Saturday, June 13, 2009
North Coast Wind Ensemble
North Coast Wind Ensemble plays Bach, Sousa, Wagner and “Elegy for a Young American” on Saturday, June 13 at 8 p.m. in the Fulkerson Recital Hall on the HSU campus in Arcata. $5 general, $2 students and seniors from HSU ticket office (826-3928) or at the door. Kenneth Ayoob, conductor.
North Coast Wind Ensemble plays Bach, Sousa, Wagner and “Elegy for a Young American” on Saturday, June 13 at 8 p.m. in the Fulkerson Recital Hall on the HSU campus in Arcata. $5 general, $2 students and seniors from HSU ticket office (826-3928) or at the door. Kenneth Ayoob, conductor.
Marching to Summer with the North Coast Wind Ensemble
The more than 30 players of the North Coast Wind Ensemble usher in summer with an eclectic concert on Saturday, June 13 in the Fulkerson Recital Hall.
On the program are Bach’s “Prelude and Fugue in G,” Hindesmith’s Symphony in Bb, and Richard Wagner’s “Truaersinfonie.”
“If you’re going to be a band, you have to do marches,” said conductor Kenneth Ayoob. This concert will feature one of the American masters: John Philip Sousa, and his “Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.”
Also on the program are William Schuman’s “Chester from New England Triptych,” Fisher Tull’s “Sketches on a Tudor Psalm” and Ronald LoPresti’s “Elegy for a Young American.”
The North Coast Wind Ensemble plays on Saturday, June 13 at 8 p.m. in the Fulkerson Recital Hall on the HSU campus in Arcata. $5 general, $2 students and seniors from HSU ticket office (826-3928) or at the door. Kenneth Ayoob, conductor.
The more than 30 players of the North Coast Wind Ensemble usher in summer with an eclectic concert on Saturday, June 13 in the Fulkerson Recital Hall.
On the program are Bach’s “Prelude and Fugue in G,” Hindesmith’s Symphony in Bb, and Richard Wagner’s “Truaersinfonie.”
“If you’re going to be a band, you have to do marches,” said conductor Kenneth Ayoob. This concert will feature one of the American masters: John Philip Sousa, and his “Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.”
Also on the program are William Schuman’s “Chester from New England Triptych,” Fisher Tull’s “Sketches on a Tudor Psalm” and Ronald LoPresti’s “Elegy for a Young American.”
The North Coast Wind Ensemble plays on Saturday, June 13 at 8 p.m. in the Fulkerson Recital Hall on the HSU campus in Arcata. $5 general, $2 students and seniors from HSU ticket office (826-3928) or at the door. Kenneth Ayoob, conductor.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Darius Brotman
Veteran North Coast jazz pianist Darius Brotman and Berkeley bassist Richard Saunders play an intimate concert of jazz standards and originals on Friday, May 22nd at 8 p.m. in the Fulkerson Recital Hall on the HSU campus in Arcata. Tickets are $8 general, $3 students/seniors, from the HSU Ticket Office (826-3928) or at the door. A Guest Artist concert presented by the HSU Department of Music.
Veteran North Coast jazz pianist Darius Brotman and Berkeley bassist Richard Saunders play an intimate concert of jazz standards and originals on Friday, May 22nd at 8 p.m. in the Fulkerson Recital Hall on the HSU campus in Arcata. Tickets are $8 general, $3 students/seniors, from the HSU Ticket Office (826-3928) or at the door. A Guest Artist concert presented by the HSU Department of Music.
Darius Brotman’s Evening of “Serious Chamber Jazz”
Veteran North Coast jazz pianist Darius Brotman teams up with Berkeley bassist Richard Saunders for an intimate evening of jazz standards and originals, to benefit the HSU Music Department scholarship program.
Brotman has been playing jazz piano in Humboldt County for over 20 years. He’s also familiar as the host of the KHSU jazz program “Gone Sides,” Tuesdays at 8:30 pm. He is an HSU Music Department accompanist.
Richard Saunders, formerly of Arcata, is a professional bassist. “The communication between the two of us is exceptional,” Brotman said.
Brotman promises a concert of “serious chamber jazz” on Friday, May 22 at 8 pm in the Fulkerson Recital Hall on the HSU campus in Arcata. Tickets are $8 general, $3 students/seniors, from the HSU Ticket Office (826-3928) or at the door.
Veteran North Coast jazz pianist Darius Brotman teams up with Berkeley bassist Richard Saunders for an intimate evening of jazz standards and originals, to benefit the HSU Music Department scholarship program.
Brotman has been playing jazz piano in Humboldt County for over 20 years. He’s also familiar as the host of the KHSU jazz program “Gone Sides,” Tuesdays at 8:30 pm. He is an HSU Music Department accompanist.
Richard Saunders, formerly of Arcata, is a professional bassist. “The communication between the two of us is exceptional,” Brotman said.
Brotman promises a concert of “serious chamber jazz” on Friday, May 22 at 8 pm in the Fulkerson Recital Hall on the HSU campus in Arcata. Tickets are $8 general, $3 students/seniors, from the HSU Ticket Office (826-3928) or at the door.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
University Singers & Humboldt Chorale
Many voices combine in classical song for the joint concert of the 64-member University Singers and 75-member Humboldt Chorale on Sunday, May 10 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. University Singers directed by Harley Muilenburg. Humboldt Chorale directed by Carol McWhorter Ryder. Presented by the HSU Department of Music.
Many voices combine in classical song for the joint concert of the 64-member University Singers and 75-member Humboldt Chorale on Sunday, May 10 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. University Singers directed by Harley Muilenburg. Humboldt Chorale directed by Carol McWhorter Ryder. Presented by the HSU Department of Music.
Annual Feast of Choral Singing
Lovers of large choral group singing should mark their May calendar for the annual joint concert of the 64-member University Singers and the 75-member Humboldt Chorale on Sunday, May 10 at 8 p.m.
HSU students comprise the University Singers, directed by HSU Music professor Harley Muilenberg, while the Humboldt Chorale is a community-based group with members ranging in age from 13 to 89, directed by Carol McWhorter Ryder.
The University Singers perform the Psalm Cantata, “Not Unto Us O Lord” by Felix Mendelssohn, and selections from the Gypsy Songs by Johannes Brahms. The modern era is represented by “Pie Jesu” from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Requiem.
Their part of the program concludes with the rousing Neighbor's Chorus from the Offenbach operetta, La Jolie Parfumeuse. This selection features the piano of John Chernoff, who accompanies the Singers throughout.
Soloists for the University Singers are: Christopher Hatcher, Brandy Rose, Conor Jamison, Cally Staats, Kalea Hammond and Margaret Noe.
The Humboldt Chorale performs two selections from Verdi’s opera “Il Trovatore” (the famous Anvil Chorus, and another featuring bass singer Kevin Nakatani) and two from operas by Mozart (the Priest’s Chorus from “Die Zaubeflote” and the Voyager’s Chorus from “Idomeno” featuring soprano Katharine Kinley.)
The Chorale also performs selections from Bizet’s “Carmen” (featuring mezzo-soprano Margaret Noe), Leoncavallo’s “Pagliacci,” the Spinning Chorus from Wagner's "Flying Dutchman" and Verdi's Hebrew Chorus.
The concert concludes with the Easter Chorus by late 19th and early 20th century Italian composer Pietro Mascagni from his ground-breaking opera “Cavalleria Rusticana,” featuring soprano Sarah Benzinger. The Humboldt Chorale dedicates this selection to the memory of Deborah Clasquin.
The joint University Singers and Humboldt Chorale spring concert is Sunday, May 10 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.
Media: Humboldt State Now.
Lovers of large choral group singing should mark their May calendar for the annual joint concert of the 64-member University Singers and the 75-member Humboldt Chorale on Sunday, May 10 at 8 p.m.
HSU students comprise the University Singers, directed by HSU Music professor Harley Muilenberg, while the Humboldt Chorale is a community-based group with members ranging in age from 13 to 89, directed by Carol McWhorter Ryder.
The University Singers perform the Psalm Cantata, “Not Unto Us O Lord” by Felix Mendelssohn, and selections from the Gypsy Songs by Johannes Brahms. The modern era is represented by “Pie Jesu” from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Requiem.
Their part of the program concludes with the rousing Neighbor's Chorus from the Offenbach operetta, La Jolie Parfumeuse. This selection features the piano of John Chernoff, who accompanies the Singers throughout.
Soloists for the University Singers are: Christopher Hatcher, Brandy Rose, Conor Jamison, Cally Staats, Kalea Hammond and Margaret Noe.
The Humboldt Chorale performs two selections from Verdi’s opera “Il Trovatore” (the famous Anvil Chorus, and another featuring bass singer Kevin Nakatani) and two from operas by Mozart (the Priest’s Chorus from “Die Zaubeflote” and the Voyager’s Chorus from “Idomeno” featuring soprano Katharine Kinley.)
The Chorale also performs selections from Bizet’s “Carmen” (featuring mezzo-soprano Margaret Noe), Leoncavallo’s “Pagliacci,” the Spinning Chorus from Wagner's "Flying Dutchman" and Verdi's Hebrew Chorus.
The concert concludes with the Easter Chorus by late 19th and early 20th century Italian composer Pietro Mascagni from his ground-breaking opera “Cavalleria Rusticana,” featuring soprano Sarah Benzinger. The Humboldt Chorale dedicates this selection to the memory of Deborah Clasquin.
The joint University Singers and Humboldt Chorale spring concert is Sunday, May 10 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.
Media: Humboldt State Now.
Saturday, May 09, 2009
Jazz Orchestra
HSU Jazz Orchestra celebrates the epoch-making music of 1959 on Saturday, May 9 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 Dan Aldag; presented by the HSU Department of Music.
HSU Jazz Orchestra celebrates the epoch-making music of 1959 on Saturday, May 9 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 Dan Aldag; presented by the HSU Department of Music.
Jazz Orchestra Celebrates Epoch-Making Music of 1959
The HSU Jazz Orchestra celebrates the golden anniversary of a golden year in jazz, with both the epoch-making music of 1959 and compositions that carry on its spirit, in its final spring concert on Saturday May 9.
The Orchestra plays tunes from three formative albums released in 1959 that made this what Orchestra director and HSU Music Department professor Dan Aldag calls “one of the most significant years in jazz history.”
“All Blues” is from the Miles Davis release, Kind of Blue, one of the best-selling jazz albums of all time. “Peri’s Scope” is from the first album by the ground-breaking Bill Evans Trio, Portrait In Jazz. Pianist Evans also played on the Miles Davis album, and his improvised solo remains part of the score for “All Blues.”
The Orchestra also performs “Open Letter to Duke” from the 1959 release Mingus Ah Um by Charles Mingus. Speaking of Duke, two Ellington compositions are also on the program: “All Too Soon” (which features trombonist Talon Nansel and tenor saxophonist Leo Echazábal) and "Rockin' In Rhythm."
Another of 1959’s influential albums was Time Out by the Dave Brubeck Quartet, which shattered the jazz shackles to the 4/4 beat. HSU Jazz Orchestra drummer Jonathan Kipp pays homage to that innovation with his composition, “Chased By a Wolf Down a Mountain,” which uses unusual time signatures.
While it wasn't released until the next year, Miles Davis and Gil Evans began recording Sketches of Spain in 1959, and that album's strong classical influence is apparent in two pieces on the program: "Sky Blue" by Maria Schneider (which features Sky Miller on soprano sax) and "Drift" by Darcy James Argue.
The Orchestra plays some unrelated tunes, too: “Déjà vu” (an evocation of the Big Band era), the Woody Herman Band arrangement of John Coltrane’s “Lazy Bird,” and “Blues Walk,” a Clifford Brown composition reconceived with an Afro-Cuban feel by Michael Philip Mossman.
The HSU Jazz Orchestra final spring concert is Saturday, May 9 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.
Media: Humboldt State Now.
The HSU Jazz Orchestra celebrates the golden anniversary of a golden year in jazz, with both the epoch-making music of 1959 and compositions that carry on its spirit, in its final spring concert on Saturday May 9.
The Orchestra plays tunes from three formative albums released in 1959 that made this what Orchestra director and HSU Music Department professor Dan Aldag calls “one of the most significant years in jazz history.”
“All Blues” is from the Miles Davis release, Kind of Blue, one of the best-selling jazz albums of all time. “Peri’s Scope” is from the first album by the ground-breaking Bill Evans Trio, Portrait In Jazz. Pianist Evans also played on the Miles Davis album, and his improvised solo remains part of the score for “All Blues.”
The Orchestra also performs “Open Letter to Duke” from the 1959 release Mingus Ah Um by Charles Mingus. Speaking of Duke, two Ellington compositions are also on the program: “All Too Soon” (which features trombonist Talon Nansel and tenor saxophonist Leo Echazábal) and "Rockin' In Rhythm."
Another of 1959’s influential albums was Time Out by the Dave Brubeck Quartet, which shattered the jazz shackles to the 4/4 beat. HSU Jazz Orchestra drummer Jonathan Kipp pays homage to that innovation with his composition, “Chased By a Wolf Down a Mountain,” which uses unusual time signatures.
While it wasn't released until the next year, Miles Davis and Gil Evans began recording Sketches of Spain in 1959, and that album's strong classical influence is apparent in two pieces on the program: "Sky Blue" by Maria Schneider (which features Sky Miller on soprano sax) and "Drift" by Darcy James Argue.
The Orchestra plays some unrelated tunes, too: “Déjà vu” (an evocation of the Big Band era), the Woody Herman Band arrangement of John Coltrane’s “Lazy Bird,” and “Blues Walk,” a Clifford Brown composition reconceived with an Afro-Cuban feel by Michael Philip Mossman.
The HSU Jazz Orchestra final spring concert is Saturday, May 9 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.
Media: Humboldt State Now.
Director's Notes by Dan Aldag
We're continuing our celebration of the 50th anniversary of 1959, one of the most significant years in jazz's history. 1959 was the year of:
Kind Of Blue--Miles Davis: The album that established modal jazz (very few chord changes) as a viable alternative to the bebop approach of very complex and fast-moving chords. Maybe the best-selling jazz album of all time. enowned for its combination of surface beauty and extraordinary depth.
Giant Steps--John Coltrane: The album that was the apotheosis of the aforementioned bebop approach. The title tune remains today a kind of test piece for jazz improvisors.
The Shape of Jazz To Come--Ornette Coleman: The album that established free jazz (no pre-set, fixed chord progressions.) The beginning of jazz's avant-garde revolution of the 1960s
Time Out--Dave Brubeck: The album that first popularized unusual time signatures in jazz. Up to this point, almost all jazz had been in a meter of 4. This album included tunes in meters of 3, 5 ("Take Five"), 6 and 9 ("Blue Rondo a la Turk").
Portrait In Jazz--Bill Evans: The first album from the Bill Evans Trio, the group most responsible for freeing bass and drums from their timekeeping, accompanimental roles. In the Evans Trio, the piano, bass and drums operated as nearly equal musical partners, with often no one explicitly stating the pulse.
Mingus Ah Um--Charles Mingus: The album where Mingus first put together in a coherent and unified way his many and disparate influences, including blues and gospel, Ellington and the complex counterpoint of cool jazz. This album also introduced several of Mingus's best-known and most-performed compositions, including "Better Git It In Your Soul," "Goodbye Porkpie Hat" and "Fables of Faubus."
On this concert, we'll be playing "All Blues" from Kind Of Blue, "Open Letter to Duke" from Mingus Ah Um and "Peri's Scope" from Evans' Portrait In Jazz. Those three were all recorded by small groups and the arrangements we're playing reflect three different approaches to jazz repertory. The "All Blues" arrangement is by the famed bass player Chuck Israels and he has scored for the full band the solos improvised by Miles and pianist Bill Evans on the original recording. I arranged "Open Letter to Duke" by simply expanding the scoring of Mingus's original recording. Mike Tomaro's arrangement of "Peri's Scope" uses only the original melody and harmony as the basis for a unique interpretation of the tune.
Some of the rest of the music we'll be playing shows the influence of the innovative recordings of 1959. "Chased By A Wolf Down a Mountain" by our drummer, Jonathan Kipp, uses unusual time signatures, primarily seven. While it wasn't released until the next year, Miles Davis and Gil Evans began recording Sketches of Spain in 1959 and that album's strong classical influence is apparent in two pieces we'll be playing, "Sky Blue" by Maria Schneider (which features Sky Miller on soprano sax) and "Drift" by Darcy James Argue.
We'll also play music that has no direct connection to 1959, including Duke Ellington's "Rockin' In Rhythm", written in the early 1930s, but this particular arrangement is one the Ellington band began playing in the '50s.
The title of "Déjà Vu" by Tom Fredrickson refers both to Fredrickson's conscious evocation of the big band era and how musical material from early in the composition continues to reoccur throughout the piece. "Blues Walk" is a Clifford Brown composition reconceived with an Afro-Cuban feel by Michael Philip Mossman. John Coltrane's "Lazy Bird" will be played in an arrangement done for the Woody Herman band by Bill Stapleton. Duke Ellington's "All Too Soon" will feature trombonist Talon Nansel and tenor saxophonist Leo Echazábal.
We're continuing our celebration of the 50th anniversary of 1959, one of the most significant years in jazz's history. 1959 was the year of:
Kind Of Blue--Miles Davis: The album that established modal jazz (very few chord changes) as a viable alternative to the bebop approach of very complex and fast-moving chords. Maybe the best-selling jazz album of all time. enowned for its combination of surface beauty and extraordinary depth.
Giant Steps--John Coltrane: The album that was the apotheosis of the aforementioned bebop approach. The title tune remains today a kind of test piece for jazz improvisors.
The Shape of Jazz To Come--Ornette Coleman: The album that established free jazz (no pre-set, fixed chord progressions.) The beginning of jazz's avant-garde revolution of the 1960s
Time Out--Dave Brubeck: The album that first popularized unusual time signatures in jazz. Up to this point, almost all jazz had been in a meter of 4. This album included tunes in meters of 3, 5 ("Take Five"), 6 and 9 ("Blue Rondo a la Turk").
Portrait In Jazz--Bill Evans: The first album from the Bill Evans Trio, the group most responsible for freeing bass and drums from their timekeeping, accompanimental roles. In the Evans Trio, the piano, bass and drums operated as nearly equal musical partners, with often no one explicitly stating the pulse.
Mingus Ah Um--Charles Mingus: The album where Mingus first put together in a coherent and unified way his many and disparate influences, including blues and gospel, Ellington and the complex counterpoint of cool jazz. This album also introduced several of Mingus's best-known and most-performed compositions, including "Better Git It In Your Soul," "Goodbye Porkpie Hat" and "Fables of Faubus."
On this concert, we'll be playing "All Blues" from Kind Of Blue, "Open Letter to Duke" from Mingus Ah Um and "Peri's Scope" from Evans' Portrait In Jazz. Those three were all recorded by small groups and the arrangements we're playing reflect three different approaches to jazz repertory. The "All Blues" arrangement is by the famed bass player Chuck Israels and he has scored for the full band the solos improvised by Miles and pianist Bill Evans on the original recording. I arranged "Open Letter to Duke" by simply expanding the scoring of Mingus's original recording. Mike Tomaro's arrangement of "Peri's Scope" uses only the original melody and harmony as the basis for a unique interpretation of the tune.
Some of the rest of the music we'll be playing shows the influence of the innovative recordings of 1959. "Chased By A Wolf Down a Mountain" by our drummer, Jonathan Kipp, uses unusual time signatures, primarily seven. While it wasn't released until the next year, Miles Davis and Gil Evans began recording Sketches of Spain in 1959 and that album's strong classical influence is apparent in two pieces we'll be playing, "Sky Blue" by Maria Schneider (which features Sky Miller on soprano sax) and "Drift" by Darcy James Argue.
We'll also play music that has no direct connection to 1959, including Duke Ellington's "Rockin' In Rhythm", written in the early 1930s, but this particular arrangement is one the Ellington band began playing in the '50s.
The title of "Déjà Vu" by Tom Fredrickson refers both to Fredrickson's conscious evocation of the big band era and how musical material from early in the composition continues to reoccur throughout the piece. "Blues Walk" is a Clifford Brown composition reconceived with an Afro-Cuban feel by Michael Philip Mossman. John Coltrane's "Lazy Bird" will be played in an arrangement done for the Woody Herman band by Bill Stapleton. Duke Ellington's "All Too Soon" will feature trombonist Talon Nansel and tenor saxophonist Leo Echazábal.
Friday, May 08, 2009
Humboldt Symphony
Among its spring concert selections, Humboldt Symphony plays the famous and formidable Schumann Piano Concerto featuring pianist Ching-Ming Cheng on Friday May 8 at 8 p.m. and Sunday May 10 at 3 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. Conducted by Paul Cummings; presented by the HSU Department of Music.
Among its spring concert selections, Humboldt Symphony plays the famous and formidable Schumann Piano Concerto featuring pianist Ching-Ming Cheng on Friday May 8 at 8 p.m. and Sunday May 10 at 3 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. Conducted by Paul Cummings; presented by the HSU Department of Music.
The Humboldt Symphony Spring Concert: Super Schumann, Innovative Weber and a Memorial Mahler
“It’s a super-human showpiece for piano, and a tour de force for the orchestra.”
That’s how Humboldt Symphony conductor and HSU Music Department professor Paul Cummings describes the famous and formidable Schumann Piano Concerto, the centerpiece of the Symphony’s spring concert.
Pianist and HSU Music Department faculty member Ching-Ming Cheng will play the “extremely demanding piano part” in this concerto by mid-19th century German composer Robert Schumann. “He wrote it at the height of German Romanticism,” Cummings added, “and it’s about as Romantic as music gets.”
“Just as the Schumann concerto is a showpiece for piano,” Cummings said, “the Weber piece we’re playing is a showpiece for clarinet.” Soloist for the Clarinet Concerto #1 by 19th century German composer Carl Weber is HSU student Jacki Fraser. The Humboldt Symphony performs the first movement, praised for its innovation and daring.
The orchestra also plays two lesser-known works by famous composers: “L’Arlesienne Suite #1” by Georges Bizet (best known for the opera Carmen) and “Blumine” by Gustav Mahler. Of the latter, Cummings said, “It’s a slow, beautiful piece which we are dedicating to the memory of Deborah Clasquin, because she loved Mahler so much.”
The concert concludes on a light, bright note with “Four Scottish Dances” by 20th century British composer Malcolm Arnold. The Humboldt Symphony performs its spring concert on Friday May 8 at 8 p.m. and as a Sunday matinee on May 10 at 3 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.
Media: Humboldt State Now.
“It’s a super-human showpiece for piano, and a tour de force for the orchestra.”
That’s how Humboldt Symphony conductor and HSU Music Department professor Paul Cummings describes the famous and formidable Schumann Piano Concerto, the centerpiece of the Symphony’s spring concert.
Pianist and HSU Music Department faculty member Ching-Ming Cheng will play the “extremely demanding piano part” in this concerto by mid-19th century German composer Robert Schumann. “He wrote it at the height of German Romanticism,” Cummings added, “and it’s about as Romantic as music gets.”
“Just as the Schumann concerto is a showpiece for piano,” Cummings said, “the Weber piece we’re playing is a showpiece for clarinet.” Soloist for the Clarinet Concerto #1 by 19th century German composer Carl Weber is HSU student Jacki Fraser. The Humboldt Symphony performs the first movement, praised for its innovation and daring.
The orchestra also plays two lesser-known works by famous composers: “L’Arlesienne Suite #1” by Georges Bizet (best known for the opera Carmen) and “Blumine” by Gustav Mahler. Of the latter, Cummings said, “It’s a slow, beautiful piece which we are dedicating to the memory of Deborah Clasquin, because she loved Mahler so much.”
The concert concludes on a light, bright note with “Four Scottish Dances” by 20th century British composer Malcolm Arnold. The Humboldt Symphony performs its spring concert on Friday May 8 at 8 p.m. and as a Sunday matinee on May 10 at 3 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.
Media: Humboldt State Now.
Additional Note
The pieces the Symphony will play by Georges Bizet and Gustav Mahler have an odd element in common: both were originally written to accompany unsuccessful stage plays. Bizet extracted “L’Arlesienne Suite #1” and Mahler recast “Blumine”—but it has an even more complicated history.
Mahler adapted it for his first symphony. It was the basis of the second movement, but after this symphony’s first performances, Mahler eliminated the second movement entirely, and made this a stand-alone work. “The first symphony is played a lot,” Paul Cummings notes, “but this piece is seldom played at all.”
The pieces the Symphony will play by Georges Bizet and Gustav Mahler have an odd element in common: both were originally written to accompany unsuccessful stage plays. Bizet extracted “L’Arlesienne Suite #1” and Mahler recast “Blumine”—but it has an even more complicated history.
Mahler adapted it for his first symphony. It was the basis of the second movement, but after this symphony’s first performances, Mahler eliminated the second movement entirely, and made this a stand-alone work. “The first symphony is played a lot,” Paul Cummings notes, “but this piece is seldom played at all.”
Thursday, May 07, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)