The Colorado College Music Department
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THE COLORADO COLLEGE MUSIC DEPARTMENT presents “Dance! Dance! Dance!” The Colorado College Collegium Musicum Nancy Ekberg Tynan, director Frank Shelton, accompanist Dale Miller, guitarist Sunday, December 9, 2012 3:00 PM Packard Hall Your courtesy in silencing electronic devices is appreciated PROGRAM Notes by Nancy Ekberg Tynan Our concert today embodies many forms of dance music. We begin with the Medieval and wind our way through European Renaissance, then on to early English music of the 1600’s, followed by early American songs and dances. This gives us a chance to explore some of our rich American musical heritage by tracing the origins of some of our early hymns and songs back to England, Scotland, and Ireland. Many of these hymns and songs were also played as dances. I am delighted to present to you a dance group to help enliven our music with their energetic steps and elegant costumes. Please enjoy this widely diverse concert spanning 900 years of music. I. Medieval and Renaissance Dances The 5th Royal Estampie Anonymous 13th century French Dance Pavane- La Venissiene Claude Gervaise (fl. 1540-1560) Gaillarde d’Ecosse Pierre Phalese (c.1510-1573) Branle double Michael Praetorius (1571-1621) Ballet des Fou Michael Praetorius Branle de la torche Michael Praetorius Our Medieval and Renaissance dance suite represents French and German composers of the 13th and 16th centuries. Claude Gervaise, a French composer, editor and arranger of Renaissance instrumental music, worked with renowned printer Pierre Attaingnant. Michael Praetorius was one of the most versatile and prolific German composers of his time. The Estampie is a 12th-14th century courtly dance mentioned in trouvère poetry and among the earliest surviving instrumental music. The dancers manifest this Estampie visually with authentic costume designs and lively yet smooth medieval sliding dance steps. The Pavane displays a very rich blend of diverse sounds in a slow, processional quadruple meter, and is paired with the livelier Gaillarde, in triple meter. The Branle, originally a 12th century French chain dance characterized by a “swaying” side-to-side movement, was eventually adopted by European aristocrats and became a popular independent dance in duple meter in the 16th century. Depending on the speed of the music, Branles were danced with walking, running, gliding, or skipping steps. II. Early American Folk Hymns and Songs Shining Star William Billings Verse 2 (1786) (1746-1800) from The Sacred Harp (1844) “Lay down your crooks and quit your flocks, to Bethlehem repair; And let your wand’ring steps be squared, by yonder shining star. Seek ye not in palaces, nor regal curtains draw. Search the stable, see your God extended on the straw.” Singers: Nancy Ekberg Tynan, Nicole Pey, and Emily Chan Hark the Herald Angel Psalmist, 207th Hymn from The Sacred Harp Hark the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King; Peace on earth, and mercy mild; God and sinners reconciled.” Singers: Nancy Ekberg Tynan, Nicole Pey, Emily Chan Shiloh William Billings from The Suffolk Harmony (1786) (1746-1800) The Appletree ed. by Jeremiah Ingalls from The Christian Harmony (1764-1828) Boyce Drummond plays an unusual percussive folk instrument called “Ragtime Annie” to accompany The Appletree. Dancing dolls have been popular street (and now stage!) entertainment for hundreds of years. Older versions dating back to the 16th century were known as Poupées à la Planchette or Marionettes à la Planchette. These puppets, operated by a horizontal string attached to the musician’s leg, ‘danced’ on a board on the ground as the musician tapped his foot. At some stage, possibly in the mid-19th century, the string was replaced by a wooden rod fixed into the back of the body. Annie is called a limberjack (or jill) doll. She animates this spirited early American folk melody! I Will Bow and Be Simple arranged by Frederic Palmer from New Lebanon (1847) Now My Dear Companions arranged by Frederic Palmer from The Augustus P. Blasé Hymnal (1865) Boyce Drummond, bowed psaltery The bowed psaltery Boyce Drummond plays today is an instrument of the zither family consisting of a wooden soundbox with strings stretched between metal or wooden pegs. It differs from the Medieval plucked psaltery in that its strings are arranged to allow bowing. Psaltery comes from the Latin psalterium, which is historically associated with David and the psalms. The psaltery was used throughout the Middle Ages, gradually decreasing in use from the late 15th century on. This instrument is the ancestor of the dulcimer, and some believe, the harpsichord and pianoforte. Columbia arranged by Nancy Ekberg Tynan Evening Hymn both from The Christian Harmony The Christian Harmony contains three spiritual folk songs that represent an interesting practice in which musicians occasionally wrote sacred texts to go with known folk songs. The Appletree, Columbia and Evening Hymn are examples of original secular melodies that had sacred texts added later. We perform these melodies as haunting instrumental versions. Riley’s Flute Melodies (1820) edited by Edward Riley Solo flute melodies (1769-1829) President’s March Garrett Cry, alto recorder The Maid of the Mountain Garrett Cry, alto recorder and Nicole Pey, mandolin Captain Ford’s Quick Step Meaghan Berns, tenor recorder and Nicole Pey, mandolin Irish Air Nancy Ekberg Tynan, soprano recorder and Nicole Pey, tambourine Miss Adam’s Hornpipe Nicole Pey, mandolin Edward Riley, an Englishman who emigrated to the U.S. in 1805, published his anthology of flute melodies in 1820. The collection contains some airs of English, Scotch or Irish origin. Some are distinctly American, such as The President’s March, which is thought to have been composed by Philip Phile after George Washington’s first inauguration. Since this is a presidential election year, we found it very fitting to include this march. Many of the melodies have written-out variations and cadenzas which give us a view of what was expected of good amateur flutists in the early decades of the U.S. III. Playful Playford Dance tunes from The Dancing Master Manage the Miser ed. by John Playford Cottey House (1623-1686) Amaryllis The Beau Stratagem John Playford, an English music publisher and bookseller, published the Dancing Master in 1650. It contains 105 dances, preserved only as melodies, although many of them have dancing instructions. We present a lovely medley of dances that each captures a different mood. IV. Guitar Solo by Dale Miller Ashokan Farewell (1982) Jay Ungar (b. 1946) Arranged by Dale Miller This may sound very familiar to you because Ken Burns loved this melody and used it as the title theme in his PBS documentary, The Civil War. Although this tune was composed in modern times, its style is that of the Scottish lament, and complements our other haunting early American songs. Dale Miller invokes a pensive mood with a gentle sadness in his arrangement of the Ashokan Farewell. V. Dances from The Dancing Master Newcastle John Playford Hole in the Wall Arranged by Nancy Ekberg Tynan These English country dances flourished from 1650-1850 and were important forms of social expression as a pleasing alternative to formal dances of the time. Two unique characteristics of these country dances are that they are group dances with interaction between two or more couples, and they are “democratic” in the sense that the couples take turns leading and also change positions during the dance sets. William, the Duke of Newcastle, may have inspired the elegant Newcastle dance with his interests in the theater. Hole in the Wall is based on a hornpipe melody (a type of dance) written by Henry Purcell in 1695 for a melodramatic play that included many elements of Shakespeare’s Othello. The hornpipe music is related to French court dance tradition in the late 17th century, although currently it is popular also as a folk dance. To end our concert, our dancers embody the elegance and simplicity of the beautiful, graceful music. Members of the Collegium Musicum Nancy Ekberg Tynan,* director, recorders, percussion Garrett Cry, recorders Nicole Pey, mandolin, tamborine Annika Davis, guitar Neil Hesse,* guitar Boyce Drummond,* recorders, bowed psaltery, dancing doll Meaghan Berns, recorders Drew Kelly, percussion Frank Shelton,* harpsichord Emily Chan,* recorders, crumhorns, percussion Sarah Spears, guitar Dale Miller,* guitar Evan Shelton,* cello Tim Tynan, percussion Dancers Little London Assembly Joan Bryant, Director Kate Holbrook* *Colorado College Faculty or Staff Singers Nancy Ekberg Tynan, Emily Chan, Nicole Pey Special Thanks Frank Shelton, accompanist Dale Miller for creative guitar work Joan Bryant, for her wonderful work with all of the dancers Stormy Burns, Music Department Coordinator Neil Hesse, Music Department Paraprofessional Cathe Bailie, program production Dedication This concert is dedicated to my father, William, and his wife, Verena, with love, –Nancy Ekberg UPCOMING EVENTS IN THE COLORADO COLLEGE MUSIC DEPARTMENT Unless indicated, all concerts are in Packard Hall, are free, and require no tickets. Chamber Orchestra Bluegrass Ensemble Daniel Brink, director Keith Reed, director Tuesday, December 11 ~ 7:30 PM Thursday, December 13 ~ 7:30 PM Music at Midday Tunjung Sari Balinese Music and Dance Wednesday, December 12 ~ 12:15 PM I. Made Lasmawan, director Sunday, December 16 ~ 3:00 PM For more event information: http://www.coloradocollege.edu/newsevents/calendar/ .