May 1999 Concert Program

Guiseppi Verdi is known as one of the finest Italian composers of opera. His operas have become mainstays of the major opera houses around the world. “II Trovatore,” “Rigoletto,” “Nabucco,” and “Aida” are a mere sampling of the many famous operas he composed.

Much of the instrumental music used in his operas has become a part of the orchestra] concert literature as well. The overture to “La Forza del Destino” is typical of the overtures to his other operas. He uses material from throughout the opera as the basis for the overture. A review of the first performance at the Metropolitan Opera in 1918 states that compared to his earlier operas, “...There are considerable advances in technique, a richer, more expensive vein of melody, finer workmanship and warmer harmony.” Although this opera has not achieved some of the notoriety of some of his earlier eras, this has to be considered one of Verdi's finest musical works.

Slavonic Dance No. 10, Antonin Dvorak

In 1976, Dvorak wrote a set of eight” Slavonic Dances.” They were written along the same lines as the Brahms' “Hungarian Dances” in that they try to capture the ethnic spirit of that part of the world. Due to the popularity of these dances, Dvorak became known throughout Europe. Eight years later, he wrote another set of eight dances. This is the set from which today's selection is taken.

Many people have said that the “Slavonic Dances” encompass many of the emotions of the Slavonic people. They are tender, high-spirited, whimsical and laced with folk-like melodies that evoke a beautiful picture of the people and their geographic region.

Variations on a Shaker Melody, Aaron Copland

Aaron Copland has written for almost every type of ensemble and musical form imaginable. Some of his best known music comes from the ballet stage. His ballets “Billy the Kid,” “Rodeo,” and “Appalachian Spring” are examples of some of his best-known music.

The “Variations on a Shaker Melody” is taken from “Appalachian Spring” and is based on the folk song “A Gift to be Simple.” There is a sincerity and down to earth sound that is so typical of much of Copland's music.

Russian Choral and Overture, Peter Ilyitch Tschaikowsky (1840-1893)

The “Russian Choral and Overture” is based on Tschaikowsky's Op. 39, No. 34 and several Russian folk songs. We have the luxury of a harp player, so I have added a harp solo alternating with the orchestra in the opening choral. The overture starts with a casual tempo and accelerates continuously to quite an exhilarating pace at the final three chords.

Two Shakespeare Sketches, Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)

These “Sketches” make use of two well-known tunes of Shakespeare’s time - “When That I Was a Little Tiny Boy” and Thomas Morley's “It Was a Lover and His Lass.” The music has been taken from that composed in 1 955 for the documentary film “The England of Elizabeth” and arranged for young players.

Tannhauser March, Richard Wagner (1813-1883)

With his opera “Tannhauser,” Wagner first became aware of the nature of his genius. He said that all the musical themes and motifs were in his mind before a single word had been written. The melodic and harmonic texture of the march is rich and chromatic, which is also typical of his later work.

Tournament of Temperaments, Karl Ditters von Dittersdorf (1739-1799)

Dittersdorf was one of the most esteemed composers of his time. His fame equaled that of his contemporary, Joseph Haydn. He was one of the first proponents of “program music,” that is music that tells a story. Twelve of his symphonies illustrate Ovid's “Metamorphosas.” Into the same category belongs this divertimento about the human temperaments.

Satirical Dance, Dimitri Shostakovich

Some of our finest orchestral literature is derived from ballets. Shostakovich wrote “The Bolt” in 1931. The “Satirical Dance” is derived from that ballet.

Like many of the compositions written by this composer, you will be treated to the unexpected. As the name implies, you can expect something that sounds gruff and seems to sneer at you. But there is a lighter side to this piece that should leave you with a smile on your face.

Capriccio Espagnol, Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakoff

Rimsky-Korsakov was a composer, performer, teacher and a naval officer. In fact, his first symphony was written while he was on a 2½-year cruise around the world. After the cruise, he befriended the other members of the “Russian Five” who inspired each other's compositions and became the core of Russian nationalism during the latter part of the 1800's.

He was a teacher at the St. Petersburg Conservatory from 1871-1905. His students included Glazinov, Stravinsky and many more important musical figures. We remember him most for his ability to orchestrate. His orchestration textbook is still used in many music schools today.

The “Capriccio Espagnol,” written in 1887, is one of several showpieces he wrote for the orchestra. It requires virtuosic playing on the part of the orchestra and captures the flavor of Spanish folk music. The five sections of the piece are to be played without interruption.

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