Wind Orchestra to accompany ‘The General’ Thursday

The Carthage Wind Orchestra, under the direction of Professor James Ripley, will perform a live accompaniment to one of the great silent film comedies, “The General,” March 1-6 on a tour of early 20th century theaters and opera houses throughout the Midwest. Its tour begins with a performance at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 1, in A. F. Siebert Chapel.

The full concert band will perform music drawn from the compositions of James Barnes, as well as authentic fife and drum tunes and civil war marches. The “soundtrack” was compiled by Samantha (Whalen) Reid ’14, as a summer research project. Extracting about 90 minutes of music from the total of over 100 works by Mr. Barnes, the final result follows the film’s pathos, comedy, and heroism of the protagonist and his two loves — Annabelle and his train, “The General.”

The Wind Orchestra is one of the oldest college bands in the country and is a leader in commissioning new works for band.

“The General” tour dates

• March 1— 7:30 p.m. — A. F. Siebert Chapel – Kenosha — free, donations accepted
• March 2— 7:30 p.m. — Mineral Point Opera House — Mineral Point, Wisconsin — $10
• March 3— 7:30 p.m. — Steyer Opera House — Decorah, Iowa — $10
• March 4— 3 p.m. — Cresco Opera House — Cresco, Iowa— $5
• March 5— 7:30 p.m. — Grand Theater — Dubuque, Iowa — $10
• March 6— 7:30 p.m. — Freeport Masonic Temple — Freeport, Illinois — $10