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?
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Terre Haute Sinfonietta Pops Orchestra
12 March, 2006
Postcards From Abroad
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”,
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Terre Haute Sinfonietta Pops Orchestra
12 March, 2006
Postcards From Abroad
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”.
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Terre Haute Sinfonietta Pops Orchestra
12 March, 2006
Postcards From Abroad
“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.
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Terre Haute Sinfonietta Pops Orchestra
12 March, 2006
Postcards From Abroad
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”.
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Terre Haute Sinfonietta Pops Orchestra
12 March, 2006
Postcards From Abroad
“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 Caribbean island 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”.
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Terre Haute Sinfonietta Pops Orchestra
12 March, 2006
Postcards From Abroad
“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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