Friday, December 07, 2007

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Humboldt Symphony, Chorale and University Singers

The world premiere of “Fallen Heroes” by HSU professor emeritus Dr. Jim Stanard is performed by the Humboldt Symphony and choir comprised of the Humboldt Chorale and University Singers in their winter concert on Friday, December 7 and Sunday December 9 at 8 PM in the Fulkerson Recital Hall on the HSU campus in Arcata. Tickets are $7 general, $3 students and seniors, from HSU Ticket Office (826-3928) or at the door. HSU students free with ID. An HSU Department of Music production; Paul Cummings conducting the Humboldt Symphony, the Humboldt Chorale directed by Carol Ryder, and the University Singers directed by Harley Muilenburg.
World Premiere of Humboldt Composer’s “Fallen Heroes”

The world premiere of Fallen Heroes, a work for orchestra and chorus composed by HSU professor emeritus Dr. Jim Stanard, will highlight the combined winter performances of the Humboldt Symphony, Humboldt Chorale and the University Singers.

There will be two performances—on Friday, December 7 and Sunday, December 9, both in Fulkerson Recital Hall beginning at 8 PM.

“Dr. Stanard taught vocal music at HSU for many years prior to his retirement in 2006,” said Humboldt Symphony conductor Paul Cummings. “He has used poetry from the Civil War as the text, in creating a memorial to fallen soldiers.”

“The work is composed for full orchestra with mixed choir,” he noted, “ and there will be over 150 performers on stage for this piece.”

The chorus is comprised of the Humboldt Chorale, directed by Carol Ryder, and the University Singers, directed by Harley Muilenburg.

Before Fallen Heroes caps the evening, the Humboldt Symphony orchestra will play the Hungarian March by Hector Berlioz, Concerto Grosso Opus 6 #4 by Arcangelo Corelli and Finlandia by Jean Sibelius.

The Hungarian March is one of the better known pieces by Berlioz, and was so popular when first performed in 1846 that he included it in his opera, The Damnation of Faust. Corelli’s Concerto Grosso, written late in his career, is considered to be among the finest examples of the baroque style.

Findlandia is also one of the best known compositions of Sibelius, a symphonic poem written as a patriotic statement in favor of Finnish independence from Russia in 1900. It contains the “Findlandia Hymn” which was adopted for the tune of a Christian hymn, and has been heard on movie soundtracks.

The combined concert by the Humboldt Symphony, Humboldt Chorale and University Singers will be performed at 8 PM in the Fulkerson Recital Hall on Friday, December 7 and Sunday, December 9. Tickets are $7 general, $3 students and seniors, from HSU Ticket Office (826-3928) or at the door. HSU students free with ID.

Thursday, December 06, 2007

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AM Jazz Band (Dec. 6) and Jazz Orchestra (Dec. 8)

The AM Jazz Band performs classics by Dizzy Gillespie and others on Thursday, December 6 at 8 PM in the Fulkerson Recital Hall on the HSU campus in Arcata. The HSU Jazz Orchestra plays selections from Marcus Shelby’s Port Chicago Suite commemorating a landmark in Civil Rights history, as well as tunes by Count Basie, Miles Davis, Charles Mingus and others on Saturday, December 8 at 8 PM, also in the Fulkerson Recital Hall. Tickets for each show are $7 general, $3 students and seniors, from HSU Ticket Office (826-3928) or at the door. HSU students free with ID. HSU Department of Music productions, Dan Aldag directing.
Historical Suite and Classics by Jazz Orchestra and AM Jazz Band

The HSU Jazz Orchestra will perform three movements from Marcus Shelby’s Port Chicago Suite, which commemorates a landmark in Civil Rights history with a northern California connection, to climax its concert at HSU on Saturday, December 8.

According to Oakland-based composer Shelby, Port Chicago was the northern California naval base where an explosion in 1944 killed more than 320 men, mostly African American sailors, in the single worst disaster on U.S. soil during World War II. The Navy was racially segregated then, and only blacks were assigned to load ammunition on ships, under unsafe conditions. A protest by hundreds of African American sailors led to the largest mutiny trial in Navy history and a public outcry, ultimately resulting in an integrated U.S. Navy.

The performance of this work is a prelude to an appearance by the composer in March, said HSU Jazz Orchestra director Dan Aldag. “Marcus Shelby is bringing his jazz orchestra to perform his newest work, a jazz oratorio called ’Harriet Tubman: Bound for the Promised Land.’ It will be the keynote event for the HSU diversity conference, which will now be called the Social Justice Summit.”

In addition to the Shelby work, the Jazz Orchestra will perform another piece with a Civil Rights connection: the Charles Mingus composition, “Fables of Faubus,” a caustic “tribute” to Orval Faubus, the Arkansas governor who attempted to stop African American students from desegregating the Little Rock Central High School in 1957.

The program also includes the Count Basie arrangement of “Meetin’ Time,” a classic Miles Davis tune (“Milestones”) with a new arrangement by Mike Tamaro, a Latin Jazz number (Cubauza"), a piece by the Seattle-based avant-garde composer, Wayne Horvitz, a Duke Ellington Orchestra tune, and the blues and hip-hop influenced “Blue Opening” by Ike Sturm.

A couple of nights before the Jazz Orchestra performs, the AM Jazz Band performs classics in the Big Band style, including “Summertime” by George Gershwin, “Salt Peanuts” by Dizzy Gillespie, “My Funny Valentine” by Rodgers and Hart, “Jeannine” by Duke Pearson, and “Cold Duck Time” by Eddie Harris. The band also performs “Drivin,” an original by band member Adrian Re.

The AM Jazz Band performs on Thursday, December 6, and the Jazz Orchestra concert is on Saturday, December 8. Both concerts begin at 8 PM in the Fulkerson Recital Hall on the HSU campus. Tickets to each are $7 general, $3 students and seniors, from HSU Ticket Office (826-3928) or at the door.

Sunday, December 02, 2007


HSU Madrigal Singers: Fall 2007
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Madrigal Singers/MRT

Madrigals and Mad Torch Songs by the HSU Madrigal Singers and the Mad Transit Singers in their holiday concert on Sunday, December 2 at 8 PM in the Fulkerson Recital Hall on the HSU campus in Arcata. Tickets are $7 general, $3 students and seniors, from HSU Ticket Office (826-3928) or at the door. HSU students free with ID. Produced by HSU Department of Music, Harley Muilenburg directing.

Mad River Transit Fall 2007
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Toasts and Torch Songs for Madrigal and MRT Holiday Concert

The HSU Madrigal Singers perform their traditional holiday menu of Renaissance solos, duets and ensemble madrigals on Sunday, December 2 in the Fulkerson Recital Hall. In the second half of the program, the Mad Transit Singers will vocalize up-tempo jazz and swing, as well as lighting up the night with some torch songs.

This year’s Madrigal menu begins with toasts from Thomas Arne (“Which is the Properest Day To Drink?”) and Erasmus Widmann (“Good Health, All Gathered Here!”) With the command to “Sing Ye Muses,” and “Fanfare for Christmas Day,” soloists and various combinations of singers perform works by Henry Purcell, John Dowland, Thomas Morley, Thomas Campion and others, as well as traditional songs from Elizabethan times. Two Madrigal Royalty, Clinton Rebik and Sarah Benzinger, preside over the festivities.

Mad River Transit takes over with songs by Miles Davis and Roger Treece before breaking into a series of solos, duets, trios and quartets. These include Robin DiCello and Melody Walker singing torch song ballads by Harold Arlen, and Rodgers and Hart. The evening ends with a trio rendition of “Late Night Blues.”

The MRT singers are accompanied by Darius Brotman on piano, Robert Amirkhan on bass and Jonathan Kipp on drums.

The holiday concert of the HSU Madrigal Singers and the Mad Transit Singers is on Sunday, December 2 at 8 PM in the Fulkerson Recital Hall on the HSU campus in Arcata. Tickets are $7 general, $3 students and seniors, from HSU Ticket Office (826-3928) or at the door. HSU students free with ID.

Media: North Coast Journal, Arcata Eye
Madrigal Singers: Fall 2007

Sarah Benzinger, Tiffany Guenter,Claire Bent, Katherine Kinley, Lauren Hay, Michele Enenstein, Hailey Kopf, Jemimah Lodes, Katie Mills, Joanne Rand, Brandy Rose, Emily Skold, Cindy Uhrhammer, Rebecca Ross, Jerilyn Phippeny Gashi, Kaia Renouf, Lizzie Poock, Kelly Whitacker, Carrie O’Niell, Gabriel Holman, Richard Alvarez, Jonathan Walton, Joseph Morf, Ryan Knight, Ian Radloff, Clint Rebik, Nicholas Tringale.
The Program: Madrigals

Madrigals to be performed:
Which is the Properest Day To Drink? Thomas Arne
Good Health, All Gathered Here! Erasmus Widmann
Sing Ye Muses John Blow
Mairi’s Wedding arr. Bob Chilcott
Barbara Allen arr. King Singers
Fanfare For Christmas Day Martin Shaw
Change Then For Lo William Holbrone

Duets and Solos to be sung:
Dreams and Imaginations by Robert Jones
Katherine & Emily

Let Us Wander Henry Purcell
Kaia & Brandy

What Can We Poor Females Do? Henry Purcell
Rebekah &Jemimah

Come Away Sweet love Thomas Greaves
Sarah & Claire

Since Robin Hood Thomas Weelkes
JoAnne Rand, Emily Skold

What If a Day Time of Elizabeth
Joseph Morf and Ian Radloff

Now What is Love Robert Jones
Ian, Ryan & Jerilyn

It Was a Lover and His Lass Thomas Morley
Kelly Whitcker, Lizzy Poock

Two Daughters of This Aged Stream Henry Purcell
Jerilyn & Claire

Sweet Nymph Thomas Morley
Sarah Benzinger & Nick Tringale

You Gentlemen of England Time of Elizabeth I
Tiffany Guenter and Madrigal Lords

Solos to be Sung:

A Secret Love or Two Thomas Campion
Cindy Uhrhammer

O Come O Come My Dearest Thomas Arne
Katherine

Willow Song Time of Shakespeare
Sarah

Have You Seen But a White Lily Grow? Time of Shakespeare
Emily Skold

I Live Not Where I Love Time of Elisabeth
Claire

The Silver Swan Orlando Gibbons
Jemimah Lodes

Come Again John Dowland
Jerilyn
Mad River Transit Singers: Fall 2007

Soprano: Jessica Malone, Melody Walker, Rosalie Venza.
Middle: Traci Alvarez, Jamie Banister, Calista LaBolle.
Alto: Robin DiCello, Melissa Modifer, Korrie Williams.

Tenor: Bernie Steinberg, Jonathan Walton.
Middle: Bryan Osper
Baritone/Bass: Kyle Blase, Joshua Boronkay, Alex Saslow.

Rhythm Section: Darius Brotman, Piano; Robert Amirkhan, Bass; ­­­­­­Johathan Kipp, Drums.
MRT Singers: The Program

Roger’s Idea by Roger Treece
Male: Jon Walton Female: Rosalie Venza
Improv: 1. Jon Walton 2. Korrie Williams 3. Bernie Steinberg

Boblicity by Miles Davis Arr. Clinton Day
Improv: 1. Bryan Osper 2. Joshua Boronkay 3. Jessica 4. Bernie

Joy by Todd Buffa
Improv: 1. Melody Walker Darius Brotman, Piano

Some Other Time by Cahn & Styne
Jessica Malone & Kyle Blase

Words by Anders Edenroth
Melody, Bryan, Robin, Traci

It Was Written in the Stars by Leo Robin & Harold Arlen (1948)
Robin DiCello

Joy Spring by Clifford Brown
Improv: 1. Kyle & Bernie Darius Brotman, Piano

It Never Entered My Mind by Rodgers & Hart
Melody Walker

Late Night Blues by Doug Beach & Mike Tomaro
Improv: 1. Robin 2. Calista 3. Bernie

Saturday, December 01, 2007

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Calypso Band and Percussion Ensemble

New Samba music from Brazil and high-energy dance music from the Caribbean highlight the holiday concert of the HSU Percussion Ensemble and Calypso Band on Saturday, December 1 at 8 PM in the Van Duzer Theatre on the HSU campus in Arcata. Tickets are $7 general, $3 students and seniors, from HSU Ticket Office (826-3928) or at the door. First 50 HSU students free with ID. Produced by HSU Department of Music, Eugene Novotney directing.
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Sounds of Trinidad and Brazil in Calypso Band/Percussion Ensemble Fall Concert


A new suite of Samba music gathered in Brazil will be among the musical works played by the HSU Percussion Ensemble in its upcoming performance with the Calypso Band on Saturday, December 1 at the Van Duzer Theatre.

Dr. Eugene Novotney, director of the Percussion Ensemble, made four separate trips to Brazil to collect this music, most recently last year. He was accompanied at various times by a total of two other faculty members, three alumni and 11 students. Four of the students, all current music majors (Jesse Franzen, John Evans, Bryan Osper and Melody Walk) and one faculty member (Howard Kaufman) will be among the performers of the Samba suite for this concert.

Novotney, the group’s founder and leader, transcribed the music they collected. “We will present it to the Humboldt audience in its classic form,” he said, “using all indigenous instruments from Brazil.”

The featured classical work of the Percussion Ensemble’s half of the program is Paschal Dances by award-winning composer David Gillingham. The piece is scored for piano and an ensemble of a dozen percussionists playing a variety of instruments. “The composition is haunting and beautiful,” Novotney said, “ and at other times, highly rhythmic and brutal.”

The second half of the show features the festive dance music of the Humboldt State Calypso Band, this time emphasizing Panorama compositions: the high-energy dance music of the Caribbean Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago.

“The Humboldt State Calypso Band prides itself in maintaining an accurate and authentic connection to the roots of the steel band movement and the innovative musicians of Trinidad, the island on which this unique percussion phenomenon was born,” Navotney said.

In addition to its regular performances at Humboldt State and throughout Northern California, the band’s tours have included stops in Eugene, Oregon and Seattle, Washington, as well as the California cities of San Francisco, Santa Cruz, San Jose, Santa Rosa, Sacramento, Stockton, Fresno, Oakland, Long Beach and Los Angeles.

The fall concert of the HSU Percussion Ensemble and Calypso Band is on Saturday, December 1 at 8 PM in the Van Duzer Theatre on the HSU campus in Arcata. Tickets are $7 general, $3 students and seniors, from HSU Ticket Office (826-3928) or at the door. First 50 HSU students free with ID.

Media: North Coast Journal, Arcata Eye.