Recorder Notes

Home , Cappella Romana, Water Music (Telemann)

SEATTLE RECORDER SOCIETY

Recorder Notes

October 2016 Vol. XLVIII, No. 2

www.seattle-recorder.org

From the Music Director (Vicki Boeckman) SRS Meeting Greetings, One and All, Friday, Johann Mattheson wrote in his memoirs that as October 7th, 2016 a young boy, he thought the sound of the recorder to be the sweetest in the world. Well, it certainly was at last @ 7:30 pm month's meeting! I cannot express enough what a pleasure it is and was to stand in front of such a wonderful group. The sound was absolutely magnificent with about 50 players, including three contrabasses and bass Opening Program viol. Truly glorious! Flutes-en-Bois (See next page for details.) For the October session I've chosen music that relates to water in one way or another. (I promise it won't be Handel's Water Music!!) We will start with Erik Pearson’s “Leaves in the River” from 2005, a gently moving through-composed piece with a simple melody and many passing disso- Playing Session nances. Then we will segue into “La Gondoletta,” an adorable, light-hearted (Vicki Boeckman) little Venetian folk tune in a 6-part arrangement by Irmhild Beutler that has Music relating to water a rather perky sopranino part . . . . just in case anyone wants first dibs. I can't imagine doing a program that has a theme of water without a piece by (Pearson, Beutler, Frances Blaker, so we will play Frances' “In Sight of the Ocean.” I find certain Blaker, and Jobim) similarities in Frances Blaker’s works as in Purcell's in that they both write (wrote) their most beautiful melodies and harmonies over ground basses. “In Sight of the Ocean” was written in honor of the Oregon Coast Recorder All sizes of recorders from Society's director, Corlu Collier, a rather remarkable woman about whom you soprano to contrabass will hear more at the meeting. We will end the evening with a piece by Carlos are needed, and viols Jobim, brilliantly arranged for recorders by Phil Neuman, “Wave.” Perhaps are always welcome. a bit of a stretch to include since the lyrics refer to catching the wave of love as opposed to an actual wave of water, but the piece is really great and sure to please. Backroom Gang

All sizes of recorders from sopranino to contra will be needed, (Miyo Aoki) and viols are always welcome. As always, feel free to contact me Music will be provided. ([email protected]) with any thoughts, comments, or musical requests that you may have, or if you would like a pdf file of the music we will play. Please specify for what size instrument. I look forward to seeing you soon.

Opening Program: Flutes-en-Bois Recorder Classes (Molly Warner) (Laura Faber)

Note: New players are Flutes-en-Bois, welcome at any time. directed by Janet See, is a Contact Laura to get started. consort of baroque flutes with harpsichord and viola da gamba. Performing on this Beginning Ensemble concert will be Charles “Coop” Tuesdays – 10 to 11:30 am Cooper, Liz Hunter, Sarah Pyle, Miguel Rode, Marty Intermediate Ensemble Ronish, and Molly Warner Tuesdays – 7 to 9 pm (flutes), Lee Inman (viola da gamba), and Mary Ann Hagan Intermediate Ensemble (harpsichord). Coop, our Thurs. – 10:30 am to 12:30 pm fabulous music arranger, adapts pieces for our group that were originally composed for other Bass Ensemble instruments or voices. On October 7th we will be performing three pieces by Saturdays – 10 am to 12 pm J.S. Bach as well as works by Tallis and Stravinsky. The photo is from our July 2016 concert at the Prospect Congregational UCC Church on Capitol Hill. We * * * are thrilled to perform again for the Seattle Recorder Society! Class Descriptions Play-the-Recorder Month Award! Beginning Ensemble (SATB) (Laura Faber) Simple and fun music chosen for players who are new to Thanks to the many SRS members who participated in March’s recorders, adding a new size Play-the-Recorder Month activities, we won second prize (a $50 gift instrument, or needing a little certificate from Lazar’s Early Music in California) from the ARS in their more support. annual contest! The contest and its winners are written up in the latest ARS newsletter with lively descriptions of our March 4th SRS meeting, the March Intermediate Ensemble 12th playing session at Laura Faber's house, and the jewel in the crown, the (SATBGB) March 19th Play-In hosted by Nancy Gorbman at Lake Forest Park Town Medieval to modern music for Center. Congratulations to us! players comfortable with common fingerings and rhythms who are interested in Save the Dates: Port Townsend Workshop! developing their technique further. Skills in progress Save the dates for the Port Townsend Early include playing both F and C Music Workshop—a week-long workshop in the instruments, reading alto up, Pacific Northwest with a stellar faculty! counting halves, and reading from parts. When: July 9-15, 2017 Where: The beautiful campus of University of Puget Bass Ensemble (BGB) Sound (UPS) in Tacoma Enjoy the sound of low instruments? This energetic ensemble plays music arranged Recorder/Flute/Early Winds Voices, Viols, and Mixed Consorts or composed for basses and Adam Gilbert Jack Ashworth explores bass technique. Alison Melville Joanna Blendulf Clea Galhano Wendy Gillespie * * * Miyo Aoki Ellen Seibert Nina Stern People who are interested Paul Leenhouts should contact Laura by email at Peter Seibert [email protected] Rotem Gilbert or by calling (206) 619-0671. Vicki Boeckman

For L and All of Us! (Remembering L Hotaling)

Wasn’t life a hoot! Like the high note that always squeaks when you try too hard and sings when the melody takes off, Refreshments And weren’t we always running to catch up with the dawn (October) and galloping into sunsets, even in sleepless midnights,

counting the rests until we next come in? Cookies

Ruth Pattison Wasn’t it hilarious how we went from ingénue, so coy, Karen Soma to wife, mother, grandmother in those sweet inner movements,

and now this ﬁnal allegro, still hundreds of measures to go, Fruits

Nancy Lewis So urgent, building on the opening andante, restating the themes,

childhood, with the overpowering father, or with your best friend, Veggies childhood, where you mastered patience, until your next grand entrance. Betty Swift

And late as it is, expressing yourself on the long notes,

restraining yourself in the staccato parts, remembering the time in Paris,

or Venice when you gave a shout each time the boat went under the bridge.

Even now, on this fast moving river, the current rising, your legs slowing their furious pace, eyesight clouded with spray, ears roaring with the running tide, Newsletter Deadline for October Issue Don’t we hear the throaty warble of a robin, Monday, October 17th feel the wind’s percussion and the vibrating string of the violin, as we wait breathlessly in the space between this note and the next?

Ellen Mendoza May, 2016 Time to Renew Wind and Waves Your SRS Membership!

Our 2016-2017 membership Seattle Recorder Soirée year is beginning with a full schedule of meetings and events (From Chris Corfman) that is not to be missed! Please take this time to renew your membership, which is still $40. First Tuesdays of Every Month

7:30 pm to 9:00 pm Membership applications are Couth Buzzard Books & Café Buono available online at the Seattle 8310 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103 Recorder Society website: (206) 436-2960, www.buonobuzzard.com www.seattle- FREE !!! Donations and purchases appreciated. recorder.org/home.html

where you can also choose to

pay by credit card. If you prefer • Recorder players and accompanists needed! You’re all welcome to to handle your payment by post, perform at the Seattle Recorder Soirée. Reserve your time, or drop in to just mail your application to our perform standby. An electric piano is available. treasurer, Richard Ginnis, at

4554 - 4th Avenue NE, Seattle, • Contact: Chris Corfman at [email protected] or (206) 227-5619. WA 98105. Also, see my new fledgling websites: www.seattlerecorders.com

and www.threeringsmusic.com

Remembering Frances DeGermain (1924-2016)

Frances DeGermain started to play recorder in 1969. She joined the Seattle Recorder Society right away and became president in 1970. Following her two-year term, she became treasurer, in which position she continued until the 1990’s. However, she was far more than a treasurer. Among her many contributions to the recorder society, she typed the monthly newsletter, did the mailing, kept the membership records, and contributed her incisive thoughts at board meetings. She attended numerous summer workshops, played regularly with several recorder ensembles, and hosted frequent musical gatherings in her Capitol Hill home. Whenever Frances was present, the atmosphere was lively due to her astute comments. —Peter Seibert

For several decades, five of us recorder players met every Wednesday to play Renaissance music: Naomi Shiff, Sharon Young, Barbara Chasan, Frances, and I. We all had Ohannesian Renaissance recorders. We would traipse down the alley to Sharon’s house carrying our recorder cases. David had procured gun cases, installed foam lining, and carefully carved out the shape of each recorder we owned so that they would nest nicely. I don’t know what the neighbors thought. “Do those elderly ladies belong to the NRA, or what?” At some point Cathy Taruskin began to teach us to read white mensural notation (AKA “o.n.” for “old notation”) so that we could play from facsimile collections. Some of these collections were Latin vocal music (wonderful Byrd and Tallis), and others were Italian madrigals, so we did our best to figure out the meaning, and when we got stumped Naomi’s son Jonathan would untangle it for us.

Cathy, with her inimitable facility for punning, dubbed us the “Minim Molls.” After she married Richard Taruskin and moved to northern California, we kept playing o.n. on our own and never did go back to modern notation. Some weeks we did as much giggling and gossiping as playing, but the sessions were always fun, and we were serious about improving our skills. Reading seven clefs on five sizes of recorders was a real challenge. I always felt smarter afterward!

Here is a memory that has nothing to do with recorders but says a lot about Frances’ style as a grandmother. Unlike many grandmothers, Frances always spoke to her granddaughter, Adrienne, pretty much as she would have spoken to an adult. One day, when Adrienne was four years old, Frances was baby-sitting her for the day. When Adrienne’s father, Charles, came to pick her up, he and Frances chatted a bit, and then he said to Adrienne, “Well, honey, looks like it’s time for us to hit the road. What do you think?” And four-year-old Adrienne answered with aplomb, “I concur.” —Alice Smith

As I mentioned at Recorder Society, Frances To learn more about Frances, read her very continued to play from o.n. until quite recently. When interesting obituary at this link: she turned 80 she decided that she no longer wanted to deal with any clefs except the bass clef, so she was https://bartonfuneral.com/2016/09/08/frances- our designated (and very powerful) bass player from eleanor-paul-degermain then on. —Naomi Shiff

Music on the Sound: SRS Players on Stage! Kyuquot Recorder Workshop 2016

(Carolyn Wallace with Dorothy Beyer and Mike Woolf) Come hear members of SRS Everyone who participates in the Kyuquot Recorder Workshop (Hanan Bell, Sabine, takes a boat for the final leg of the trip, arriving at a renovated fishing camp Endigrigkeit, Ellen Seibert, on the northwest coast of Vancouver Island. This year, seven recorder Carolyn Wallace, Molly Warner, players joined faculty members Sophie Larivière and Matthias Maute for and Nancy Wright) three days of intensive music-making. performing with the New Baroque Orchestra (NBO). Everyone played in a master class, receiving 1:1 attention from The fall concert is coming up Matthias or Sophie on a piece of one's choice. Other classes included next month. modern music, early baroque music, dance music, and one session on technique for recorder players. The class on modern music, led by Matthias, played a fantasia by Ziesman, three tangos by Astor Piazzolla, and a * * * rondeau and adagio by Maute. Matthias emphasized balancing the parts on each piece by playing the accompaniment parts softly and lightly. Sunday, November 13, 3 pm Participants also used finger vibrato, bending the pitch, and stamping their feet at just the right moment! This group played the tangos at the concert Trinity Parish Church on Saturday. 609 – 8th Avenue, Seattle

Sophie led a group playing music from the early baroque, including dance music by Gastoldi, canzonas by Merula, selections from “The Fairy Queen” by Purcell, a sinfonia and ritornello by Monteverdi, and sinfonias and galliards by Bonzanini. Sophie emphasized playing the dances by Gastoldi with lightness, elegance, and attention to the text, even though we had no singers! We had translations that were full of emotion and drama to inspire us. For the concert, we played selections from Bonzanini, about 2016-2017 SRS Meetings whom we know only that he was born in Mantua. Meetings are usually (but not All of us had several sessions to play dance music, some of which always) held on the first Friday we played at a short concert on Saturday afternoon. Matthias led us in a of each month, September to suite of dances from Terpsichore (Michael Praetorius), placing emphasis on May, at 7:30 p.m., Maple Leaf which notes in all parts were to be played short and which long. Lest Lutheran Church, 10005 - 32nd anyone get complacent, no pattern of short or long notes continued for NE, Seattle. Meetings include a more than a few measures. Sophie led us in selected pieces from Campion's short performance or lecture of The Lord's Masque. She had us bring out the mood of each piece—whether interest to recorder and viol a peasant dance, a stately processional, or a musical depiction of a melan- players, ensemble playing for all choly man. So she emphasized phrasing, dynamics, and length of notes, levels of recorder players, and a including those short ones! beginning recorder ensemble. A $5.00 donation is requested Other activities included a concert by Matthias and Sophie, a boat for non-members. ride to another island for a picnic lunch and a hike across the island, practice sessions, playing September 16, 2016 sessions, and even lessons for October 7, 2016 the ambitious among us! Great November 4, 2016 faculty, wonderful music, fine December 2, 2016 colleagues, excellent food, and January 6, 2017 a beautiful setting. Many February 10, 2017 thanks to Nancy Gorbman, March 3, 2017 workshop director, and Eric April 7, 2017 Gorbman, chef, boat driver, May 12, 2017 and general guide to the locale.

Meeting Notes: September 16, 2016 (Kathleen Arends) SRS Board Members President-Elect Molly Warner opened the meeting, as President (2016/2017) Mike Woolf was unavailable. We welcomed two new people; then Naomi Schiff broke the news to us that long-time SRS member Frances de Germain Music Director: had passed away on August 8th, at the age of 92. Frances enjoyed and served Vicki Boeckman (206-985-9916) [email protected] Seattle Recorder Society in many capacities, including multiple seasons as President and as Treasurer, for many years. Music Director Emeritus: Peter Seibert (206-329-2774) A newer member of SRS, David Maughan, also passed away recently; [email protected]

he was 75. Laura Faber picked out three pieces from Praetorius that he had Officers: enjoyed playing in her classes, and Vicki began the playing session by leading us through them. The “King's Dance” was noble and dignified; “The President: Mike Woolf Light of Love” was sweet; and the “Branle Double” was lively. (206-300-6623) [email protected]

President-Elect: Molly Warner Vicki also thanked Sally Mitchell for her work with the Backroom (206-523-5192) Gang in helping people gain the confidence to play with the large group. A [email protected] show of hands illustrated that maybe a third of the people in the room had Past President: Hanan Bell taken advantage of the opportunity. In the coming months, Miyo Aoki will be (206-695-2276) [email protected] working with folks who would like that extra help or attention. Another announcement: all are invited to Chris Corfman's monthly Recorder Soirée Secretary: Kathleen Arends at Couth Buzzard Books (with café), either to perform or to listen. (425-649-9869) [email protected]

Treasurer: Richard Ginnis We then settled down to a Scandinavian evening. First was Andante (206-633-1969) Festivo, a stately and beautiful piece by Jean Sibelius, which was played at [email protected] the New York World's Fair of 1939 in the interest of “amity, better inter-

national understanding, and peace.” Sibelius is much loved by the Finnish * * * * people, having created and given them a musical voice of their own during the time of their separation from Russia. He was a very Romantic composer, and much inspired by nature. Membership: Betty Swift (206-323-3879) [email protected]

Vicki recently heard Andante Festivo played on the radio, and she Newsletter: Karen Berliner asked Charles Coldwell to arrange it for recorder orchestra. “Sibelius wrote (206-550-3384) this for strings in their highest ranges,” he told us, “so that in this tran- [email protected]

scription, the three upper parts are in the same octave as the original.” Refreshments: Molly Warner (206-523-5192) The Romantic nature of the music, Vicki explained to us, values all [email protected] the notes equally, in contrast to the strong and weak beats we find in Webmaster: Charles Coldwell Baroque music. The piece was hymn-like, even ending with the traditional (206-328-8238) IV – I “Amen” harmony. It also gave us a chance to be reminded that “assai” [email protected] means to do something more and “meno” to do it less. Members-At-Large: Next we played the second of Edvard Grieg's Two Elegiac Melodies, Ellis Hillinger called “Våren,” or “Last Spring.” Vicki told us that the title could be under- (206-547-0718) [email protected] stood to refer to the spring that is past, but also to the possibility of a given spring's being the last of one's life. The harmonies in the piece are very Carolyn Wallace (206-782-6898) characteristic of Grieg. We played a transcription by Eric Haas, and I found [email protected]

it excruciatingly beautiful. “Recorder Notes” is published monthly, September through May, for its members We ended by playing two of Grieg's arrangements of folk material by the Seattle Recorder Society. from his Opus 17. Marked allegro marcato, the “Spring Dance” had to do with 4554 - 4th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98105. jumping and hopping instead of the season. It was in triple time, but one $40 Annual Membership Dues. www.seattle-recorder.org section had the bass and tenor playing pairs of quarters, creating a hemiola

against the triple melody. The second was “Peasant Dance,” which was full of sixteenths and almost silly. Thank you, Vicki, for creating this lovely program for us!

Concerts and Events Calendar

Fri., Oct. 7 @ 7:30 pm: Seattle Recorder Society Meeting. Maple Leaf Lutheran Church.

Sat., Oct. 8 @ 2 pm: Moss Bay Recorder Society Meeting. Sally Mitchell, conductor. Shoreline Library, 345 NE 175th St., Shoreline.

Sat., Oct. 8 @ 6 pm: Seattle Bach Choir presents: “Bachtoberfest.” Annual fundraiser, featuring live and silent auctions, great German food and beer, and excerpts from their fall program. TPC. www.seattlebachchoir.org

O Sat., Oct. 8 @ 7:30 pm and Sun., Oct. 9 @ 2:30 pm: Early Music Guild presents: “Chanticleer: Washing of the Water.” A program that explores the power of water to redeem, restore, and refresh the human C soul. Nordstrom Recital Hall, Benaroya Hall, Seattle. EMG

T Sat., Oct. 15 @ 7:30 pm: Byrd Ensemble presents: “John IV – A Golden Age of Portuguese Polyphony.” O Featuring mass settings by two of the greatest Portuguese composers of the 17th century: Duarte Lobo and Manuel Cardoso. Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral, 10th Ave E, Seattle. www.byrdensemble.com B Sat., Oct. 15 @ 7:30 and Sun., Oct. 16 @ 3 pm: Gallery Concerts presents: “The Heavenly Voice: Handel E and his Castrati.” Music by Handel, Porpora, Farinelli, and Broschi. Queen Anne Christian Church, 1316 R Third Ave W, Seattle. www.galleryconcerts.com

– Fri., Oct. 21 and Sat., Oct. 22 @ 8 pm: Seattle Symphony presents: “Handel Water Music.” Also includes music from Purcell, Lawes, and Biber. Benaroya Hall, Seattle. www.seattlesymphony.org 2 0 Sat., Oct. 22 @ 7:30 pm: sound|counterpoint presents: “Pisendel’s Closet.” Music of Pisendel, Vivaldi, and others. Queen Anne Christian Church, 1316 Third Ave W, Seattle. 1 www.salmonrun.wixsite.com/salmon-run-concerts

6 Tues., Oct. 25 @ 7 pm: Early Music Underground presents: “BACHtoberfest.” Join rising star organist Wyatt Smith for a program of some of J. S. Bach's greatest organ works performed on Marceau Organbuilders' portable (!) pipe organ. Naked City Brewery & Taphouse, 8564 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle. www.emuseattle.com

Fri., Oct. 28 @ 7:30 pm: Cappella Romana presents: “Icons of Sound: Byzantine Chant from Hagia Sophia.” St. James Cathedral, 804 9th Ave, Seattle. www.cappellaromana.org

Sat., Oct. 29 @ 7:30 pm: Early Music Guild presents: “Seattle Baroque Orchestra: Tafelmusik.” Music Director Alexander Weimann leads the orchestra in a tribute to Georg Philipp Telemann and his iconic publication Tafelmusik. Nordstrom Recital Hall, Benaroya Hall, Seattle. EMG

Sun., Oct. 30 @ 7 pm: Byron Schenkman & Friends present: “Music for the Sun King.” Andrew Fouts & Ingrid Matthews, violins; Elisabeth Reed, viol; Nathan Whittaker, cello; and Byron Schenkman, harpsichord. Music of the French Baroque. Nordstrom Recital Hall, Benaroya Hall, Seattle. www.byronschenkman.com

(continued below)

EMG (Early Music Guild, 206-325-7066) www.earlymusicguild.org TPC (Trinity Parish Church, 609 – 8th Avenue, Seattle) www.trinityseattle.org TH (Town Hall, 1119 – 8th Avenue, Seattle) www.townhallseattle.org All events are subject to change.

Concerts and Events Calendar (continued)

Fri., Nov. 4 @ 7:30 pm: Seattle Recorder Society Meeting. Maple Leaf Lutheran Church.

N Sat., Nov. 5 @ 8 pm: Pacific Musicworks presents: “Breathtaking – A Voice and Cornetto Intertwined.” O Bruce Dickey, cornetto; Hana Blažíková, soprano. St. James Cathedral, 804 9th Ave, Seattle. www.pacificmusicworks.org V Sun., Nov. 6 @ 3 pm: Early Music Guild presents: “Sine Nomine Fall Concert.” Anne Lynman, E conductor/director. TP. EMG M Sat., Nov. 12 @ 2 pm: Moss Bay Recorder Society Meeting. Miyo Aoki, conductor. Shoreline Library, 345 B NE 175th St., Shoreline. www.mossbayrecorders.org

E Sat., Nov. 12 @ 7:30 pm and Sun., Nov. 13 @ 2:30 pm: Early Music Guild presents: “Sequentia: The R Monk Sings the Pagan.” Nordstrom Recital Hall, Benaroya Hall, Seattle. EMG

- Sun., Nov. 13 @ 3 pm: Early Music Guild presents: “New Baroque Orchestra Fall Concert.” Christine Wilkinson Beckman, conductor. Music of Babell, Biber, and Telemann. TP. EMG 2 0 Sun., Nov. 13 @ 5 pm: Epiphany Music Guild presents: “Epiphany Schola: Purcell and His Contemporaries.” The Chapel at Epiphany Parish, 1805 38th Ave, Seattle. www.epiphanymusicguild.org 1 Sat., Nov. 26 @ 7:30 pm and Sun., Nov. 27 @ 3 pm: Byrd Ensemble presents: “Christmas at the Sistine 6 Chapel.” St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral, 10th Ave E, Seattle. www.byrdensemble.com

Tues., Nov. 29 @ 7 pm: Early Music Underground presents: “In Mary’s Arms.” Rarely-heard motets and cantatas for voice, strings, and organ by 17th century women composers. Naked City Brewery & Taphouse, 8564 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle. www.emuseattle.com

Upcoming Workshops

April, 2017 (exact date TBD): SRS will host a half-day recorder event with Matthias Maute. More information to come soon.

May 5-8, 2017: Winds and Waves Recorder Workshop. (Faculty concert on May 5, classes May 6-8.) Otis, Oregon. Registration usually begins in January. www.sitkacenter.org

July 9-15, 2017: Port Townsend Early Music Workshop. Tacoma, Washington. Registration begins in 2017. www.seattle-recorder.org