Hearing a Rainbow: Arlen's "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"
1-Time Lecture | To register, please call us at: 305-919-5900.
Though the 1939 film Wizard of Oz has become one of the best-known films of all time, initially it was only a moderate success. By the year 2000, however, the film had not only become an American institution, but "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" was deemed the greatest song of the century. Come join Dr. Tom Cimarusti (Professor of Music History, FGCU) as he explores this musical gem, highlighting the song's genesis, its melodic simplicity and harmonic sophistication, and its ability to offer each of us a hope for something better -- to whisk us to another world where "troubles melt like lemon drops."
Thomas Cimarusti
Dr. Thomas M. Cimarusti is a Professor of Music History at Florida Gulf Coast University. He has lectured at various campuses across the country including Florida State University, Utah Valley University, and Texas Tech University.
With an interest in 18th- and 19th-century music, Dr. Cimarusti has presented his research at conferences in Asia, Europe, and the USA on topics concerning Mozart, Beethoven, Italian opera, and chamber music.
In 2018 he founded the Naples Center for Public Musicology, an organization which promotes community engagement through public lectures at retirement communities, Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes, Artis-Naples, Opera Naples, and other community organizations.
His current research interest concerns the musical culture of the Koreshan Unity.