs of Summer
Summer beckons, and with it a host of musical events to feed your musical soul. Whether you already have summer travel plans or are looking for a destination for your next vacation, here are a few summer music festivals to entertain and inspire. These are just a tiny sampling of the musical smorgasbord that’s out […]
Odyssey to Present the U.S. Navy Chorus, the Sea Chanters!
The Howard County Concert Odyssey will wrap up the 2021-2022 season with a FREE concert by the U.S. Navy Chorus, the Sea Chanters, on Sunday, June 12, 2022, at 4 p.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Ellicott City, Maryland. The ensemble performs a variety of music including traditional choral music, sea chanteys, patriotic fare, […]
Ahoy, Is That a Sea Chantey I Hear?
Ocean travel today is relatively safe … even luxurious if you’re on a cruise ship. But back in the 19th century, sailors had to work hard just to stay alive on the wooden merchant ships that carried them across turbulent waters. And what makes difficult, repetitive manual labor seem less onerous? Music, of course! Enter the […]
It Takes Two
Think about musical duos, and the performers who come to mind probably depend on the decade that comes to your mind first. In the 50s, 60s and 70s, there were many successful duos on the charts: the Everly Brothers, Sonny and Cher, Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, and the Carpenters, to name just a few… […]