VIRTUAL FESTIVAL CONCERT #8 - Released July 29, 2020 CLAUDE DEBUSSY Sonata for Violin and Piano in G minor Allegro vivo Intermède: Fantasque et leger Finale: Très animé Benjamin Beilman violin / Orion Weiss piano AARON JAY KERNIS “Un Bacio” - A Kiss (Romance and Transfiguration) - on Themes by John Corigliano and Mark Adamo WORLD PREMIERE Joyce Yang piano AARON JAY KERNIS Elegy (for those we lost) WORLD PREMIERE Alessio Bax piano AARON JAY KERNIS Feng Shui For Your New Home Nicholas Phan tenor / Aaron Jay Kernis piano AARON JAY KERNIS Siren for Solo Flute, 7 Flutes, and Piccolo WORLD PREMIERE, COMMISSIONED BY SCMS COMMISSIONING CLUB Maria Piccinini flute WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART Divertimento for String Trio in E-flat Major, K. 563 Allegro Adagio Menuetto: Allegretto Andante Menuetto: Allegretto Allegro Tessa Lark violin / Cynthia Phelps viola / Ani Aznavoorian cello Concert was originally scheduled for July 22, 2020 CLAUDE DEBUSSY The ensuing Intermède: Fantasque et leger opens (1862–1918) with a leaping violin figure that launches effervescent and virtuosic phrases from the violin, galvanized Sonata for Violin and Piano in by a series of repeated notes that run through G minor (1916-17) the movement. Debussy’s unrivalled ear for color Most recent SCMS performance: Summer 2018 is apparent in the weird and wonderful sounds emanating from the stringed instrument. Pizzicatos Though Debussy wrote in all genres, his chamber dance above spiky asides from the piano. Unlike canon consists of his stunningly original string the first movement, these are capricious, perhaps quartet of 1893, a staple since its premiere, followed recalling or wishing for a happier state than the by nearly a quarter-century of silence until shortly reality of his terminal illness. before his painful death from colon cancer in 1918. The outbreak of World War I had greatly disturbed Material from the opening movement kicks off the him, adding fire to his already fierce anti-German Finale: Très animé before a new motive pushes the views on music (long after a youthful embrace of music forward. The rapidly fluttering violin line has ardent Wagnerism). Too ill from cancer to participate been likened to the purposeful flutter of the butterfly. as a combatant, life seemed especially bleak to Though cast in three separate movements, the Debussy. Yet following surgery in 1915, he felt constant shifting of textures and moods imparts a physically and spiritually rejuvenated—eager to meet dreamy ambience to the whole work, as if it were in the challenge of renewed composition. reality one seamless tripartite work—a characteristic of much 20th-century music. Like the mysterious With more optimism than realism, he set out to man who wrote it, the sonata abounds in light and produce six varied chamber works. Sadly, lasting shadow, and draws its unity from the unfailing sense health failed to materialize. Through sheer of decorative beauty that never failed the composer. determination he was able to complete two superb chamber works in 1915—a sonata for cello and piano and another for flute, viola, and harp. Weakened by the effort, he needed a year to AARON JAY KERNIS recover his failing strength. In October, 1916, he felt (b. 1960) sound enough to resume composition and began Aaron Jay Kernis’ career embraces composition, working on a Sonata in G minor for Violin and Piano. for which endeavor he has garnered many awards By February, 1917 he had completed the first two including the Pulitzer Prize for his String Quartet movements but had difficulty pinning down the finale, No. 2, and as a faculty member of the Yale School which he completed just in time for the première— of Music. His musical education centered on study the very day, actually. with several major American composers, such as John Adams, Morton Subotnick, Charles Wuorinen, A palpable sense of melancholy infuses the first and Jacob Druckman. The essential characteristic movement, Allegro vivo, beginning with the very of Kernis’ wide-ranging music is assured technical opening bars. Classic French understatement proficiency wedded to expressive warmth and blends with Eastern harmony. The kaleidoscopic imaginative scoring. By the time of his Pulitzer Prize sounds evoke still-fresh memories of hearing he had already established a strong reputation as Javanese gamelan at the 1889 Paris Exhibition composer-in-residence of the St. Paul Chamber while incorporating a new world of sounds ushered Orchestra, for which ensemble he wrote Symphony in in by 20th-century technology. Eerie arabesques Waves in 1989. Aaron Jay Kernis has been described for the violin soar above shifting sonorities from by Benjamin Ivry, writing in The Christian Science the keyboard. At times, sustained violin tones are Monitor, as “America’s most honored younger punctuated by a continuo-like line in the piano’s composer,” a reference to Kernis having just been middle registers. awarded the prestigious and munificent University of SUMMER festival // Louisville Grawemeyer Award in November 2001 and share this time as brothers and sisters together. the composer being one of the youngest recipients of AARON JAY KERNIS the Pulitzer Prize in 1998. Among many subsequent Feng Shui For Your New Home (2012) awards bestowed upon Kernis is the 2012 Nemmers SCMS Premiere Prize in Music Composition, which included a residency at Northwestern University (2013–15) and In 2012 I was asked to contribute to a book of songs the position of composer in residence at Mannes written to honor the opening of Opera America’s College (2014–2015). Though best known for his new facility in New York City, and to send auspicious orchestral canvasses he is no stranger to chamber sentiments in its direction. Today I remotely honor music in which genre he has produced more than 30 the Seattle Chamber Music Society’s new home with works. this song, in hope that it will bring good energy to it! Feng Shui is an ancient art and science developed The composer has kindly provided the following over 3,000 years ago in China. It is a complex body notes for the works we hear in this concert: of knowledge that reveals how to balance the energies of any given space to assure the health AARON JAY KERNIS and good fortune for people inhabiting it. I chose to “Un Bacio” - A Kiss (Romance and research it for this song and found a very impressive Transfiguration) - on Themes by John introduction to its practice written by Vancouver Corigliano practitioner Rodika Tchi which became the text for and Mark Adamo (2020) this piece. [Song text is located at the end of these World Premiere program notes.] After attending John Corigliano and Mark Adamo’s 25th anniversary party I decided to fashion a work AARON JAY KERNIS in their honor, presenting and intertwining their Siren for Solo Flute, 7 Flutes, and Piccolo melodies and melodic fragments in the manner of (2020) Lisztian fantasies on other composers’ music in the World Premiere 19th century. I did so to honor them as composers, friends, and as colleagues I respect immeasurably. The original plan for this work was to write a solo This work includes excerpts, quotes from, and flute work especially for Marina Piccinini and the transformations of John Corigliano - The Red Violin: SCMS. But as plans and technology changed in light Chaconne, Circus Maximus, and Mr. Tamborine Man of travel restrictions and social distancing, I decided (Postlude: Forever Young) and two of Mark Adamo’s this premiere could be a special opportunity to operas. Little Women, and Lysistrata. feature Ms. Piccinini in a challenging and potentially visually interesting way as well, using multiple flute parts recorded and presented together. Though AARON JAY KERNIS Siren does feature a solo part prominently, there is Elegy (for those we lost) (2020) increased use of many parts as the work progresses. World Premiere The background inspiration for this work begins “I wrote Elegy (for those we lost), during the with the Sirens of Greek mythology, most notably in pandemic month of May 2020, when it became Homer’s The Odyssey. Sirens were creatures of half clear that the toll of COVID-19 on human lives was woman, half bird who sang beautifully, luring sailors truly devastating. I hope through this short work who passed by them to their deaths by enticing them that listeners can find a space of solace to reflect, to jump overboard to them after hearing their song. remember, and mourn those we have lost - known or unknown to us, and allow us to find compassion to Perhaps the most famous story about the Sirens is JULY 29, 2020 // proGram notes told in Homer’s The Odyssey, as Odysseus and his the multiple-movement format of a Baroque men sailed by them. Circe had warned Odysseus prior suite while incorporating the sonata-allegro to the encounter about the dangers of the Sirens, and form one associates with symphonies and string he prepared his men by having them put beeswax quartets, especially in first movements. The inner in their ears to block out the song. They then tied movements typically were based on dance à la the Odysseus to the mast of the boat, as he wanted to aforementioned Baroque suite. The confluence of hear what the Sirens sang about. The beautiful song these elements often resulted in works balancing caused Odysseus to order that his men untie him, but serious intellectual/emotional features with the instead they tightened the ropes and waited until unbuttoned mood of country and courtly dances. they were clear of the Sirens to release him. There are many other stories about the Sirens. One of the Such is the case with the K. 563 Divertimento, one of most unique aspects of them, particularly in The Mozart’s finest chamber works.