The Triad STUDENT, FACULTY, AND ALUMNI NEWS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC music.nd.edu SUMMER 2006 How Do You Get to Carnegie Hall? “Practice!” goes the old joke. But this year, Notre Dame students created a new punchline: Play in the Symphony Orchestra! In March, the symphony engaged in a collaborative enterprise with the Irish traditional-music ensemble the Chieftains. In Music major Vanessa Ohlrich practices her fiddle solo with Seán Keane performances at the new DeBartolo Center for the Performing of the Chieftains. Arts at Notre Dame and at New York's Carnegie Hall (the latter on St. Patrick's Day, no less), the two groups presented a program exploring a wide range of Celtic styles. Among the highlights were a witty medley of Mozart and Irish jig tunes compiled by Chieftains leader Paddy Moloney and featuring orchestra hornist Rebecca Phillips, a law student, as soloist. Rock legend Elvis Costello joined the assembled musicians on the Carnegie Hall stage as surprise guest vocal soloist in the finale of "The Long Journey Home," a multi-part rumination on the Irish immigrant experience in America. Both concerts closed with a rousing reel in which orchestra violinist Vanessa Ohlrich, a music major, took a solo turn on the fiddle. ND Student Rebecca Phillips plays the horn with the Chieftains in concert. As part of the September festivities surrounding the inauguration of Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., as the University’s new president, pianist Leon Fleisher joined the orchestra for a performance of Beethoven’s “Emperor Concerto.” In his rehearsals and in concert, as well as in a master class with undergraduate piano performance majors, Fleisher demonstrated his unique insight and personal warmth as both a teacher and player. The members of the orchestra thanked Fleisher for his generosity and spirit; he left Notre Dame also in possession of a pair of ND cufflinks he received as a gift from the ensemble, as he had forgotten to pack up his own pair at his previous stop in Asia. The orchestra is grateful for the efforts of outgoing DPAC Executive Director John Haynes in making possible these unforgettable experiences. Pianist Leon Fleisher in concert with Photography provided by the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center. the Notre Dame Symphony Orchestra. Notre Dame Music Around the World Summer 2005 found seven members of the Notre Dame Marching Band (Katie Lawler, Katie Kimar, Trevor Gass, Courtney Lare, Isaac Ruiz, Tim Beaubien, and Kathleen Zadzora) in New Zealand. Each taught band and an academic subject at a boys and girls high school in Hastings, a community located about 200 miles south of Auckland. While exploring New Zealand, the students took courses in Maori Studies (the native culture), learning the music and chant rituals. The Notre Dame Chorale toured New Zealand in May 2005, presenting four concerts in South Island. The tour was so successful that Director Alexander Blachly is planning another tour for late May 2007. This year, the Notre Dame Glee Club toured the United States making stops in Ohio, Illinois, Kansas, Iowa, and California. This fall they will continue their stateside tour in the Carolinas and Southeast. For more Glee Club news and information about their upcoming alumni reunion in September 2006, visit their website at gleeclub.nd.edu. Continuing the Department’s trek around the globe, the Notre Dame Concert Band toured Austria and the Czech Republic in May 2006 after Commencement. The band performed in many different venues, including the Mozarteum in Salzburg and Smetena Hall in Prague, in honor of the Mandy Mouton, Mike Siembor, Eric Sauer, and Lisa Bonkowski 250th anniversary of Mozart’s birth. Students took in the sights and from the Notre Dame Band pose with a Maori sounds as they explored the rich music history of Vienna, Salzburg, Prague, Tribesman in Roorua, New Zealand. Munich, Innsbruck, and Kremsmünster. Organists Invade the Netherlands Professor Craig Cramer, six undergraduate organ students, and two graduate students enrolled in the Master of Sacred Music program journeyed to the Nether- lands in June 2006. "The Netherlands is an organ-rich country with one of the highest concentrations of pre-19th century organs in the world,” says Cramer, who led similar tours of historic European organs in 2001 and 2003. “These old organs are our best teachers. The music just comes alive under your fingers when you play antique instruments." During the tour the students studied the case designs, organ-building techniques, and sounds of different instruments from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. They prepared pieces to match the instruments that they encountered during the tour. Students received generous support from Learning Beyond the Classroom (formerly known as the Undergraduate Intellectual Initiative), the Institute for Scholarship in the Liberal Arts, and the Graduate School. Housed in the College of Arts and Notre Dame graduate student Thomas Mueller Letters, LBC and ISLA provide funding to faculty and students in support of cultural plays the Purmerend organ of Koepelkerk. excursions, travel to conferences, and other activities aimed at enhancing teaching and student learning beyond the classroom. "It is gratifying that the College of Arts and Letters supports travel and research for faculty and students,” Cramer says. “It was a fabulous musical and learning experi- ence for everyone in the group because there is no substitute for playing historic music on old organs." The highlight of the tour was a visit to the 1696 Schnitger organ in Noordbroek. This organ served as the case model for the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center O'Malley organ, which was built by Paul Fritts and Company and has proven to be a magnificent addition to the musical and cultural life of the campus. Cramer notes "the new Fritts organ has transformed organ study at Notre Dame. Its lively wind system, sensitive key action, stunning appearance, and warm sound have The Schnitger organ in Noordbroek, the model completely captivated everyone who has come into contact with the instrument. for the O’Malley organ on campus. Notre Dame should be proud to own a masterpiece of the organ-building art." Photography provided by Eleanore Strong. Community Outreach Notre Dame’s Department of Currently, six Notre Dame music Bandlink Music takes undergraduate educa- students give piano lessons to 17 In an effort to provide musical tion as its primary focus. By children at the Robinson Center. instruction for and foster musical allowing students to work closely Music professors Ethan Haimo and appreciation in students who with a faculty composed of world- Paul Johnson have also taught normally would not receive such class musicians and scholars, the piano there. Fees for the lessons are exposure, Bandlink pairs music Department nurtures their love of nominal or may be waived entirely majors and members of the Notre music and prepares them for depending on financial circum- Dame marching band with whatever paths they may choose. stances. The children have made students from two of South Bend's But this education doesn’t take tremendous improvements in their Catholic elementary schools, Holy place in isolation from the campus skills in the last two years to the Cross and Christ the King. The and local communities. Instead, point where they hope to play in a mentors and their pupils meet the Department looks for innova- small recital next spring. The twice per week for instruction and tive ways to bring its love of music Department of Music thanks on Sunday nights for ensemble to as many people as possible. Patricia Collins Jones for supervis- practice. The culmination of these ing the program over the past efforts can be seen in the concerts Robinson Community several years. performed at the end of each Learning Center semester. In 2005-2006, more than The Robinson Community Learning 40 Notre Dame students and 40 Center was created to strengthen young musicians made up the the relationship between South heart of Bandlink. Bend’s Northeast Neighborhood and the University of Notre Dame. Activities and educational opportu- nities surrounding health, culture, and faith are used to enhance each other’s quality of life and encour- age development and sharing of personal gifts. Music & the DPAC Thanks to the growth of artistic venues on campus, the Department of Music can In September 2004, the DeBartolo host a greater variety of events. This timeline displays a sampling of the recent Performing Arts Center (DPAC) classical and educational music experiences enjoyed by music students and faculty. opened its doors with a grand community celebration. Home to Chamber music students participate in a master class with the Leighton Concert Hall, the Reyes 6 Abram Loft, Professor Emeritus of the Eastman School of Organ and Choral Hall with its new 00 2 Music, former member of the Fine Arts Quartet, and judge ay Fritts organ, the Philbin Studio M of the 2006 Fischoff National Chamber Music Association Theatre, the Browning Cinema, and Competition. the Decio Mainstage Theatre, the DPAC has brought new visibility to The Notre Dame Chamber Players perform a program of 6 00 the variety of musical performances 2 Mozart and Schumann with guests from the string faculty ry on campus. The facility also houses ua of the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University. br the offices of music performance Fe American Guild of Organists Pedagogy Conference is held faculty members Alexander Blachly, 5 at Notre Dame and piano majors attend a master class Craig Cramer, and Daniel Stowe. All 00 r 2 with Leon Fleisher, internationally-known concert pianist. music department ensemble be m concerts are now performed in the te ep The Notre Dame Chamber Players perform the works of DeBartolo Performing Arts Center.