"The piece is written for 12 brass instruments and has an upbeat, celebratory character," said Levin, who also conducts the university orchestra.

The work was commissioned by Clemson University President James F. Barker for the rededication of Fort Hill, the historic home of John C. Calhoun, South Carolina's preeminent 19th century statesman, and Thomas Green Clemson, Calhoun's son-in-law and founder of the university.

Clemson University operates the house as a public museum, and in 1997, the South Carolina General Assembly appropriated $1.2 million for repairs and restoration work. Also in 1997, experts from the National Park Service's Historic American Buildings Survey office spent 12 weeks at the house preparing drawings, photographs and a report that are helping provide a baseline for preservation efforts.

Fort Hill is on the list of National Historic Landmarks. Designated in 1960, on the same day as Monticello and Mount Vernon, the house was awarded the status based on the national stature of Calhoun and Clemson. Calhoun served as vice president twice, secretary of war, secretary of state, member of the House of Representatives and, at the time of his death in 1850, as U.S. Senator. Clemson was a diplomat to Belgium and essentially the first acting director of the Department of Agriculture.

The centerpiece of Fort Hill Fanfare is a setting of the tune Carolina Forever. "Presumably Carolina Forever was composed by Thomas Green Clemson," said Levin. "The original composition will remind listeners of a college alma mater, given the shape of its melody and phrasing," said Levin about Carolina Forever.

"When playing the fanfare, the brass players are arranged in trios around the audience, resulting in a sort of live 'surround sound' environment. The playing alternates from all 12 players to one trio at a time or in combinations of two trios."

Texas tenor Randolph Lacy will join the symphony orchestra, the Clemson University Singers and university vocalists Melanie Rowell, soprano, and Scott Lehmkuhl, baritone, in performing excerpts from The Creation by Haydn.

Haydn is considered the "father of the symphony" by many; yet at the height of his creative powers, he became keenly focused on creating music for chorus and orchestra.

"The Creation is arguably his greatest work, a magnificent depiction of the glory of God's creation in musical terms," said Levin. "The performance begins with the 'Depiction of Chaos' and progresses through the days of creation."

Randolph Lacy, whom the Houston Chronicle called "a most exemplary singer," has performed the title role in Mozart's La Clemenza di Tito and principal roles in Rossini's Il Viaggio a Reims, Puccini's Gianni Schicchi and Corigliano's the Ghosts of Versailles.

He has performed with the Houston Grand Opera, Opera Memphis, the Chamber Opera Chicago, the Anchorage Opera and the Kentucky Opera. His concert experience includes performances with the Austin Symphony, the Michigan Bach Festival, the Chicago String Ensemble and the Houston Masterworks Chorus.

The concert also will feature works by the Russian composers Alexandr Porfirevich Borodin and Peter Illich Tchaikovsky.

"March Slav was written by Tchaikovsky in only five days," said Levin. "He composed the work in 1876 as a sign of Russian solidarity for Serbia and Montenegro, who were at war with Turkey. The result is a hugely popular piece of music that contains two Serbian folk tunes as well as the triumphant melody found in his 1812 Overture."

Borodin's On the Steppes of Central Asia was written for a concert that never took place, but that didn't stop this work from achieving lasting popularity. The composition is programmatic, with certain sections signifying elements of Czarist Russia of the late 19th century.

"The slow opening section represents Russia's endless expanse," Levin said, "with a processional-like passage representing the movement of caravans across the land. Two themes then appear in succession -- a Russian folk melody and a more Oriental tune suggestive of eastern Russia. Together, the two themes are a symbolic gesture of the joining of cultures in that mighty land."

General admission tickets are $5 for adults and senior citizens, free for students. For ticket reservations and information, call the Brooks Center box office at (864) 656-7787, Monday-Friday, 1-5 p.m. Information is also online at www.clemson.edu/Brooks.

(photos provided by Clemson University)

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