1109 Escher String Quartet Program Notes 11 9

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

1109 Escher String Quartet Program Notes 11 9 Program Notes – Escher String Quartet Sponsored by the W. Ford Schumann '50 Performing Arts Endowment Chacony in G minor for String Quartet (c. 1678, arr. 1947–8, rev. 1963) Henry Purcell, arr. Benjamin Britten English composer Henry Purcell (1659-1695) wrote vocal and instrumental music for court, church, and theatre. While the exact year of composition of the Chacony in G minor is unknown, scholars speculate that it belongs in the repertory for the Twenty-Four Violins. As a young man, Henry Purcell obtained the post of composer for this court ensemble of strings and basso continuo. The unusual term “Chacony” identifies the composition as a chaconne involving a repeated eight-measure harmonic progression containing variations primarily in the upper three voices. Benjamin Britten’s (1913-1976) fascination with Purcell is evident in the extensive publications of his arrangements, editions, and realizations of the Baroque composer’s output. Although most of these collections are vocal works with piano or orchestral accompaniment, the Chacony in G minor was one of two instrumental arrangements Britten completed based on Purcell’s work. Unlike the continuo realizations in many of his vocal arrangements, the Chacony leaves no harmonic stamp of Britten’s 20th-century style. Instead, this version for string orchestra or quartet (with or without harpsichord) contains an expressive dynamic structure and modified dotted rhythms. Quartet No. 2 in C major for Strings, Op. 36 (1945) Benjamin Britten Even before the tribute of the Chacony in G minor, Benjamin Britten’s second of three string quartets was composed for the 250th anniversary of Purcell’s death. Whereas the Chacony is clearly an arrangement that preserves the essence of an older style, the Quartet reflects Britten’s bold musical language following experiences abroad during World War II. Commissioned by Mary Behrend, a patron of the Aldeburgh Festival, the Quartet was first performed by the Zorian Quartet at Wigmore Hall in London. Britten wrote to Behrend, “To my mind it is the greatest advance I have yet made.” In accordance with the Classical string quartet tradition, Britten uses sonata form for the first movement. However, the exposition is significantly longer than the recapitulation, and the latter presents the themes simultaneously. The Vivace is an exploration of active ostinato patterns and gestures in waves. The third movement is the longest part of the composition, its name referencing the Chacony form of Henry Purcell. The ground bass is introduced in unison at the opening, but this material appears in various instruments throughout the movement. Britten divides sections with several solo cadenzas, creating a larger-scale structure than Purcell employed in his Chacony. “Se la mia morte brami” from Madrigali libro sesto (1611) and Illumina faciem tuam (1603) Carlo Gesualdo, arr. Pierre Lapointe Carlo Gesualdo (c1561-1613), the Prince of Venosa and Count of Conza, is infamous for engaging assassins to help him murder his wife and her lover. However, his reputation as a man does not overshadow his legacy as an unorthodox composer of the Italian Renaissance. He took textual expression to the extreme, often sacrificing the contrapuntal rules that would make his music far easier to sing. In these arrangements, violist Pierre Lapointe modifies two five-voice compositions for string quartet, capturing the essence of Gesualdo in order to relate it to later works for the string quartet medium. From Gesualdo’s sixth book of madrigals, “Se la mia morte brami” includes the disorienting chromaticism, diminished intervals, and abrupt transitions that characterize his style. The anguished cries on “crudel” (“cruel”) are followed by sweet sonorities that portray a happy death (perhaps with the double entendre common in madrigals of this period). Even in the wordless version for string quartet, the heightened activity near the end announces the departure of the soul. English translation: If you desire my death, cruel one, I shall die happy and after death adore you alone. But if you desire that I not love you, ah, with but the thought alone, grief kills me, and my soul departs. The motet Illumina faciem tuam is unusually consonant for Gesualdo. Though it resembles the pristine sound of Palestrina at first, Gesualdo’s striking departures include large leaps, striking 9-8 suspensions, and a few chromatic shifts near the conclusion of the motet. English translation: Let thy face shine upon thy servant; save me in thy kindness. O Lord, let me not be put to shame, for I have called upon you. Quartet in A minor for Strings, Op. 132 (1825) Ludwig van Beethoven Though Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) composed 16 string quartets, he wrote none between 1810 and 1822. The cellist Prince Golitsïn from St. Petersburg commissioned several quartets in 1822, but the first in E flat was not finished until 1825. Although Beethoven began the A minor quartet next, a serious gastric illness in April delayed his compositional process. The Schuppanzigh Quartet premiered it privately in September and publicly in November. Written in Beethoven’s last two years, the late string quartets are full of deep inward exploration. The forebodings of his illness, frustrations of his deafness, and anxiety about his nephew Karl all contributed to new forms of expression. The achingly beautiful third movement of this quartet, entitled “Heiliger Dankgesang eines Genesenen an die Gottheit, in der lydischen Tonart” (“Song of Thanksgiving to the Deity from a convalescent in the Lydian mode”), is the center of five movements with the symmetrical key scheme of A minor–A major–F major–A major–A minor. The haunting opening of the first movement sets the stage with harmonically-ambiguous semitones that develop into a rich A minor tonality. A virtuosic violin solo leads into a memorable theme, but without the settled impression that often accompanies the first theme of an Allegro movement. The juxtaposition of enigmatic, bright, and anguished moments in this movement foreshadow the journey yet to come. The second movement is essentially a minuet and trio, though the sparse texture adds a degree of introspection to the dance form. The trio contains a sustained tone with sweet meanderings in a high register. This affect remains even when staccato chords replace the pedal tone, but a surprising venture into C sharp minor interrupts the mood. The “Heiliger Dankgesang” in the third movement is an ethereal prayer that alternates with a whimsical Andante to create another symmetrical five-part structure. Based on the Lydian church mode (containing white notes on the piano between F and F), the unhurried lyrical sections are devoid of accidentals. In fact, this contemplative sound world may remind listeners of the living composer Arvo Pärt. One might also find a link to Carlo Gesualdo’s unconstrained way of reaching the divine. The fourth movement’s proud march brings the listener back to a world more often associated with Beethoven. The regular phrase lengths and dominant-tonic relationships hearken back to the composer’s earlier works, yet an operatic violin recitative brings a startling passion to the end and leads into a darker final movement. The fifth movement visits major keys between instances of the A-minor rondo theme, but there is always an underlying sense of fear. Still, Beethoven chooses to end the entire quartet with a joyful A major and a lively tempo. – Sarah Riskind The Escher String Quartet The ensemble takes its name from Dutch graphic artist M.C. Escher and draws inspiration from the artist’s method of interplay between individual components working together to form a whole. This philosophy has worked well for the group. According the the Boston Globe, "Finely honed technique and a focused ensemble blend are this group's strong suits...a dark ambrosial brew all its own." The Escher String Quartet has received acclaim for its individual sound, inspired artistic decisions and unique cohesiveness. Championed by members of the Emerson String Quartet, the group were proud to be BBC New Generation Artists for 2010-2012. Having completed a three-year residency as artists of The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s “CMS Two” program, the ensemble has already performed at prestigious venues and festivals around the world including Alice Tully Hall, the 92nd Street Y and Symphony Space in New York, Kennedy Center, the Louvre, Ravinia and Caramoor Festivals, Music@Menlo, West Cork Chamber Music Festival, Wigmore Hall, the City of London Festival and a tour of China including Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou. Within months of its inception in 2005, the Escher String Quartet was invited by both Pinchas Zukerman and Itzhak Perlman to be the quartet-in-residence at each artist's summer festival: The Young Artists Programme at Canada’s National Arts Centre and The Perlman Chamber Music Program on Shelter Island, NY. The Eschers have since collaborated with artists such as Andrés Diaz, Lawrence Dutton, Kurt Elling, David Finckel, Leon Fleisher, Vadim Gluzman, Benjamin Grosvenor, Wu Han, Gary Hoffman, Joseph Kalichstein, David Shifrin, Joseph Silverstein, and Pinchas Zukerman. In August 2012 the Quartet gave their BBC Proms debut, performing Hugh Wood’s 4th String Quartet. In 2012-2013 the Quartet will complete their final BBC New Generation Artists recording project in London, as well as returning to the Wigmore Hall following their successful debut there in February 2012. They will continue their relationship with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, curating and performing a series of concerts celebrating the 100th anniversary of Britten’s birth. Their tours in Europe include a date with the prestigious Agence de concerts et spectacles Cecilia in Geneva, their Austrian debut in Eisenstadt, and concerts at several UK festivals including Paxton and Gregynog. 2012-2013 releases include the complete Zemlinsky Quartets on Naxos; the Escher String Quartet will also record the complete Mendelssohn Quartets for release by BIS.
Recommended publications
  • Use of the Simultaneous Cross-Relation by Sixteenth Century English and Continental Composers Tim Montgomery
    University of Richmond UR Scholarship Repository Honors Theses Student Research 1968 Use of the simultaneous cross-relation by sixteenth century English and continental composers Tim Montgomery Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarship.richmond.edu/honors-theses Part of the Musicology Commons Recommended Citation Montgomery, Tim, "Use of the simultaneous cross-relation by sixteenth century English and continental composers" (1968). Honors Theses. 1033. https://scholarship.richmond.edu/honors-theses/1033 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Research at UR Scholarship Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Honors Theses by an authorized administrator of UR Scholarship Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. USE OF THE SIMULTANEOUS CROSS-RELATION BY SIXTEENTH CENTURY ENGLISH AND CONTINENTAL COMPOSERS Tim Montgomery Music H 391 LmnARY ~tJ=N-IVE-R-·SJTY OF RICHMOND YIRGINIA 2317S The principle of the s~multaneous cross-relation in vocal music has generally and commonly been associated with the English composers of the sixteenth century.(M p.71; R 824 n.J4) This ~ssumption has been more specifically connected with secular music, namely the English madrigal.(Dy p.13) To find the validity of this assumption in relation to both secular and sacred music I have C()mpared the available vocal music of three English composers, two major and one minor: Thomas Tallis (1505-1585), William Byrd (1.543-1623), and Thomas Whythorne (1528-1596). In deciding whether the simultaneous cross-relation was an aspect of English music exclusively, I examined vocal music of three composers of the continent, con­ temporaries of the English, for the use, if any, of the simul­ taneous cross-relation.
    [Show full text]
  • Phrase Painting and Goal Orientation in Two Late Gesualdo Madrigals
    CORE Metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk Provided by IUScholarWorks Phrase Painting and Goal Orientation In Two Late Gesualdo Madrigals MICHAEL E BURDICK I The late madrigals of Carlo Gesualdo have challenged the minds and ears of theorists for over three centuries. This challenge comes largely from the unorthodox type of chromatic harmony that we find in certain passages-a chromaticism that seems to belie its own place in the history of Western music. Of the late madrigals of Gesualdo, two of the most frequently quoted and analyzed are "Io pur respiro" and "Moro lasso" from his sixth book of madrigals. These two works, likewise, are the focus of at­ tention in this article. It is not the intent of this paper to attempt an explana­ tion of Gesualdo's unique chromaticism in terms of the harmonic practices of the Renaissance or Baroque periods. This has already been attempted by numerous authors over the years, with highly diversified and controversial results. However, some of these results will be presented here as a preliminary setting to the principal goal of this paper, which is to examine two structural principles in operation in these madrigals that offer to give greater understanding and meaning to the chord progressions themselves. Perhaps the most objective attempt to catalogue Gesualdo's chromaticism in a stylistic approach can be found in John Clough's article "The Leading Tone in Direct TWO GESUALDO MADRIGALS 17 Chromaticism: From Renaissance to Baroque."l The article gives a summary of different types of chromatic progres­ sions, with the emphasis on chromatic-third relationships (the chromatic-third progression being the salient feature of Gesualdo's more unconventional chromatic progressions).
    [Show full text]
  • Download Booklet
    572813 bk Zemlinsky EU_572813 bk Zemlinsky EU 23/05/2013 13:45 Page 4 Escher String Quartet Alexander Adam Barnett-Hart, Violin I • Wu Jie, Violin II • Pierre Lapointe, Viola • Dane Johansen, Cello Championed by the Emerson String Quartet, the Escher String ZEMLINSKY Quartet players were BBC New Generation Artists from 2010- 2012, giving débuts at both the Wigmore Hall and the BBC Proms String Quartets • 1 at Cadogan Hall. In their home town of New York, the quartet recently completed a three-year Escher String Quartet Rising Stars residency at The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. Within months of its inception in 2005, the Escher Quartet was invited by both Pinchas Zukerman and Itzhak Perlman to be Quartet-in-Residence at each artist’s summer festival: the Young Artists Programme at Canada’s National Arts Centre; and the Perlman Chamber Music Program on Shelter Island, NY. Photo: Henry Fair In addition, the quartet has collaborated with artists such as Andrés Diaz, Lawrence Dutton, Kurt Elling, Leon Fleisher, Anja Lechner, Vadim Gluzman, Angela Yoffe, Gary Hoffman, Joseph Kalichstein, Kurt Muroki, Joseph Silverstein, Khatia Buniatishvili, Benjamin Grosvenor and Matthew Hunt, as well pop folk singer-songwriter Luke Temple. Recent performances include appearances at the Cheltenham, Lichfield and City of London Festivals, the Auditorium du Louvre in Paris, 92nd Street Y in New York, the Kennedy Center in Washington DC and the Ravinia and Caramoor festivals. Elsewhere, the quartet undertook a tour of China including Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou, and made its Australian début with Brett Dean at the Perth International Arts Festival.
    [Show full text]
  • Multiple Choice
    Unit 4: Renaissance Practice Test 1. The Renaissance may be described as an age of A. the “rebirth” of human creativity B. curiosity and individualism C. exploration and adventure D. all of the above 2. The dominant intellectual movement of the Renaissance was called A. paganism B. feudalism C. classicism D. humanism 3. The intellectual movement called humanism A. treated the Madonna as a childlike unearthly creature B. focused on human life and its accomplishments C. condemned any remnant of pagan antiquity D. focused on the afterlife in heaven and hell 4. The Renaissance in music occurred between A. 1000 and 1150 B. 1150 and 1450 C. 1450 and 1600 D. 1600 and 1750 5. Which of the following statements is not true of the Renaissance? A. Musical activity gradually shifted from the church to the court. B. The Catholic church was even more powerful in the Renaissance than during the Middle Ages. C. Every educated person was expected to be trained in music. D. Education was considered a status symbol by aristocrats and the upper middle class. 6. Many prominent Renaissance composers, who held important posts all over Europe, came from an area known at that time as A. England B. Spain C. Flanders D. Scandinavia 7. Which of the following statements is not true of Renaissance music? A. The Renaissance period is sometimes called “the golden age” of a cappella choral music because the music did not need instrumental accompaniment. B. The texture of Renaissance music is chiefly polyphonic. C. Instrumental music became more important than vocal music during the Renaissance.
    [Show full text]
  • Escher String Quartet String Quartets: No
    MENDELSSOHN · ESCHER STRING QUARTET STRING QUARTETS: NO. 5 IN E FLAT MAJOR & NO. 6 IN F MAJOR Front cover from left: Pierre Lapointe, Adam Barnett-Hart, Aaron Boyd, Dane Johansen BIS-2160 BIS-2160 booklet cover.indd 1 2016-01-29 14:29 MENDELSSOHN BARTHOLDY, Felix (1809–47) Quartet No.5 in E flat major 34'50 Op.44 No.3, MWV R28 (1837–38) 1 I. Allegro vivace 13'22 2 II. Scherzo. Assai leggiero e vivace 4'05 3 III. Adagio non troppo 8'34 4 IV. Molto allegro con fuoco 8'40 from Four Pieces for String Quartet, Op.81 5 3. Capriccio (Andante con moto – Allegro fugato assai vivace) in E minor, MWV R32 (1843) 5'37 6 4. Fugue (A tempo ordinario) in E flat major, MWV R23 (1827) 5'00 Quartet No.6 in F minor, Op.80, MWV R37 (1847) 25'02 7 I. Allegro vivace assai – Presto 7'05 8 II. Allegro assai 4'14 9 III. Adagio 7'52 10 IV. Finale. Allegro molto 5'44 TT: 71'17 Escher String Quartet Adam Barnett-Hart violin · Aaron Boyd violin Pierre Lapointe viola · Dane Johansen cello 3 he quartet has always been regarded as the purest and noblest of mu sical genres, which in particular heightens, educates, refines our appre cia tion ‘Tof music and, with the tiniest of means, achieves the ut most. Its clarity and transparency, which no trickery can cloak, make quartet music the surest yard- stick for measuring genuine composers; in renouncing the sensual lures of sound effects and contrasts, it highlights the gift of musical invention and the art of exploiting a musical idea.
    [Show full text]
  • John Gilhooly
    A RARE INTERVIEW WITH JOHN GILHOOLY PLUS SPRING SCHUMANN PERSPECTIVES 2018 PEKKA KUUSISTO RESIDENCY JAN ÁČEK’S INSTRUMENTAL WORKS FRIENDS OF OF FRIENDS YOUR 2018/19 DATES INSIDE John Gilhooly’s vision for Wigmore Hall extends far into the next decade and beyond. He outlines further dynamic plans to develop artistic quality, financial stability and audience diversity. JOHN GILHOOLY IN CONVERSATION WITH CLASSICAL MUSIC JOURNALIST, ANDY STEWART. FUTURE COMMITMENT “I’M IN FOR THE LONG HAUL!” Wigmore Hall’s Chief Executive and Artistic Director delivers the makings of a modern manifesto in eight words. “This is no longer a hall for hire,” says John Gilhooly, “or at least, very rarely”. The headline leads to a summary of the new season, its themed concerts, special projects, artist residencies and Learning events, programmed in partnership with an array of world-class artists and promoted by Wigmore Hall. It also prefaces a statement of intent by a well-liked, creative leader committed to remain in post throughout the next decade, determined to realise a long list of plans and priorities. “I am excited about the future,” says John, “and I am very grateful for the ongoing help and support of the loyal audience who have done so much already, especially in the past 15 years.” 2 WWW.WIGMORE-HALL.ORG.UK | FRIENDS OFFICE 020 7258 8230 ‘ The Hall is a magical place. I love it. I love the artists, © Kaupo Kikkas © Kaupo the music, the staff and the A glance at next audience. There are so many John’s plans for season’s highlights the Hall pave the confirms the strength characters who add to the way for another 15 and quality of an colour and complexion of the years of success.
    [Show full text]
  • The Transcriber's Art – #51 Josquin
    The Transcriber’s Art – #51 Josquin des Prez by Richard Yates “Take Five. There's a certain piece that if we don’t play, we’re in trouble.” —Dave Brubek It was a familiar situation: deep in the stacks, surrounded by ancient scores, browsing for music that might find artful expression through the guitar. Perusing pages of choral music, I was suddenly struck by the realization that what I was doing was precisely what lutenists 400 years ago had done. While not exactly déjà vu, there was a strong sense of threading my way along paths first explored centuries ago. And if I was struggling with this source material, did they also? What solutions did they find and what tricks did they devise? What can we learn from them to help solve the puzzle of intabulating Renaissance vocal polyphony? The 16th century saw the gradual evolution of musical ideals that culminated in the works of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525–94). Polyphonic music was to be a smooth, effortless flow of independent voices. Predominant stepwise movement emphasized continuity of individual lines but without drawing undue attention to any particular one. Dissonance was largely confined to the weak beats and passing tones or softened through suspensions. With its unique capacity for continuous modulation of timbre, pitch and volume, the human voice was exquisitely suited to this style. The articulation of syllables, true legato and subtle, unobtrusive portamento that connects phonemes and that is inherent in singing all facilitated the tracking of voices through a closely woven texture. Renaissance choral music is inextricably bound up with, and dependent on, the qualities of human voice.
    [Show full text]
  • Gesualdo Cruel Ecstasy City 2021 PROG-2
    City Summer Sounds 21 June 2021, 7pm Festival Concert Filmed at Holy Trinity Hoxton EXAUDI Gesualdo: Cruel Ecstasy Programme Carlo Gesualdo (1566-1613): Madrigals from Books V and VI (1611) Gioite voi col canto (Libro V) Itene, o miei sospiri (V) Deh, come invan sospiro ‘Io parto’, e non più dissi (VI) Asciugate i begli occhi (V) Patrick Hegarty (*1996): Recitation (2019) Gesualdo: Madrigals from Books V and VI Se la mia morte brami (VI) O dolorosa gioia (V) Al mio gioir (VI) Mille volte il dì (VI) Tu piangi, o Filli mia (VI) Languisce al fin chi da la vita parte (V) EXAUDI Juliet Fraser soprano Lucy Goddard mezzo Tom Williams countertenor Stephen Jeffes, David de Winter tenor Jimmy Holliday bass James Weeks director The Department of Music at City, University of London, would like to thank Fr Andrew Newcombe at Holy Trinity Hoxton for his generosity in hosting this event. Notes on the Music Gesualdo: Madrigals from Books V and VI Four hundred years after his death, Carlo Gesualdo, Prince of Venosa, remains the most tantalising of musicians, the most alluring of myths. We are drawn back to the dark flame of this strange, obsessive music like moths to the candle, like lovers who can’t let go. At the heart of his work we sense a mystery, an inward-turning, a kind of silence: its extreme chromatic harmonies and wild polarities no mere artifice or exoticism, but emanating from a soul whose nature is other, lying apart from us, outside our cosmology, orbiting a different sun. This is music which begets myths, and its composer’s sad and troubled life supplies plenty.
    [Show full text]
  • Even String Quartets— No Longer Sit in Chairs When
    It’s not a huge FINE, auprising, but a number of Upst ensembles—nding even string quartets— no longer sit in chairs when EMPIRE BRASS performing. What’s it all about? 26 may/june 2010 a ENSEMBLES ike most art forms, chamber music PROS by Judith Kogan performance has evolved to reflect For many people, it’s simply more com- Upst ndingchanges in society and technology. fortable to play standing up. It’s how we’re L As instruments developed greater power to taught to play and how we perform as solo- project, performances moved from small ists. Standing, it’s easier to establish good chambers to larger spaces, where professional posture with the instrument. musicians played to paying audiences. New Standing also allows freedom to express instrumentations, such as the saxophone with the whole body. With arms, shoulders quartet and the percussion ensemble, and waist liberated, a player’s range of motion emerged. By the late twentieth century, expands. For wind players, there’s better composers had recast what was once thought air flow. The ability to turn the whole body of as “intimate musical conversation” to in- makes it easier to communicate with other corporate abrasive electronically-produced ensemble members and the audience. One sonorities. Some works called for musi- arguably feels the rhythm of a piece better cians to wear headphones with click tracks, on one’s feet, and, perhaps unconsciously, preventing them from hearing each other. produces a bigger, fatter sound. Sometimes they couldn’t even hear them- In terms of acoustics, sound travels farther selves.
    [Show full text]
  • Calendarmailerfinal:Layout 1
    Jon Manasse Boston Cello Quartet Julian Schwarz Jon Nakamatsu Martin Beaver Amit Peled Cypress String Quartet Stephanie Chase Yeesun Kim Curtis on Tour Emerson String Quartet Natasha Paremski Noreen Polera Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Dennis & Yarmouth Wellfleet & Provincetown Cotuit & Orleans Chatham Wellfleet Wellfleet Cape Cod Gala July 21, Wellfleet 7:30pm July 29, Orleans 7:30pm July 31 7:30pm Sunday, July 27 ~ 6pm Curtis On Tour features a string chamber Boston Cello Quartet Jon Manasse, CLARINET Blaise Déjardin Adam Esbensen Join us for a festive evening at our orchestra performing Antonio Vivaldi’s iconic Emerson String Quartet Cape Cod Gala! Featuring music by The Four Seasons paired with Ástor Piazzolla’s Mihail Jojatu Alexandre Lecarme tango masterpieces Cuatro Estaciones W.A. MOZART Overture to The Abduction from the Eugene Drucker, VIOLIN Philip Setzer, VIOLIN the Manasse/Nakamatsu Duo. Cocktails Seraglio Porteñas (The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires) Lawrence Dutton, VIOLA Paul Watkins, CELLO at 6, music at 6:45 followed by a full F. MENDELSSOHN Scherzo from A Midsummer buffet dinner. featuring celebrated Curtis alumna violinist Night’s Dream J. HAYDN String Quartet in G Minor; Opus 20 No. Elissa Lee Koljonen (’94). C. DEBUSSY Reverie 3, Hob. III.33 Jon Manasse, CLARINET D. POPPER Suite for Two Cellos, Opus 16 W. A. MOZART Quintet in A Major for Clarinet and The proceeds from this concert will help fund Jon Nakamatsu, PIANO E. CHABRIER España, rapsodie pour orchestra Strings, K. 581 Luis Ortiz, PIANO the restoration of the late 18th-early 19th J. WILLIAMS Theme from Angela’s Ashes century “Church Bass” that has been in the L.
    [Show full text]
  • Vivianfung|Composer
    vivianfung|Composer “Her music ... summons images of dusk and reaches for hidden places and states of mind.” San Jose Mercury News Vivian Fung Phone: (917) 535-0050 Email: [email protected] Website: www.vivianfung.net Vivian Fung has distinguished herself as a composer with a unique and powerful compositional voice. Since earning her doctorate from The Juilliard School in 2002, she has forged her own approach often merging western forms with non-western vivianfung|Composer influences such as Balinese and Javanese gamelan and folk songs from minority regions of China. The New “…as vital as encountering Steve Reich or the York Times has described her work as ―evocative,‖ Kronos for the first time.” and The Strad hails her Uighur-influenced music to be The Strad ―as vital as encountering Steve Reich or the Kronos for the first time.‖ Chicago Tribune described Fung‘s Yunnan Folk Songs as conveying ―a winning rawness that went beyond exoticism.‖ Fung has traveled extensively for her work. In 2004, she traveled to Bali, Indonesia Highlights of Fung's recent world as part of the Asia Pacific Performance Exchange premieres include: her Violin Concerto for Kristin Program, sponsored by the UCLA Center for Lee and Grammy nominated Metropolis Ensemble, Intercultural Performance. In summer 2010, as an Dust Devils commissioned by the Eastern Music ensemble member of Gamelan Dharma Swara, she Festival celebrating their 50th anniversary, Yunnan completed a performance tour of Bali including Folk Songs by Fulcrum Point New Music Project in competing in the Bali Arts Festival. Chicago; new choral works by the acclaimed Suwon Civic Chorale in South Korea; Chant by pianist Fung‘s works have increasingly Margaret Leng Tan at the Museum of Modern Art in become part of the core repertoire.
    [Show full text]
  • Vivaldi Explosion Program
    The following program notes may only be used in conjunction with the one-time streaming term for the corresponding Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center (CMS) Front Row National program, with the following credit(s): Program notes by Laura Keller, CMS Editorial Manager © 2020 Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Any other use of these materials in connection with non-CMS concerts or events is prohibited. VIVALDI EXPLOSION PROGRAM ANTONIO VIVALDI (1678-1741) Sonata in A minor for Cello and Continuo, RV 43 (c. 1739) Largo Allegro Largo Allegro Efe Baltacigil, cello; Dane Johansen, cello; Paul O’Dette, lute; John Gibbons, harpsichord VIVALDI Concerto in G minor for Flute, Oboe, and Bassoon, RV 103 Allegro ma cantabile Largo Allegro non molto Sooyun Kim, flute; Stephen Taylor, oboe; Bram van Sambeek, bassoon VIVALDI Concerto in F major for Three Violins, Strings, and Continuo, RV 551 (1711) Allegro Andante Allegro Todd Phillips, violin; Bella Hristova, violin; Chad Hoopes, violin; Sean Lee, violin; Aaron Boyd, violin; Pierre Lapointe, viola; Timothy Eddy, cello; Anthony Manzo, bass; Michael Sponseller, harpsichord --INTERMISSION (Discussion with artists)-- VIVALDI Sonata in D minor for Two Violins and Continuo, RV 63, “La Follia” (published c. 1705) Adam Barnett-Hart, violin; Aaron Boyd, violin; Brook Speltz, cello; Jason Vieaux, guitar VIVALDI Concerto in D major for Mandolin, Strings, and Continuo, RV 93 (1730-31) Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Allegro giusto Largo Allegro Avi Avital, mandolin; Paul Huang, violin; Danbi Um, violin; Ani Kavafian, violin; Chad Hoopes, violin; Mihai Marica, cello; Daniel McDonough, cello; Anthony Manzo, bass; Jiayan Sun, harpsichord NOTES ON THE PROGRAM Violin virtuosity reached a new height around the year 1700.
    [Show full text]