Terre Haute Sinfonietta Pops Orchestra

12 March, 2006

Postcards From Abroad

Few would argue with the statement that “music is the universal language”. For centuries, advances in music as we know it today came from the countries of Western Europe. Yet, each country’s music has a unique sound or feel that identifies it as coming from that country. Composers wrote music that reflected the characteristics of their own country by incorporating native folk songs, dance forms, fairy tales, legends and historical events. These characteristics combined in music to produce what has become known as nationalistic music. Because communications and travel were slow, nationalistic music was refined as an expression of a country’s personality which reflected the historical and societal elements of the time.

It has become a custom in the last two (2) centuries to tour foreign lands and to correspond with the “folks back home” by sending them a “Postcard from Abroad”. Today, with instantaneous communications and travel and the marvel that is the internet, people travel more and are more acquainted with other places than in the past. We still send friends and family postcards from abroad, more often than not it is electronic and it may take the form of e-mail, digital pictures or i-tunes.

When selecting music for this concert, the problem became where to begin and where to stop as there are so many examples. We decided to select short examples rather than the longer compositions in the classic literature. We believe these shorter examples will still reveal the flavor of each country.

And Now, On with the Show!

“ITALIAN FOLK FANTASY”

What better way to begin than to travel to Italy, the home of this year’s Winter Olympics and so much history and culture. In the “Italian Folk Fantasy” which was arranged by Thomas V. Bucci, there are five Italian melodies. How many can you name?

The songs in the Italian Folk Fantasy were 1. Marianna, 2. Nina, 3.Ciri Biri Bin, 4. Santa Lucia, and 5. Funiculi, Funicula

“LA VIRGEN DE LA MACARENA”

There is an exciting song known popularly as “The Bullfighter’s Song”, but whose real title is “La Virgen de la Macarena”. The Rafael Mendez arrangement for solo trumpet brings to mind the bullfights in Spain and Mexico. Our Principal Trumpet and Assistant Director James Chesterson will now perform this piece for bravura trumpet.

“DON’T CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA”

Sir Andrew Lloyd Weber wrote the musical “Evita” which is the story of Maria Eva Duarte de Peron. Before her marriage to the Argentinean dictator, Juan Peron in 1945 she was a successful radio and screen actress. Arguably the best known song from “Evita” is the haunting melody “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina”. Bob Cerulli wrote the arrangement for orchestra.

“AUSTRIAN PEASANT DANCE”, from 2nd Mvt, 1st Symphony”

The great Bohemian composer Gustav Mahler (1860-1911) completed nine symphonies plus a large number of works for voice, piano and orchestra. His 1st Symphony, completed in 1889, departed from the common practice of the previous one-hundred plus years by using a vigorous scherzo-like tempo for the second movement. Mahler designated this movement as an “Austrian Peasant Dance”.

“SIX IRISH SONGS”

The Irish are well-known for their lyric songs, usually sung by a tenor. Today however we feature instrumental soloists with the orchestra in some of the most familiar and well known Irish melodies. The soloists in order are James Chesterson on cornet playing “The Minstrel Boy” and “Believe Me, If All Those Endearing young Charms”, Ersell “Buzz” Burgess playing trombone on “The Dear Little Shamrock” and “Wearing of the Green”,

and Ms Nancy Gormong playing the euphonium on “Come Back to Erin” and “The Last Rose of Summer”. Whether you are Irish or not we feel you will love these lovely songs.

“AUSTRALIAN RECOLLECTIONS”

Assistant Conductor James Chesterson will now assume the podium to direct the descriptive “Australian Recollections”. This arrangement by Robert Baurenschmidt is in two movements which are titled “Evening” and “Morning”.

“FOLK SONGS OF THE BRITISH ISLES”

Travel with us now to England as we bring you a suite of folk songs arranged by Douglas E. Wagner. Here are four “Folk Songs of the British Isles”, titled “A-Rovin”, “Early One Morning”, “Barbara Allen”, and “The Lincolnshire Poacher”.

“CARIBBEAN CARNIVAL”

Now for a change of climate and philosophy we take you to the Caribbean where the weather is warm, the water is blue and Island Time runs a little slower than anywhere else. “Caribbean Carnival” evokes the atmosphere of the islands where life is easy and carefree.

“SWEDISH RHAPSODY”

Now we leave the warm and balmy temperatures of the Caribbean and travel to cooler weather as we go to Sweden, home of the Nobel Prize. Swedish composer Hugo Alfven (1872-1960 wrote five symphonies and a considerable amount of choral, vocal and chamber music, but is best known for Swedish Rhapsody #1, Midsommarvaka or Midsummer Vigil. The well known conductor and teacher Merle J. Isaac arranged the “Swedish Rhapsody”.

“SOUNDS OF SCOTLAND”

Still in the Northern region we bring you three traditional folk song melodies that portray the charm of Scotland. Arranged by Jack Bullock for orchestra here are: ”Eriskay Love Lilt”,” Skye Boat Song”, and “Westerning Home” in “The Sounds of Scotland”.

“THE CAN-CAN”

When considering what to play to represent France, it was no contest. When hearing this one, you instantly know it comes from France. We close the first half of our program with the quintessential French Composer Jacques Offenbach. Offenbach who was born Jacob Wiener in Cologne, Germany in 1819 lived his whole professional life in Paris, where he became a French citizen in 1860. “Orpheus in the Underworld” was Offenbach’s first great success in 1858. In 1876 he toured the United States where all things French were popular as a result of the presentation of the Statue of Liberty as a one-hundredth birthday present. Jacques Offenbach died in Paris in 1880. Ladies and gentlemen, “Can-Can” from Jacques Offenbach’s “Orpheus in the Underworld”.

INTERMISSION

“THE BRITISH GRENADIERS”

When you listen to this next selection there is no doubt what country we are visiting. The music conjures up a vision of Her Majesty’s Honor Guard, and a golden royal carriage on the streets of London. Here is a wonderful arrangement by Clive Richardson of an old English melody called “The British Grenadiers”.

“HOTAKA SUNSET”

Composer Keiko Yamada was inspired to write this next selection from the Country of Japan. Ms. Yamada relates that she was hiking on Mt.Hotaka when a serene and most beautiful sunset appeared.

Mt.Hotaka and the surrounding region of mountains, valleys, and rivers create some of the most beautiful landscapes in the entire world. The Japanese people refer to it as the “Roof or Alps of Japan”. Ms. Yamada was so inspired by the scenery that she wrote “Hotaka Sunset”.

“ROMANY DANCES”

Romany Dances by the American composer Elliot del Borgo captures the spirit of the Gypsies of Eastern Europe. Romany refers to the language spoken by the Roma, or gypsies who originally came out of northern India. A large population of Roma settled around the time of the first millennia in what is now Eastern Europe. The country of Romania, which has the largest population of Gypsies in Europe, was formed in 1859 when the principalities of Wallachia and Moldova combined. The name Romania actually refers to the Romans of antiquity not the Roma we now know as Gypsies. Assistant Conductor James Chesterson now leads the orchestra in “Romany Dances”.

“RUSSIAN GYPSY SONG”

A large population of Gypsy tribes made their home in European Russia. The Gypsies’ unique music was largely responsible, beginning in the 19th century, for the popularity of solo violin pieces. Jim Chesterson directs the orchestra in “Russian Gypsy Song”, which is an example of the style of Gypsy music. Dr. Melendy plays his 1737 Giuseppe Guarneri violin.

“MOSCOW NIGHTS”

The Russian film “Spartakiada Days” was very popular when it was released, not the least because of its music score. Vissili Soloviev-Sedoy composed the music including the theme song which became popular in this country. There is no doubt where this music came from as the orchestra plays the Katherine Punwar arrangement of “Moscow Nights”.

“RUSSIAN FANTASY”

While our last arrangement was centered on the highly populated urban area of Moscow, our next piece is more descriptive of the vastness of the Russian Steppes. The origin of the melody to what we know as “The Song of the Volga Boatmen” is lost in antiquity. We don’t know how old it is, but Robert Bennett Brown has arranged this hauntingly beautiful theme into the “Russian Fantasy”.

“SIBONEY”

Next we cross the Atlantic back to the Caribbeanisland of Cuba. Ernesto Leucona was born August 6, 1895 in a village near Havana. He was a piano prodigy and in 1916 left Cuba and moved to New York where he made his first record. In 1917 he debuted at Aeolian Hall with his personal compositions and those by other masters. Aeolian Hall figured prominently in music history. In 1927 George Gershwin debuted “Rhapsody in Blue” with the Paul Whiteman Band there.

Also in 1927 his composition “Malaguena was debuted and in 1929 Siboney. It was immediately declared a classic and Leucona was nicknamed the “Cuban Gershwin”. Leucona settled in Tampa, Florida after Fidel Castro came to power in Cuba. He died in 1963.

“MEXICAN FIRE DANCE”

Mexico is a perfect example of the Spanish influence in the “New World”. The fiery and passionate temperament of our neighbors to the South is most evident in the next selection. It is a brilliant piano solo that is filled with excitement. We are proud to present our pianist Ms Mimi Mech to perform the “Mexican Fire Dance”.

“HUNGARIAN DANCE NO. 5”

Many of the great classic composers became infatuated with the Gypsy influence in their music. The German composer Johannes Brahms was no exception. Brahms wrote an enormous amount of music in all idioms of the day. He also wrote 21 Hungarian dances of which we will play No. 5.

“THE LADY OF SPAIN”

Back in the days of the “Radio Amateur Hour” one number was invariably performed by the accordionists on the show. It was a show piece for every amateur and professional accordion player worth his salt. You will surely recognize this show piece arranged for full orchestra by Tolchard Evans. Enjoy “The Lady of Spain”

“BRAZIL”

We close our program today with a selection from one of our neighbors in South America. Ary Barroso (1903-1964) was the most important Brazilian composer of the 40’s and 50’s. He wrote “Aquarela do Brasil” or “Brazil” in 1939. Walt Disney heard the tune and used it in his 1942 cartoon “Saludos Amigos”. Barroso also contributed material to Disney’s 1944 Oscar Nominated picture “The Three Caballeros”. Our talented percussion section is featured in this number simply called “Brazil” which was arranged for orchestra by Marty Gold.

Dr. Melendy will introduce our guests and announce the Encore: “Russian Sailors Dance”.

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