Music Lecture Series kicks off Feb. 20

COEUR d'ALENE - The "Art on the Green People" are getting ready to kick off their 2011 Music Lecture Series.

The Coeur d'Alene Citizens Council for the Arts is sponsoring a three-part series of one-hour lecture/performances highlighting the art of music.

The lectures, all free and open to the public, take place on upcoming Sunday afternoons at Coeur d'Alene Nazarene Church, 4000 N. Fourth St.

Information: 667-3393

• "Hymn to Freedom: The Life and Music of Oscar Peterson," featuring Brent Edstrom will take place Feb. 20 at 3 p.m.

Edstrom is a jazz pianist and music educator from Whitworth University. Oscar Peterson was one of the most recorded Jazz Pianists of all time.

Peterson was known for his hard-swinging, prodigious technique, and harmonic sophistication. Edstrom will discuss the musical influences that shaped Peterson's early years, demonstrating the melodic and harmonic vocabulary behind Peterson's unique style.

Edstrom has published numerous books of transcriptions of influential jazz pianist including Kenny Barron, Bill Evans, Oscar Peterson, and Art Tatum, and is the author of " Musicianship in a Digital Age" and "Recording On A Budget."

• Tedesca Quartet, featuring Tracy Dunlop , Chari Bickford, Tana Bland and Cheryl Carney will be held March 13 at 3 p.m.

This quartet consists of four mothers devoted to making music. Their mission is to share their music with people who might not otherwise get to experience live string quartet. Collectively, these players have logged more than 50 years with the Spokane Symphony, playing locally as well as throughout America and Europe.

This program will highlight the roots of Tango Music, beginning with the late 1800s.

• "The Music and Life of Scott Joplin: American Composer, featuring Scott Kirby will be held March 27 at 3 p.m.

This presentation is a version of a program given by Kirby at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C., in 2002. A dozen Joplin compositions will be featured. Kirby will present a detailed analysis of the historical and biographical backgrounds of these pieces. Kirby is considered to be one of the foremost authorities of Ragtime music.

The Citizens Council for the Arts (CCA) is a nonprofit volunteer group who work to encourage, promote, and support the arts in the community.