music off the record: northwest sinfonietta, feb 14-16 ken owen, d.m.a
TRANSCRIPT
Music off the Record:Northwest Sinfonietta, Feb 14-16
Ken Owen, D.M.A.
A The music of grumpy men B The music of men with crazy
hair C Soundscapes D hey – who’s that 5th guy on the
end?
Guess the theme of the concert
One impulse from a vernal woodMay teach you more of man,
Of moral evil and of goodThan all the sages can.
-William Wordsworth
Soundscapes
Arthur Honegger
Born in 1892o Swisso Adult life in Paris
Not a prodigy, but a musical family Idolized Bach and Beethoven
Paris Conservatory Member of “les Six”
o Milhaud, Poulenc, Auric, Durey, Tailleferre, and Honegger
o Not as taken w/avant-garde
Composed in 1920 – Dedicated to Roland-Manuel
French composer & critic, friend of Satie & Ravel
premiered the next year Immediate success Similar atmosphere to Debussy’s
Prelude to the afternoon of a faun
Pastorale d’été
Tribute to Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony
Translation – Summer pastorale Honegger’s epigraph:
"I have embraced the dawn of summer“ http://youtu.be/v6GI9zY-Pxo
Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy
Born - 1809 in Hamburg Dad = banker in Paris Mom = very wealthy family• moved to Hamburg after marriage• 4 children, Felix = #2
Family to Berlin to avoid Napoleon conflict
Family converted to Christianity and added Bartholdy name.
Mom taught piano
10 yrs old –prominent piano teacher
Dad hired orchestra to perform his works 7 acre backyard. Portico seated
several hundred
Felix mendelssohn
Attended University Interested in literature and politics as well –
friends with Goethe “my little David who plays to me, his grouchy
old Saul, whenever I am weary with the world”
20yrs – Parents send him on 4 year travel abroad 1st England & Scotland
Adored by public and musicians Beloved socialite
“I do nothing but flirt” – always in love but no scandals.
Mendelssohn
The Hebrides Islands
Fingal’s Cave
Fingal’s Cave
Also called “Fingal’s Cave” Inspired by Mendelssohn’s trip Listen for:
rolling waves – Sweeping vistas Crashing waves
http://youtu.be/zcogD-hHEYs
The Hebrides Overture
Ralph Vaughan Williams
Born 1872 in Down Ampney (not Downton Abbey)o Father died while Ralph was a boyo Moved to London
From distinguished familieso Music part of educationo First from aunt and then Royal College
of Music Family supported early musical
endeavorso Doubted his ability for a careero Lacked self-confidence
Determined – traveled to study with Bruch Ravel
A nationalist Studied English folksong –
collected 800+ Philosophy of “musical
citizenship”
Ralph Vaughan Williams
Started in 1914 Joined the Army (WW I) same year When returned, revised Lark
Joyful poetry He is the dance of children, thanks Of sowers, shout of primrose banks And eyes of violets while they breathe; All of these the circling song will wreathe… Till Lost on his aerial rings In light, and then the fancy sings.
The Lark Ascending
Ludwig van Beethoven
Born in Bonn, Dec. 17, 1770 Trained and employed as
musician Arrived in Vienna, 1792 Studied with Haydn and others Became established pianist and
composer Died in Vienna, March 26, 1827
o 20,000 attended funeral
Many affairs but never married Recognized as genius and eccentric Totally deaf by 1820 Adopted orphan nephew in later
years Forceful, strong-willed,
uncompromising
Personal life
Beethoven loved the countryside Frequently took walks in woods and fields Expressed a religious feeling toward nature
Unique traits of the 6th (1808)
Programmatic titles I – “The awakening of joyous feelings on getting
out into the countryside” II - “Scene by the brook” III - “Merry gathering of country people” IV - “Thunderstorm” V – “Shepherd’s song. Happy and thankful
feelings after the storm”
Symphony No. 6 “Pastorale”
Unique traits 5 movements? Optimistic and peaceful tone (this is
Beethoven?)
Program music popular at the time, but not as prestigious. “more an expression of feelings than tone
painting” Written in score
Flute=nightingale Oboe = quail Clarinet=cuckoo
Symphony No. 6 “Pastorale”
3rd movement my favorite http://youtu.be/wsYM9Y62uKI
Group of country musicians 0:55 – late bassoon entrance (amateurs!) 4:00 - hoedown-like country party
4th movement Thunderstorm (I knew Beethoven was in there somewhere) Erie start – sensing the storm approaching Thunder (timpani to orch) High winds - piccolo http://youtu.be/hiCJjD5bXXQ
Symphony No. 6 “Pastorale”
Ken Owen, D.M.A. Pierce College Puyallup Music faculty The presentation is posted on my website
www.choralconductor.org Under the lectures and presentations tab
Enjoy the concert!