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2007-2008—Now In Our 48th Season |
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Program Information Winter Concert |
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Barry G.
Peters, Conductor Jesu, Joy of Man’s
Desiring.................................................................................................... J.S.
Bach arr.
Arthur Luck Trumpet Sonata No. 2...................................................................................................... Henry
Purcell Nathaniel Sodeur - soloist Danse Macabre, Op. 40.......................................................................................... Camille
Saint-Saens Violin Concerto No. 2................................................................................................. Henri
Wieniawski Movement 3 Jeffrey Lu - soloist JUNIOR ORCHESTRA Russell J.
Colton, Conductor March from
“Carmen”...................................................................................................... George
Bizet arr.
Woodhouse Seventeenth Century Dutch
Tunes.............................................................................. Adrianus
Valerius arr. Hans Kindler Wilt Heden nu Treden Merck Toch Hoe Sterck Russian Folksongs.......................................................................................................... Anatole
Liadov arr.
Stone Round Dance Choral
Dance —INTERMISSION— Piano Concerto No. 2............................................................................................. Edward
MacDowell Movement 3 Angela
Chen - soloist Capriccio Espagnol............................................................................................... N.
Rimsky-Korsakoff I. Albarada II. Variazioni III. Albarada IV. Scena e canto gitano V. Fandango asturiano
Program Notes Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring................................................................................................... J.S. Bach The amount of orchestral, vocal, and solo and ensemble music written by J.S. Bach is staggering. Some of his most famous compositions include the Brandenburg Concertos, the B minor Mass, his orchestral suites, and his many concertos to name a few. Yet, the person who may have a limited amount of knowledge of classical music may tell you that the piece they know as one of Bach’s most often performed pieces is Jesu. That person is probably correct. Jesu was written in 1716 and is actually part of a church cantata. The piece has been transcribed for orchestra, band, organ, piano, and many small ensembles as well as for solo instruments. We associate this composition with the holiday season, but it is certainly appropriate for any time of the year. It is typical of the simplicity and beauty of so many of Bach’s masterpieces. Trumpet Sonata No. 2.................................................................................................... Henry Purcell Henry Purcell, 1659-1695, was a contemporary of many of the Baroque composers such as J.S. Bach, Scarlatti, and Vivaldi. He gained a good deal of notoriety during his lifetime, but like Bach, was forgotten for many years after his death. It took almost 100 years for people to appreciate his importance to music. He is now considered one of the finest British composers in history. The sonata being performed today is in three short movements. The first movement is a short overture which develops into an allegro section. The second movement is a short interlude for strings alone. The third movement is a march during which the trumpet and strings alternate playing the melody. Danse Macabre, Op. 40........................................................................................ Camille Saint-Saens Saint-Saens is one of the most versatile musicians in music history. He was a remarkable organist, pianist, composer, conductor, scholar, and teacher. He wrote plays, spoke several languages, and studied astronomy and archaeology. His music is as diversified as his background. His output includes opera, concertos for various instruments, ballet, keyboard sonatas, symphonies, as well as various orchestral tone poems such as the piece to be performed today. In addition, he wrote a good deal of music in the style of previous composers in an attempt to keep their styles alive. “Danse Macabre” has become one of his most recognizable pieces. It is based on a grotesque poem by Henri Cazalis, which talks about death, tombs, and other rather morbid topics. The music begins with the harp announcing the stroke of midnight. This is followed by a violin being tuned in preparation for the performance of music to be used to summon ghosts from their graves. He uses the xylophone to denote skeletons and the oboe to depict the cock crowing, announcing the dawn and the end of the dance. You will also hear the familiar “dies irae,” the musical phrase used by many composers to signify death or doom. Violin Concerto No. 2.............................................................................................. Henri Wieniawski Henri Wieniawski was one of the finest violinists of the nineteenth century. His technical ability and outstanding musicianship were not only evidenced in his playing, but in his compositions as well. His two concertos and the other thirty compositions for violin are filled with technically difficult passages as well as beautiful melodies which are typical of the romantic period. Like many other outstanding musicians, Wieniawski (1835-1880) was a child prodigy. He was admitted to the Paris Conservatory at age eight, won the school gold medal at eleven, and began touring the world at age thirteen. The violin concerto being performed today is considered to be one of the finest violin concertos of the romantic period. March from “Carmen”................................................................................ George Bizet (1838-1875) The opera “Carmen” is probably the best known of all operas. This short but sprightly march has as the second theme the famous “Toreador’s Song.” This melody is well known to all music lovers. Seventeenth Century Dutch Tunes.................................................... Adrianus Valerius ©. 1575-1625) The
“Dutch Tunes” were composed during the Eighty Years War between
the Russian Folksongs................................................................................... Anatole Liadov (1855-1914) Liadov orchestrated several children’s songs and Russian folksongs. The “Round Dance” is a short fugetto with pizzicato strings and a bright flute and oboe tune. The “Choral Dance” has chromatic harmonies, a rumbling bass line, and bird chirps in the flutes and oboe. Piano Concerto No. 2........................................................................................... Edward MacDowell MacDowell
is considered to be the first significant composer of concert music produced
by the The second movement of this concerto is a scherzo, similar to those of Mendelssohn. The scherzo evolves into a brooding, dark melody followed by a soliloquy for the piano. The end of the movement is dotted with sparkling virtuoso passages for both the piano and orchestra. Capriccio Espagnol............................................................................................ N. Rimsky-Korsakoff It has
been said that most of the best Spanish music has been written by people from
other countries, including Rimsky-Korsakoff is known for his brilliant orchestration, lush harmonies, and driving rhythmic effects as well as his beautiful melodies. All of these elements are obvious in this music. Written in 1887,
Capriccio Espagnol has become one of the composer’s most famous
works. Other works by the composer,
including Russian Easter Overture, The Snow Maiden, and Scheherazade, were
all written between 1880-1890 while he was teaching at the conservatory in |