Ballet West revives its classic 'Songs of the Valley'

Bruce Marks, former artistic director for Ballet West, first moved to Salt Lake City in 1976.

During that time, the United States was celebrating the Bicentennial, and Marks wanted to create a work that featured Western imagery and also paid homage to his new home.

That's one of the reasons he created "Songs of the Valley."

The second reason was Aaron Copland's epic work called "Old American Songs."

"As soon as I heard them, I thought, 'I've got an entire ballet here,' " said Marks, who was in Salt Lake City to oversee his former company restage the production. "I've got 'Crossing the Plains.' I have 'Coming to Zion, the hymn 'Zion's Walls.'

"It just seemed perfect," Marks said. "I was able to arrange the music in a way that there are serious and comedic songs, and something for children — especially (the work) 'Bought Me a Cat,' which my children still talk about.

"It behooved me to pay tribute to the background of my new home," he said. "That's why I did 'Songs of the Valley.' "

Ballet West will perform "Songs of the Valley," as well as Sir Frederick Ashton's "The Dream" and Ben Stevenson's "Three Preludes" at the Capitol Theatre beginning Oct. 30.

When Ballet West first performed "Songs of the Valley" at Kingsbury Hall, a chorus and a baritone were used.

"The chorus was in the running loge in the audience," Marks remembered. "Which I thought was really wonderful."

Because of the configuration of the Capitol Theatre, the ballet will feature only a baritone and an orchestra, Marks said. "It has, however, been done on tour with just baritone and piano."

Kurt Bestor, who will guest conduct the Utah Chamber Orchestra during "Songs of the Valley," said Copland was a major influence in his life.

"I grew up emulating him, and he is a big influence in my film scoring," said Bestor before a rehearsal. "I've know these songs for many, many years, and I wasn't aware that they'd been done here with Ballet West all those years ago."

Bestor said the concept of this work "made sense when he was asked to conduct."

"You have American song, American choreographer talking about Zion for heaven's sakes, and being done by the West's ballet," he said. "And here's a local boy conducting it. So it seems right."

The challenge of conducting is finding a balance between the music and the action on stage, he said.

"There's always this chicken/egg thing," he said. "The worst thing to do as a conductor of ballet is to try to follow, because then you end up slowing down.