It worked, and Amram was able to create “Symphonic Variations on a Song by Woody Guthrie,” a piece that the Colorado Symphony Orchestra will perform tonight at Boettcher Hall in the Denver Performing Arts Complex. “Song” takes listeners through all the places Woody traveled, from California to the New York island, from a Sunday-morning Okemah, Oklahoma, church service to Mexico. “It’s almost like a biographical journey of the places that Woody went when he was playing the piece,” says Amram.
You can follow along tonight at A Tribute to Woody Guthrie with David Amram, a celebration of Guthrie’s 100th birthday that also includes performances of the rambling man’s songs by Josh White Jr., the son of an old Guthrie friend, and an audience sing-along at the end. The tribute begins at 7:30 p.m.; tickets range from $20 to $65. Amram and White will be in town for a series of events throughout the week. For more information and tickets, call 303-623-7876 or visit www.coloradosymphony.org.
Sat., Sept. 22, 7:30 p.m., 2012