Colorama—A Musical Rainbow
Terre Haute Sinfonietta
Script for 01 December, 2002
One can only imagine what this world would be like without color. What a
drab somber place it would be, completely devoid of the joy, moods and
inspiration that color brings to our lives.
In preparing for this program, it became increasingly amazing to see how
often composers were influenced by colors, not just in the titles of their
works, but also by depicting a certain subject or mood. In the scientific
world, it has long been recognized that color affects human appetites in
food, memories, and emotions such as anger, grief, joy and sadness. After
thorough research into music and color, it was learned that BLUE has been
the color to inspire composers the most.
Today we will offer familiar and new compositions, which vividly reflect a
rainbow hued range of mood and character. We have chosen a variety of
colors that portray a multitude of moods, some serious, some happy and
joyful. The compositions are either describing a subject or are creating a
certain mood for the listener. In preparing the narration for this program a
great deal of the descriptions of the various colors was inspired by the poetry
of Norman Sickel. His poems speak as if each color was describing itself.
LET US BEGIN!
“THE RED CARPET”
Red is the violent, the exciting shocker of we who seek excitement.
When but a child I saw the clanging red of a fire engine, disaster I somehow
enjoyed. The hotness of red fascinates yet consumes me.
My red shoes make me walk faster—faster—yet not knowing where I go or
why. Red can be influenced by jealously and passion.
As I saw red—red that I created and excited me for Red is my color of
violence. Now we present a new composition by Arthur Wiggens called
“The Red Carpet”.
“THE PINK PANTHER”
Pink is a color varying from light crimson to pale reddish purple.
It soothes the violence of red and offers a more serene atmosphere.
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Colorama—A Musical Rainbow
Terre Haute Sinfonietta
Script for 01 December, 2002
It is frequently used metaphorically as in, “the pink of health”, and “pinko”
to describe a person with far left political views. In the business world it is
used to describe a sales slip or as a notice of termination. Musically it is
used to describe a feeling of enjoyment as in “tickled pink”. In the following
composition by Henry Mancini it is used to denote the humor of the movie
from which it takes it name, “The Pink Panther”.
“SERENADE IN BLUE”
Blue is the dreamer and I am blue, yet not sad for I have made a friend of
sadness.
I relax in the waves of my blue colored dreams—it soothes my mind, it
caresses my heart.
I am a man, yet with blue in my eyes—a boy at heart.
I have blue in my eyes—a misty blue that gives me happiness for my bluecolored mind sees only what it dreams.
So in life I deck myself in blue—for BLUE is the dreamer!
Our principal trumpet, Mr Jim Chesterson now assumes his post as Assistant
Conductor of the Sinfonietta to lead the orchestra in “Serenade in Blue”.
“DEEP PURPLE”
Purple is the schemer, padded footsteps that roam the earth but only at night.
Purple plans red and dreams blue dreams.
Purple schemes and chokes with intrigue for purple is the schemer.
Dr. Melendy will step from the podium to play a jazz solo for violin written
by Eddie South. Listen to this version of “Deep Purple” accompanied by
Leslie Zimmerman.
“LITTLE BROWN JUG”
Brown is earthbound for brown is the Mother Earth.
Brown draws its pigment from the earth from time immemorial.
Brown changes as seasons change but ever to return to brown.
Brown welcomes wind when it brings leaves to bed.
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Colorama—A Musical Rainbow
Terre Haute Sinfonietta
Script for 01 December, 2002
Leaves, as they rest, change their shade to match the season.
Then, nourish new and growing things that rise again—for brown is Mother
Earth! Brown can also be fun and light as we see in the next selection
featuring the strings in a rendition of “The Little Brown Jug”.
“OVER THE RAINBOW”
The next selection offers a multitude of colors as in a rainbow. Introduced
by Judy Garland in the immortal film, “The Wizard of Oz”, we offer a solo
performance of this lovely haunting melody by Mr. Bruce Thompson,
principal horn for the Sinfonietta. Both Mr Thompson and the conductor, Mr
Chesterson are members of the Air National Guard here in Terre Haute with
the 181st Fighter Wing.
“BLUE TAIL FLY”
Once again we recall the color blue as previously described. The string
section is featured in this happy blue grass version of the “Blue Tail Fly”.
Green is the lover, for green is the color of growing things.
Green grows the grass—buds emerge into glossy green leaves.
Green is happy for there is blue and laughing yellow in there too.
Green plants seeds and makes it grow into a loving reality.
Green is never alone—for wedded to it, as blue weds yellow to make green,
the lover.
“FANTASIA ON GREENSLEEVES”
Patti Plascak-Willey, originally from Terre Haute, earned a Bachelor of Fine
Arts in Dance from Stephen’s College and has performed professionally
with modern dance companies in Pittsburgh and New York City. She has
taught Master Classes at five major universities, and in April 2000 founded
the Academy of Dance.
The dancers today will range in age from nine to nineteen. Please welcome
the Academy Dancers as they perform the ancient tune, “Greensleeves”.
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Colorama—A Musical Rainbow
Terre Haute Sinfonietta
Script for 01 December, 2002
”BY THE LIGHT OF THE SILVERY MOON”
Silver is the patrician—it was gray until it was shined to meet the world.
It gleams—no one dares to dispoil this color.
Silver seeks not the handling of everyday life—it tarnishes.
Please leave this color alone in a velvet-lined drawer.
This is silver and silver is patrician.
We welcome the return, from the internationally renowned Banks of the
Wabash Chorus, the New Harmony Quartet from one of our previous
concerts. Mr Jerry Lee Burns, actor, singer, musician, and honored friend of
the Sinfonietta, will join with the quartet and the orchestra to dance a softshoe to this familiar melody which was popular when your grand parents
courted “By the Light of the Silvery Moon”.
INTERMISSION
“WHERE THE BLACK HAWK SOARS”
Black is the bottomless fog I cannot lift but I can pierce with sharp
awareness.
This is the night I cannot end, yet I can find a new beginning in another
place, another day.
I wander at night and my thoughts are black till thoughts of deeds bring
reflection and rest.
Then I fear not black, for I know no fear—there is no fear because I have no
doubt.
I fear no bottomless thing when I can find the top—Black is my friend
though it be bottomless.
In our next selection, the composer Robert W. Smith is describing the flight
of a Hawk. One can almost see a bird in flight “Where the Black Hawk
Soars”.
“ST. LOUIS BLUES”
We return to the color blue for our next three selections. The first was
composed by the “Father of the Blues”, William Christopher Handy.
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Colorama—A Musical Rainbow
Terre Haute Sinfonietta
Script for 01 December, 2002
W.C. Handy, the son of a preacher, referred to the blues as “Negro Folk
Songs”. According to Handy, the theme of this folk music is the Negro’s
emotional feeling quite apart from religion. His St. Louis Blues was born
November 16, 1873. Blues did not spring out of nowhere. Blues had its roots
in the dreary lives of the slaves. The blues also gave birth to rather
distinctive forms of dance such as jubas, reels, stomps, drags and hoedowns. To interpret this number with dance, we have asked Jerry Lee Burns
to return.
“THE BLUE TANGO”
Influenced by the blues, the temper of popular music as a whole became
warmer, its melodies smoother and its tempos somewhat more deliberate.
Enjoying a rebirth of popularity as an exotic Latin import, the TANGO,
which was introduced in the 2nd decade of the 20th century testified to the
need for a more sustained romantic type of music and dance.
We are once again delighted to bring you the Willey Academy Dancers for
their interpretation of the Tango. The Blue Tango was composed by the
brilliant composer-arranger for the Boston Pops Orchestra, Mr. Leroy
Anderson.
“SALUTE TO OLE BLUE EYES”
Often called the most influential singer of the 20th century, Frank Sinatra
became a legend in his own time. One of the first teen age idols, he later
became an icon for all ages. Often referred to as “The Chairman of the
Board”, and “Old Blue Eyes”, his songs will remain popular for all time.
Even though the songs in the following medley don’t have colors in their
titles, Sinatra’s influence on popular music in the last 60 years has been so
great, we decided to include it as a Salute to “Ole Blue Eyes”.
“ROUND HER NECK SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON”
Yellow is the laughter—the laughter of those who smile with sunny warmth,
The laughter of a boy who leads his dog on a merry romp through the hills.
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Colorama—A Musical Rainbow
Terre Haute Sinfonietta
Script for 01 December, 2002
Unbound, unfettered the reach for life—giving purifying rays of the world’s
heating system. Yellow is the gentle laughter on the wind, a streaming
smiling warmth of laughing yellow.
We are once again pleased to bring you a return of that marvelous
Barbershop group the New Harmony Quartet. Here they are singing one an
old cavalry song, “Round Her Neck She Wore a Yellow Ribbon”..
“THE ORANGE BLOSSOM SPECIAL”
Orange is the gay deceiver—but deceives nicely.
Orange is the daughter of the yellow laughter and the violent red.
Orange is the sun worshipper who sits on the beach and uses its rays
superficially for orange is correct and stylish.
Men receive and enjoy orange—but not really enjoy, for the color orange is
the gay deceiver.
Once again, our strings are spotlighted in playing the famous Blue Grass
song by Ervin T. Rouse, “The Orange Blossom Special”.
“WHITE CHRISTMAS”
White is the young in heart though it be of any age. Infants cry while
dressed in white—they are pure.
From the cradle to bridal veil white carries a mother of love.
Keep her bower shining white and clean, and mothers’ tears will wash away
the grime of deeds not meant to do.
And when hair matches the heart one will still be young for both are white
and white is the young in heart.
To conclude today’s program what better song than the number one recorded
song of all time. Written by Irving Berlin and first featured in the motion
picture “Holiday Inn”. Introduced by the legendary crooner Bing Crosby
and the late Rosemary Clooney we would like to dedicate this composition,
arranged by Robert Russell Bennett, to their memory. What better way to
bring on the number one holiday than with “White Christmas”.
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