Stirring Melodies and Fiddling to Raise the Dead

With Paul Cummings conducting, the Humboldt Symphony features composers from the Baroque to the modern era, plus selections with an eastern European flavor, in its concert on Saturday March 1 and Sunday March 2 at 8 PM in the Fulkerson Recital Hall.

Probably best known for his operas, Alessandro Scarlatti also composed twelve three-movement symphonies in the Baroque style. The Humboldt Symphony showcases one of these, “Sinfonie V,” with flute solos by Kelsey Sluss and Kearney Vander Sal.

Earlier in the evening, the Symphony plays one of the last works by famed American composer, Aaron Copland: “Down A Country Lane,” which he wrote in 1962.

The Eastern European emphasis enters with two stirring works based on folk music: “Overture on Russian Themes” by Russian composer Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov (which includes a melody sharp- eared listeners may recognize as one also used in Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture”) and the energetic “Rumanian Dances” by Hungarian composer, Bela Bartok.

Ending the evening is “Danse Macabre” by French composer Camille Saint-Saens. It was inspired by a folk tale that portrayed the figure of Death playing a fiddle that caused the dead to arise and dance. The music evokes this themes so well that it’s been used in various horror films and TV shows, including an episode of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” For the Symphony concert, the “fiddle” is played by violin soloist Otis Harriel.

The Humboldt Symphony with Paul Cummings conducting, performs on Saturday, March 1 and Sunday, March 2 at 8 PM in the Fulkerson Recital Hall on the HSU campus in Arcata. Tickets are $7 general, $3 students/seniors, from the HSU Ticket Office (826-3928) or at the door. Free to HSU students with ID.