Rika Uchida
Visiting virtuoso pianist Rika Uchida presents a Debussy concert and commentary on Saturday March 27 at 8 PM in the Fulkerson Recital Hall on the HSU campus in Arcata. Tickets: $8/$3 students and seniors from HSU Ticket Office (826-3928) or at the door. Produced by the HSU Department of Music.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Twilight, Moonlight: Pianist Rika Uchida Plays Debussy
Pianist Rika Uchida plays Debussy’s famous “Claire de Lune” and selections from his Preludes and Images, to illustrate the transition from Romantic to modern in classical music, in a concert and commentary on Saturday, March 27 at the Fulkerson Recital Hall.
Born in Japan, Uchida came to the U.S. to study psychology, but was convinced by pianist Dean Kramer (one of the last students of the renowned Vladimir Horowitz) to follow her childhood interest in music. She received the University of Oregon Outstanding Keyboardist Award for her performance of Rachmaninoff’s Third Piano Concerto.
Now teaching piano and music theory at Drake University, Uchida specializes in the music of the turn of the century-- particularly in Debussy’s solo piano music.
Claude Debussy’s compositions bridged the late nineteenth century Romantic period (when he was a young man, influenced by Wagner) and early twentieth century modernist music (when he was in Paris, and friends with composer Eric Satie.)
To illustrate the musical features of this transition, Uchida will play selections from Debussy’s Preludes (with such evocative titles as “Interrupted Serenade,” “Gardens in the Rain,” “What the West Wind Has Seen” and “Fireworks”) and the second book of his Images (including “Bells Through the Leaves” and “The Moon Descends on the Ruined Temple.”)
Uchida also plays the most familiar Debussy composition, and probably one of the most familiar melodies in all of music: “Claire de Lune.” Though it was originally the third movement of a suite, “Claire de Lune” (French for “moonlight”) has had a prominent life of its own. Familiar to a new generation from the movie Twilight (2008), it has been heard in many films around the world, from Giant (1956) and Casino Royale (1967) to Ocean’s Eleven (2001) and Atonement (2007.)
Best known as a piano piece, “Claire de Lune” has also been recorded on guitar, cello, Wulitzer theatre organ and the Theramin, an electronic instrument most often heard on 1950s suspense and science fiction movie soundtracks.
Here at Humboldt State as part of a national tour, Rika Uchida is expected to stay with the piano version.
Virtuoso pianist Rika Uchida presents a Debussy concert and commentary on Saturday March 27 at 8 PM in the Fulkerson Recital Hall on the HSU campus in Arcata. Tickets: $8/$3 students and seniors from HSU Ticket Office (826-3928) or at the door.
Media: Arcata Eye, Humboldt State Now.
Pianist Rika Uchida plays Debussy’s famous “Claire de Lune” and selections from his Preludes and Images, to illustrate the transition from Romantic to modern in classical music, in a concert and commentary on Saturday, March 27 at the Fulkerson Recital Hall.
Born in Japan, Uchida came to the U.S. to study psychology, but was convinced by pianist Dean Kramer (one of the last students of the renowned Vladimir Horowitz) to follow her childhood interest in music. She received the University of Oregon Outstanding Keyboardist Award for her performance of Rachmaninoff’s Third Piano Concerto.
Now teaching piano and music theory at Drake University, Uchida specializes in the music of the turn of the century-- particularly in Debussy’s solo piano music.
Claude Debussy’s compositions bridged the late nineteenth century Romantic period (when he was a young man, influenced by Wagner) and early twentieth century modernist music (when he was in Paris, and friends with composer Eric Satie.)
To illustrate the musical features of this transition, Uchida will play selections from Debussy’s Preludes (with such evocative titles as “Interrupted Serenade,” “Gardens in the Rain,” “What the West Wind Has Seen” and “Fireworks”) and the second book of his Images (including “Bells Through the Leaves” and “The Moon Descends on the Ruined Temple.”)
Uchida also plays the most familiar Debussy composition, and probably one of the most familiar melodies in all of music: “Claire de Lune.” Though it was originally the third movement of a suite, “Claire de Lune” (French for “moonlight”) has had a prominent life of its own. Familiar to a new generation from the movie Twilight (2008), it has been heard in many films around the world, from Giant (1956) and Casino Royale (1967) to Ocean’s Eleven (2001) and Atonement (2007.)
Best known as a piano piece, “Claire de Lune” has also been recorded on guitar, cello, Wulitzer theatre organ and the Theramin, an electronic instrument most often heard on 1950s suspense and science fiction movie soundtracks.
Here at Humboldt State as part of a national tour, Rika Uchida is expected to stay with the piano version.
Virtuoso pianist Rika Uchida presents a Debussy concert and commentary on Saturday March 27 at 8 PM in the Fulkerson Recital Hall on the HSU campus in Arcata. Tickets: $8/$3 students and seniors from HSU Ticket Office (826-3928) or at the door.
Media: Arcata Eye, Humboldt State Now.
Saturday, March 06, 2010
Humboldt Symphony
Power to the People: Humboldt Symphony plays symphonic works based on folk and jazz tunes featuring saxophone soloist Virginia Ryder on Saturday, March 6 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. Conducted by Paul Cummings; produced by the HSU Department of Music.
Power to the People: Humboldt Symphony plays symphonic works based on folk and jazz tunes featuring saxophone soloist Virginia Ryder on Saturday, March 6 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. Conducted by Paul Cummings; produced by the HSU Department of Music.
Paris Jazz, Danny Boy, Crazy Uncle and the Mighty Handful: Humboldt Symphony Plays Music of the People
The Humboldt Symphony presents an airy early-spring program filled with folk melodies and jazz, but in compositions displaying the rich and varied sounds of the symphonic orchestra.
The evening’s centerpiece is Concertino da Camera by 20th century French composer Jacques Ibert, highlighting the American jazz and ragtime rhythms that took 1920s Paris by storm. Virginia Ryder is the featured soloist, in what Symphony conductor Paul Cummings calls “one of the greatest works for alto saxophone in the orchestra repertoire.”
Composer Ibert is known for his playfulness, and the Concertino takes the orchestra on a ride of fascinating rhythms, shifting harmonies and abrupt key changes. “It’s an enjoyable piece to play and to listen to,” Cummings said.
Other pieces on the program go deeper into music of the people, to traditional folk melodies. Percy Grainger’s contribution is self-explanatory: Irish Tune From County Derry. “This is one of Grainger’s primary works,” Cummings said. “This version is unique, though, because it includes strings. It’s a beautiful arrangement, based on the tune we know as ‘Danny Boy.’”
Anatol Liadov’s Eight Russian Folk Songs comprise his best known piece for orchestra. Member of the group of 19th century Russian composers known as “The Mighty Handful,” Liadov’s great talent was for orchestration. “He created a beautiful orchestral setting for these folk songs,” Cummings observed. “He chose really charming songs—very simple, lyrical tunes. But he orchestrates them with very challenging combinations of instruments—for example, the cello section plays a four-part harmony—very unusual. There’s also a lot of contrast from one melody to the next.” Humorous, somber, a lullaby, a dance and a bit of birdsong—a mighty handful indeed.
Intermezzo from Hary Janos Suite by 20th century Hungarian composer Zoltan Kodaly is from the instrumental music of an opera about a Hungarian folk hero, a “crazy uncle” who tells outlandish lies that express the hopes and dreams of the Hungarian people. “This is a colorful piece, also with inventive orchestration.”
The sore thumb of the program is British composer William Walton’s Crown Imperial March, played at the coronation of King George VI in 1937, and substantially revised in 1963. But if Walton didn’t borrow from the people for this acclaimed piece, he at least reputedly borrowed from a friend—Edward Elgar. Listeners detected some echoes of one of Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance marches. “This is one of Walton’s best known pieces,” Cummings said. “It’s usually played by bands, but it actually sounds better played by the orchestra.”
The Humboldt Symphony under the direction of Paul Cummings and featuring saxophone soloist Virginia Ryder, performs on Saturday, March 6 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. Produced by the HSU Department of Music.
Media: Arcata Eye, Humboldt State Now
The Humboldt Symphony presents an airy early-spring program filled with folk melodies and jazz, but in compositions displaying the rich and varied sounds of the symphonic orchestra.
The evening’s centerpiece is Concertino da Camera by 20th century French composer Jacques Ibert, highlighting the American jazz and ragtime rhythms that took 1920s Paris by storm. Virginia Ryder is the featured soloist, in what Symphony conductor Paul Cummings calls “one of the greatest works for alto saxophone in the orchestra repertoire.”
Composer Ibert is known for his playfulness, and the Concertino takes the orchestra on a ride of fascinating rhythms, shifting harmonies and abrupt key changes. “It’s an enjoyable piece to play and to listen to,” Cummings said.
Other pieces on the program go deeper into music of the people, to traditional folk melodies. Percy Grainger’s contribution is self-explanatory: Irish Tune From County Derry. “This is one of Grainger’s primary works,” Cummings said. “This version is unique, though, because it includes strings. It’s a beautiful arrangement, based on the tune we know as ‘Danny Boy.’”
Anatol Liadov’s Eight Russian Folk Songs comprise his best known piece for orchestra. Member of the group of 19th century Russian composers known as “The Mighty Handful,” Liadov’s great talent was for orchestration. “He created a beautiful orchestral setting for these folk songs,” Cummings observed. “He chose really charming songs—very simple, lyrical tunes. But he orchestrates them with very challenging combinations of instruments—for example, the cello section plays a four-part harmony—very unusual. There’s also a lot of contrast from one melody to the next.” Humorous, somber, a lullaby, a dance and a bit of birdsong—a mighty handful indeed.
Intermezzo from Hary Janos Suite by 20th century Hungarian composer Zoltan Kodaly is from the instrumental music of an opera about a Hungarian folk hero, a “crazy uncle” who tells outlandish lies that express the hopes and dreams of the Hungarian people. “This is a colorful piece, also with inventive orchestration.”
The sore thumb of the program is British composer William Walton’s Crown Imperial March, played at the coronation of King George VI in 1937, and substantially revised in 1963. But if Walton didn’t borrow from the people for this acclaimed piece, he at least reputedly borrowed from a friend—Edward Elgar. Listeners detected some echoes of one of Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance marches. “This is one of Walton’s best known pieces,” Cummings said. “It’s usually played by bands, but it actually sounds better played by the orchestra.”
The Humboldt Symphony under the direction of Paul Cummings and featuring saxophone soloist Virginia Ryder, performs on Saturday, March 6 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. Produced by the HSU Department of Music.
Media: Arcata Eye, Humboldt State Now
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