PROGRAM
Johann Strauss II (1825-1899): Frühlingsstimmen (“Voices of Spring”) (comp. 1882)
Aaron Copland (1900-1990): Appalachian Spring Suite for full orchestra (comp. 1945)
INTERMISSION
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827): Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68, “Pastoral” (comp. 1808)
“Maestro’s Musings” for April 21, 2024
Thank you for joining us for this Celebration of Spring! I hope you will enjoy our musical menu this evening, because not only are we in the first few weeks of spring, but we also will commemorate Earth Day on April 22. Not all music in a concert to welcome spring must have the word “spring” in its title, but two of the most appropriate compositions for the occasion just happen to be Frühlingsstimmen (Voices of Spring) and Appalachian Spring!
Johann Strauss, Jr. (1825-1899) was (and forever shall be) known as “The Waltz King” of the musical capital of the world, Vienna, Austria. He composed over 500 musical compositions for Viennese ballroom dancing, including waltzes, polkas, marches, etc., as well as a few dozen operettas. His father was the previous Waltz King of Vienna and wanted his 3 sons to escape the rigors of a musician’s life, but… on his death in 1849, Johann, Jr. and his younger brothers Josef and Eduard combined all their musical colleagues into several busy orchestras to tour, accept commissions, and to host the most elegant balls in Vienna!
Notably, the waltzes of Johann Strauss, Jr. are meant for more than just dancing. They have been described as “Tone Poems” to paint musical pictures of Vienna and its surroundings. How many of us would have ever heard of that “Blue” river that runs from Germany to Vienna, then down through Hungary and parts of Ukraine into the Black Sea? Would we ever have learned that the famous operetta “Fledermaus” was set in a ballroom hosting a costume party, including a “Flying Mouse,” AKA a Bat! How brilliant and imaginative!
Voices of Spring is a swirling and twirling collection of wonderful spring-like waltz melodies that Johann composed for a … wait for it… SOPRANO!!! Yes, this brilliant and famous orchestral piece was originally composed for a soloist from the Vienna Court Opera and was so successful that it was revised as a purely orchestral work and became one his most beloved. We are fortunate to have as our guest soloist the brilliant coloratura soprano Brooke deRosa, whose ease and grace in meandering through the virtuoso music will thrill and inspire us. It would be lovely to do an entire concert of solos for soprano with Brooke, if only we had time… let’s hope!!!
Aaron Copland (1900-1990) is known as the “Dean of American Composers.” His career as composer, pianist, conductor, and teacher lasted for most of the last century. He loved writing music that evoked the spirit of America, especially our vast and varied landscape and our pioneer spirit. He composed many of his most famous works in a fairly simple “populist style” in order to make music accessible to all. His most famous works are the ballets Billy the Kid, Rodeo, and Appalachian Spring, but he also composed symphonies, concertos, film music, chamber music, and songs.
Appalachian Spring was commissioned in 1943 by Martha Graham, a modern dancer and choreographer whose very successful Dance Company encouraged new works by American composers. Appalachian Spring was designed as a full-length ballet with a small orchestra of only 13 players but was such a success that 2 years later Copland rewrote it for a full orchestra. He won the Pulitzer Prize for this gorgeous music, which depicts the life of a young couple in rural Pennsylvania. Their religious group known as “Shakers” (because of their ecstatic and charismatic worship services) were peaceful and artistic minded, and the famous Shaker song, “Simple Gifts” is the foundation of Copland’s composition.
The second half features one of the most beloved symphonies in all of classical music, Beethoven’s (1770-1827) famous 6th Symphony, nicknamed “The Pastoral Symphony.” This music reminds us that Beethoven loved nature, and often took walks in the country. With his brilliant melodic ideas and use of a large orchestra, he takes us on his cheerful journey, including a scene by a bubbling brook with happy bird calls sounding, observing a merry gathering of the locals, a thunderstorm, and finally, thankfulness after the storm. This is a brilliant work in many ways, especially in that it has 5 movements, the last 3 of which are connected without pause. Listen for bird calls from woodwinds, the flowing brook from the strings, and a thunderstorm from brass and timpani!
Throughout tonight’s concert we will hear sounds of nature, making this the perfect music to recognize Earth Day! Thank you for your loyal support and encouragement of YOUR Culver City Symphony Orchestra, where we play the best live music you love. See you again soon at the Symphony!
Musically yours,
Clyde
Johann Strauss II (1825-1899): Frühlingsstimmen (“Voices of Spring”) (comp. 1882)
Aaron Copland (1900-1990): Appalachian Spring Suite for full orchestra (comp. 1945)
INTERMISSION
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827): Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68, “Pastoral” (comp. 1808)
- Allegro ma non troppo “Erwachen heiterer Empfindungen bei der Ankunft auf dem Lande” (Awakening of cheerful feelings on arrival in the countryside)
- Andante molto mosso “Szene am Bach” (Scene by the brook)
- Allegro “Lustiges Zusammensein der Landleute” (Merry gathering of country folk)
- Allegro “Gewitter, Sturm” (Thunder, Storm)
- Allegretto “Hirtengesang. Frohe und dankbare Gefühle nach dem Sturm” (Shepherd's song. Cheerful and thankful feelings after the storm)
“Maestro’s Musings” for April 21, 2024
Thank you for joining us for this Celebration of Spring! I hope you will enjoy our musical menu this evening, because not only are we in the first few weeks of spring, but we also will commemorate Earth Day on April 22. Not all music in a concert to welcome spring must have the word “spring” in its title, but two of the most appropriate compositions for the occasion just happen to be Frühlingsstimmen (Voices of Spring) and Appalachian Spring!
Johann Strauss, Jr. (1825-1899) was (and forever shall be) known as “The Waltz King” of the musical capital of the world, Vienna, Austria. He composed over 500 musical compositions for Viennese ballroom dancing, including waltzes, polkas, marches, etc., as well as a few dozen operettas. His father was the previous Waltz King of Vienna and wanted his 3 sons to escape the rigors of a musician’s life, but… on his death in 1849, Johann, Jr. and his younger brothers Josef and Eduard combined all their musical colleagues into several busy orchestras to tour, accept commissions, and to host the most elegant balls in Vienna!
Notably, the waltzes of Johann Strauss, Jr. are meant for more than just dancing. They have been described as “Tone Poems” to paint musical pictures of Vienna and its surroundings. How many of us would have ever heard of that “Blue” river that runs from Germany to Vienna, then down through Hungary and parts of Ukraine into the Black Sea? Would we ever have learned that the famous operetta “Fledermaus” was set in a ballroom hosting a costume party, including a “Flying Mouse,” AKA a Bat! How brilliant and imaginative!
Voices of Spring is a swirling and twirling collection of wonderful spring-like waltz melodies that Johann composed for a … wait for it… SOPRANO!!! Yes, this brilliant and famous orchestral piece was originally composed for a soloist from the Vienna Court Opera and was so successful that it was revised as a purely orchestral work and became one his most beloved. We are fortunate to have as our guest soloist the brilliant coloratura soprano Brooke deRosa, whose ease and grace in meandering through the virtuoso music will thrill and inspire us. It would be lovely to do an entire concert of solos for soprano with Brooke, if only we had time… let’s hope!!!
Aaron Copland (1900-1990) is known as the “Dean of American Composers.” His career as composer, pianist, conductor, and teacher lasted for most of the last century. He loved writing music that evoked the spirit of America, especially our vast and varied landscape and our pioneer spirit. He composed many of his most famous works in a fairly simple “populist style” in order to make music accessible to all. His most famous works are the ballets Billy the Kid, Rodeo, and Appalachian Spring, but he also composed symphonies, concertos, film music, chamber music, and songs.
Appalachian Spring was commissioned in 1943 by Martha Graham, a modern dancer and choreographer whose very successful Dance Company encouraged new works by American composers. Appalachian Spring was designed as a full-length ballet with a small orchestra of only 13 players but was such a success that 2 years later Copland rewrote it for a full orchestra. He won the Pulitzer Prize for this gorgeous music, which depicts the life of a young couple in rural Pennsylvania. Their religious group known as “Shakers” (because of their ecstatic and charismatic worship services) were peaceful and artistic minded, and the famous Shaker song, “Simple Gifts” is the foundation of Copland’s composition.
The second half features one of the most beloved symphonies in all of classical music, Beethoven’s (1770-1827) famous 6th Symphony, nicknamed “The Pastoral Symphony.” This music reminds us that Beethoven loved nature, and often took walks in the country. With his brilliant melodic ideas and use of a large orchestra, he takes us on his cheerful journey, including a scene by a bubbling brook with happy bird calls sounding, observing a merry gathering of the locals, a thunderstorm, and finally, thankfulness after the storm. This is a brilliant work in many ways, especially in that it has 5 movements, the last 3 of which are connected without pause. Listen for bird calls from woodwinds, the flowing brook from the strings, and a thunderstorm from brass and timpani!
Throughout tonight’s concert we will hear sounds of nature, making this the perfect music to recognize Earth Day! Thank you for your loyal support and encouragement of YOUR Culver City Symphony Orchestra, where we play the best live music you love. See you again soon at the Symphony!
Musically yours,
Clyde