PROGRAM

THURSDAY-SATURDAY, MEDLEY o f AZERBAIJANI : SHUSHTAR OCTOBER 6-8, 8PM Kamila Nabiyeva, vocals Miralam Miralamov, mugham vocals SATURDAY, Rauf Islamov, OCTOBER 8, 2PM Zaki Valiyev, MEANY HALL

LAYLA a n d MAJNUN (World Premiere) Music by Uzeyir Hajibeyli (1885-1948), arranged by , Johnny Gandelsman, Colin Jacobsen MEDLEY of AZERBAIJANI Layla: Fargana Qasimova, mugham vocals MUSIC: SHUSHTAR Majnun: Alim Qasimov, mugham vocals All pieces in this medley are tar kamancheh clarinet pipa Zaki Valiyev, ; Rauf Islamov, ; Evan Ziporyn, ; Wu Man, ; based on the melodic patterns Shane Shanahan; percussion; Michi Wiancko, violin; Jessie Montgomery, violin; Max Mandel, viola; Karen Ouzounian, cello; Shawn Conley, bass of Shushtar, which is one of the major of Azerbaijani ACT I LOVE and SEPARATION music. The composition proceeds from the melancholic Layla: Stacy Martorana Majnun: Dallas McMurray and sad to the upbeat and Sam Black, Rita Donahue, Lesley Garrison, Lauren Grant, Brian Lawson, playful; such development is Aaron Loux, Laurel Lynch, Billy Smith, Noah Vinson, Michelle Yard highly typical for Azerbaijani traditional music. The medley ACT II THE PARENTS’ DISAPPROVAL opens with a famous folk , “Loneliness is painful,” which is Layla: Nicole Sabella Majnun: Domingo Estrada Jr. about the love and longing for Layla’s Parents: Lauren Grant, Noah Vinson the beloved. This second part Majnun’s Parents: Michelle Yard, Billy Smith of this composition features the actual mugham Shushtar, Sam Black, Lesley Garrison, Brian Lawson, where both singers and Stacy Martorana, Dallas McMurray, Brandon Randolph instrumentalists demonstrate

ACT III SORROW and DESPAIR their ability to improvise. Mugham Shushtar is followed Layla: Laurel Lynch Majnun: Aaron Loux by a traditional song known as tasnif. A tasnif is a romance- Rita Donahue, Domingo Estrada Jr., Lauren Grant, Brian Lawson, Stacy Martorana, Dallas McMurray, like lyrical song that is usually Nicole Sabella, Billy Smith, Noah Vinson, Michelle Yard performed within mugham composition. Tasnif “Come to ACT IV LAYLA’S UNWANTED WEDDING me, my deer” is a joyful and humorous expression of love. Layla: Lesley Garrison Majnun: Sam Black The title and the of this The Husband: Durell R. Comedy last piece feature a common Layla’s Parents: Lauren Grant, Noah Vinson metaphor of Azerbaijani poetry, a comparison of a beautiful Rita Donahue, Domingo Estrada Jr., Aaron Loux, girl to a deer. This medley Nicole Sabella, Billy Smith, Michelle Yard therefore features three vocal ACT V THE LOVERS’ DEMISE genres typical for the traditional and of — Layla: Stacy Martorana, Nicole Sabella, Laurel Lynch, Lesley Garrison mugham, tasnif and folk song. Majnun: Dallas McMurray, Domingo Estrada Jr., Aaron Loux, Sam Black

Layla’s Parents: Lauren Grant, Noah Vinson Majnun’s Parents: Michelle Yard, Billy Smith