A Double Fantasy at Humboldt Symphony and Singers Christmas Concert

Special guests join the annual combined concert of the Humboldt Symphony, University Singers and Humboldt Chorale on Friday and Sunday December 9 and 11 at Fulkerson Recital Hall, in a program that includes a double fantasy. But the emphasis as always is on music for the holiday season.

The first fantasy--Ralph Vaughan Williams’ soaring Fantasia on Christmas Carols--makes full use of the orchestra and singers. Beginning modestly with a single cello and a single voice (baritone soloist Kevin Richards) it expands into richly rendered elements of traditional Christmas melodies. “It’s beautifully strong writing for orchestra and voices,” noted Symphony conductor Paul Cummings, “and a very audience-friendly piece.”

The second fantasy--Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy--also exploits the full potential of orchestra and chorus, but with an addition of solo piano, which originally was played by Beethoven himself. “This is one of the few works in all of music to include chorus, orchestra and piano,” Cummings said. “We’re excited to have Daniela Mineva join us as piano soloist, especially on this piece because Dr. Mineva studied with teachers who trace their lineage back to Beethoven. She brings some real insights as to how Beethoven would have performed this improvisatory piano part.”

Another seasonal work on the program is the Christmas Cantata by American composer Daniel Pinkham. Though written in 1957, it was heavily influenced by early baroque sacred music. “This is Pinkham’s most popular choral work,” Cummings said. In addition to the University Singers and Humboldt Chorale, it features ten members of the Humboldt Bay Brass Band, with HBBB founder Gil Cline playing the trumpet lead.

The Humboldt Symphony alone performs two works for the first half of the concert: the complete Ballet Suite by Jean Baptiste Lully, and the complete Peer Gynt Suite by Edvard Grieg, including the familiar melody of “Anitra’s Dance.”

Paul Cummings conducts the Humboldt Symphony, Harley Muilenburg directs the HSU University Singers, and Carol McWhorter Ryder directs the Humboldt Chorale, a community group.

The combined Humboldt Symphony, University Singers and Humboldt Chorale Christmas concert is Friday December 10 and Sunday December 12 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 Music Department.

Media: Humboldt State Now, Tricity Weekly

Kevin Richards, baritone soloist for Fantasia on Christmas Carols

December 10 & 12: The Program

Humboldt Symphony:

Jean Baptiste Lully - Ballet Suite
arranged by Felix Mottl

Edvard Grieg - Peer Gynt Suite

Intermission

Daniel Pinkham - Christmas Cantata
University Singers, Chorale, Symphony, and members of Humboldt British Brass Band

Ralph Vaughan Williams - Fantasia on Christmas Carols
University Singers, Chorale, and Symphony
Kevin Richards, baritone

Ludwig van Beethoven - Choral Fantasy, opus 80
University Singers, Chorale, and Symphony
Daniela Mineva, piano

An Ellington Jazz Christmas with HSU Jazz Orchestra

The HSU Jazz Orchestra presents a rare treat, the entire Duke Ellington version of the Nutcracker Suite, along with a composition by an Arcata High grad and a possible world premiere of a rediscovered piece by a jazz pioneer, on Saturday December 11 in Fulkerson Recital Hall.

Duke Ellington and his composing partner Billy Strayhorn arranged Tchaikovsky’s famous nine-movement Nutcracker Suite for jazz orchestra in 1960. “This was no mere ‘jazzing the classics’ novelty,” said HSU Jazz Orchestra director Dan Aldag. “They treat the original with respect but not reverence. The suite is witty in places and sublimely beautiful in others.”

Also on the program is “Recollection” by Arcata native and Arcata High graduate Nathan Smith, who leads a 10-piece band in New York and has won several composition awards.

Then the Jazz Orchestra plays what Aldag believes may be a world premiere of a long-lost work by the first great jazz composer and pianist, Jelly Roll Morton. A star in the 1920s, Morton attempted a comeback in the late 30s by writing music for the big band format. He put together a band to play it but collapsed the night it was to be performed. One of these compositions, called “Ganjam,” has only recently been published for a large ensemble, “so it’s possible that this will be the first performance of ‘Ganjam’ as Morton wrote it,” Aldag said.

Two nights before the Jazz Orchestra concert, the smaller ensemble called the AM Jazz Band plays arrangements of jazz classics by Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, Charlie Shavers and Mongo Santamaria, as well as Maria Schneider’s “This ‘n That.”

The AM Jazz Band performs on Thursday December 9 and the HSU Jazz Orchestra plays on Saturday December 11. Both concerts start at 8pm in the Fulkerson Recital Hall on the HSU campus in Arcata. Tickets for each concert are $7 general, $3 students/seniors, from the HSU Ticket Office (826-3928) or at the door. Free to HSU students with ID. Dan Aldag directs the AM Jazz Band and HSU Jazz Orchestra, produced by the HSU Music Department.

Media: Humboldt State Now, TriCity Weekly

MRT Singers: Fall 2010
‘Tis the Season for the Madrigal Singers and MRT Jazz

Once again the HSU Madrigal Singers in Renaissance costume jumpstart the Christmas spirit, and the smaller ensemble of MRT Singers swing tunes from the jazz era to U2 and Neil Young, in their combined concert on Sunday December 5 at Fulkerson Recital Hall.

The Madrigal Singers perform two carols with different aspects of Christmas as their subjects. “Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day” is the best-known work of contemporary British composer John Gardner. “Wolcum Yole!” is from the often- recorded 1942 chorale work, Ceremony of Carols by famed 20th century English composer Benjamin Britten.

True to their name, the Madrigal Singers begin their program with madrigals popular in Shakespeare’s time. This year the emphasis of the Singers’ selections is young love, in madrigals by three of the eminent composers in this form: “Sweet Come Away My Darling” by Robert Jones, “Though Philomela Lost Her Love” by Thomas Morley and “Fa una canzona” by Orazio Vecchi. They end with a Baroque choral work, “Sing Sing Ye Muses” and a lyric ballad by John Rutter using a poem by Shakespeare, “Blow Blow Thou Winter Wind.”

Then the Mad River Transit Singers take the stage with a rhythm section of Darius Brotman on piano, Charles Welty on bass and John Thomas on drums. MRT specializes in various forms of jazz, blues and gospel singing. Among their tunes are special arrangements of “Wail” by Bud Powell, “Here’s That Rainy Day” by Jimmy Van Heusen, “MLK” by U2 and “After the Gold Rush” by Neil Young.

MRT soloists include Lucas Reichle, Sara Scibetta, Elena Tessler, Jessi Shieman, Gabriel Holeman and Jo Kuzelka. Both ensembles are directed by Harley Muilenburg, HSU Music professor of choral and vocal music.

The shared pre-Christmas concert by HSU Madrigal Singers and Mad River Transit Singers is Sunday December 5 at 8 p.m. 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. Directed by Harley Muilenburg, produced by HSU Music Department.

Media: Humboldt State Now, Arcata Eye, Humboldt Beacon.

HSU Madrigal Singers 2010

Madrigal Singers & MRT Singers Concert: The Program

Festive Madrigals:
Sweet Come Away My Darling by Robert Jones
Though Philomela Lost Her Love Thomas Morley
Fa una canzona Orazio Vecchi

Carols:
Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day John Gardner
Wolcum Yole! (from Ceremony of Carols) Benjamin Britten

Madrigal Songs
Sing Sing Ye Muses John Blow
Blow Blow Thou Winter Wind John Rutter

The Singers:
Tiffany Guenter, Anna Coleman, Rachael Heller, Aubrey Costa, Jacqui Hernandez, Caitlin Dennning, Selena Johnson, Marg Hart, Cheryl Lincoln, Tina Toomata, Sarah Richmond, Ellen Vilchez, Jessica Bittner, Cole Buxton, Chelsea Rothchild, Edress Nassir, Danielle Van de Wetering, Elliott Pennington, John Pettlon, Joshua Schultz.

Mad River Transit


Moanin’ by Lambert Hendricks & Ross
Lucas Reichle, Bass

Wail (Vocalise by Darius Brotman) Bud Powell

MLK U2 arr. Bob Chilcott
Sara Scibetta, Alto

You Can Always Count On Me arr. Dave Barduhn
Elena Tessler, Soprano

Late Night Blues arr. Susan Moninger
Sara Scibetta, Alto & Gabriel Holman, Tenor

Here’s That Rainy Day Jimmy Van Heusen
Jo Kuzelka, Soprano

After the Gold Rush arr. Elliott Shay
Jessi Shieman, Soprano

Full Moon Sharon Broadley
Jo Kuzelka, Soprano

MRT Singers:
Jessi Shieman, Jo Kuzelka, Amy Chanfant, Elena Tessler, Kelsey Guest, Sara Scibetta, Gabriel Holman, James Swarts, Dolan Leckliter, Colin Wagner, Joseph Welnick, Lucas Reichle, Numair Khaled.

Rhythym Section:
Darius Brotman, Piano
Charles Welty, Bass
John Thomas, Drums

A Birthday Party with HSU Calypso Band & Percussion Ensemble

The Humboldt State Calypso Band celebrates its 25th anniversary with a composition appropriately called Birthday Party by Len “Boogsie” Sharp, during its December 4 concert in the Van Duzer theatre. The Calypso Band was founded in the spring of 1986 by Dr. Eugene Novotney, who is still the groups’ leader and director. This is the first of a series of concerts all year celebrating this milestone.

But before the celebration starts, the HSU Percussion Ensemble tackles a major work, Toccata for Percussion Instruments by the Pan-American composer, Carlos Chavez. Dr. Novotney notes the variety of instruments used, from native Mexican claves and maracas to Asian gongs and standard European orchestral instruments such as timpani, snare drums and xylophone. “Musically, Chavez combines exciting rhythmic passages and sudden dynamic changes with slower passages that employ exotic scales and timbres,” Dr. Novotney said. “The result is a piece that is both fascinating and profound.”

The first half of this joint concert ends with the World Percussion Group performing a suite of traditional Mandeng Drumming of West Africa, as well as Afro-Cuban folkloric music with all indigenous instruments.

Then after the break the Calypso Band takes over with Birthday Party and its patented program of high-energy dance music exploring traditional and contemporary music from the Caribbean, Africa, Brazil and the United States.

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. In addition to its regular performances at Humboldt State and throughout Northern California, the band has undertaken tours to San Francisco, Santa Cruz, San Jose, Santa Rosa, Sacramento, Stockton, Fresno, Oakland, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Eugene, OR and Seattle, WA.

The joint performance of the Calypso Band, Percussion Ensemble and World Percussion Group is Saturday December 4 at 8 pm in the Van Duzer Theatre on the HSU campus in Arcata. Tickets are $7 general, $3 students/seniors, from the HSU Ticket Office (826-3928) or at the door. First 50 HSU students free with ID.

Media: Humboldt State Now, Arcata Eye, North Coast Journal, Humboldt Beacon.

Percussion Ensemble & Calypso Band Concert: Director's Notes

Percussion Ensemble
The featured work on the program is TOCCATA for Percussion Instruments, composed in 1942 by the Pan-American composer, Carlos Chavez. Chavez was born and died in Mexico City, and at the age of 29, he was named the director of Mexico’s National Conservatory ands the director of Orchesta Sinfonia de Mexico.

In this piece, Chavez calls for native percussion instruments, such as claves, maracas, bombo, and Indian drums, mixed with standard European instruments, such as timpani, snare drums, field drums, chimes, bells, and xylophone. He also adds Asian gongs into the mix to create a true “mixed-world” instrumentation. Musically, he combines exciting rhythmic passages and sudden dynamic changes with slower passages that employ exotic scales and timbres. The result is a piece that is both fascinating and profound that will certainly be a memorable experience for all in attendance.

The first half of the show will end with the World Percussion Group performing a suite of traditional Mandeng Drumming of West Africa as well as an inspiring arrangement of Afro-Cuban folkloric music presented to the Humboldt audience in its classic form using all indigenous instruments. This is a show that will have something for everyone!

Calypso Band
The second half of the concert will feature the festive dance music of the Humboldt State Calypso Band. The band will feature several high-energy dance compositions from the Caribbean in their set, including the classic panorama composition by Len “Boogsie” Sharpe, BIRTHDAY PARTY. The composition, BIRTHDAY PARTY, has significant meaning for the group, as this year marks the 25th anniversary of the Calypso Band at Humboldt State. The Calypso Band was founded in the spring of 1986 and will be celebrating all year with a series of concerts of which this will be the first.

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. The band is dedicated to the performance of traditional and contemporary music from the Caribbean, Africa, Brazil, and the United States.

--Dr. Eugene Novotney

A Christmas Festival with the HSU Symphonic Band

At the climax of its December 3 concert, the HSU Symphonic Band reveals again the full if often hidden power of some classic Christmas songs with Leroy Anderson’s vibrant collage called A Christmas Festival.

“When Anderson arranged this in 1950, it was a new idea,” said Symphonic Band director Kenneth Ayoob. “Many composers have set Christmas music for band since then, but none are better than this—the granddaddy of them all.”

This work completes a varied program of suites, dances and a march by an intriguing mix of composers.

Early 20th century English composer Gustav Holst uses English folk songs and dances in his Second Suite for Military Band. Director Ayoob calls it “one of the keystone works of the band literature” and “a joy to play and to hear.” Dutch composer Jan Van der Roost’s Puszta is another suite that uses a folk tradition in four original Gypsy dances.

American composer Caesar Giovonnini focuses his attention on modern urban life in the concert overture Jubilance, which Ayoob describes as “by nature a sunny and optimistic work.” Sinfonia III by Timothy Broege, a contemporary midwestern U.S. composer, adds shadows to light in a tribute to the composer’s late father.

American composer Henry Fillmore is best known for his marches, and “His Honor” remains among his most popular.

The HSU Symphonic Band performs on Friday December 3 at 8 p.m. 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. Directed by Kenneth Ayoob, produced by the HSU Music Department.

Media: Humboldt State Now, Arcata Eye, North Coast Journal Christmas Events, Humboldt Beacon.

Symphonic Band Concert: Director's Notes

Music of Holst, Giovonnini, Broege, Anderson, Fillmore and Van der Roost.

Holst’s Second Suite for Military Band, one of the keystone works of the band literature, uses English folk songs and folk dances throughout. It is a joy to play and to hear.

Puszta by Dutch composer Jan Van der Roost is also a suite. Although its four Gypsy Dances are related to the Slavic Folk tradition in the same way that the Second Suite is related to English, all four tunes are original compositions. The character and sounds of the pieces are reminiscent of the Hungarian and Slavic Dances of Brahms and Dvorak.

Sinfonia III by Timothy Broege is a tribute to the composer’s late father. Broege said about this work:"There are in Sinfonia III both light and shadow, both humor and seriousness in an attempt to depict in sound ….. something of the nature of this man who showered so much love upon his wife and four sons and enriched the lives of the many people who knew him.”

Jubilance a concert overture by Caesar Giovonnini reflects the many moods of modern life – our restless, impatient, impulsive energetic existence. Thoughts are never fully brought to completion, new ideas intrude before the previous ones finish. Jubilance is by nature a sunny and optimistic work with soaring melodic lines over kinetic ostinatos.

His Honor by Henry Fillmore is popular with both audiences and performers. The title refers to Mayor Russell Wilson a man who impressed Fillmore with both his executive ability and sense of humor. With its unexpected melodic and rhythmic changes, it remains among his most popular marches.

A Christmas Festival by Leroy Anderson. Anderson was a high school music teacher in Massachusetts who was asked by Arthur Fielder of the Boston Pops to do some arrangements and original light music compositions. When he arranged “A Christmas Festival” in 1950, it was a new idea. Many composers have set Christmas music for band since then, but none are better than this – the Granddaddy of them all.

--Kenneth Ayoob