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Northwest Sinfonietta

Northwest Sinfonietta. Music off the Shelves: Ken Owen, D.M.A. Concert: April 27 – Seattle, Nordstrom Hall April 28 – Tacoma, Rialto Theatre April 29 – Puyallup, Pioneer Park Pavilion . Prokofiev Saint-Saëns mendelssohn. Possible titles “Child Prodigies” or

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Northwest Sinfonietta

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  1. Northwest Sinfonietta Music off the Shelves: Ken Owen, D.M.A. Concert: April 27 – Seattle, Nordstrom Hall April 28 – Tacoma, Rialto Theatre April 29 – Puyallup, Pioneer Park Pavilion

  2. ProkofievSaint-Saënsmendelssohn Possible titles “Child Prodigies” or “Almost Classical (1750-1810)”

  3. Classical style • 1750-1810ish • Haydn, Mozart and Early to mid Beethoven • What we expect: • Singable tunes & even phrases • Symphony has • 1stmvt – fast and in sonata form • 2ndmvt – slow and lyrical • 3rdmvt – minuet = triple meter dance • 4thmvt – fast and in sonata or rondo form

  4. Classical style • Sonata form – 3 parts • I (Exposition) – Also has 3 parts • i – first theme “masculine” • ii – second theme “feminine” – contrasting key • iii – closing theme – more rhythmic, wraps it up • II (development) • Take some or all of the themes from I and mess with them • III (Recap) • Same as Expo but without contrasting key

  5. Classical style • Concerto has • 1stmvt – fast, sonata form • Orchestra plays all the expo themes 1st • Then soloist plays all the expo themes • Cadenza at end • 2ndmvt – slow and lyrical • 3rd fast, rondo or other form

  6. Sergey Prokofiev • Born in Ukraine – 1891 • Dad – Agricultural engineer. Manages a large estate • Mom – Well-educated & good pianist • Only child – musically precocious • 5yrs old - 1st piano piece • 9yrs – playing Beethoven sonatas • By 11yrs – 2 operas and many short piano pieces • Prominent musician hired to tutor – helped w/first symphony

  7. Sergey Prokofiev • 13 yrs – distinctive style emerges • Unusual meters, Uncommon tonalities • Wild rhythms, Musical humor • Applied to St. Petersburg Music Conservatory • Studies at conservatory for 10 years • Few friends because of age difference and arrogance • Harmony class = boring and inhibiting • Orchestration class w/Rimsky-Korsakov = boring

  8. Sergey Prokofiev • 17yrs – debut as pianist and composer • Plays his own piece at a contemporary music concert • Critics – “unintelligible and ultra-modern” • Prokofiev strives to maintain image of “enfant terrible” • 19yrs – graduates, mediocre grades • Dedicates self to piano – back to conservatory!

  9. Back at the conservatory • Argues w/teacher, hates classical repertoire • “improved” Mozart, Schubert etc. • After Threat of expulsion – decided to behave • 23 yrs – finally leaves conservatory • Dyagilev – commissions but rejects several works • Finally accepts one for ballet – but put off because of war • Back to conservatory to avoid military • Organ student

  10. Classical Symphony • During war – stays in Petrograd • Composed 1st Violin Concerto and “Classical Symphony” • Experiment – compose w/out piano • Haydn’s style “with something new” • Prokofiev titled “Classical” to “tease the geese” and in hopes that it would become a “classic” • 1st of his works to gain international recognition

  11. Classical Symphony – mvt. 1 • Sonata Form - Classical • Opens with Manheim rocket • http://www.pierce.ctc.edu:2058/catalogue/item.asp?cid=7190 • 2ndtheme – mockingly graceful • Absurd range • Development – all 3 themes • Listen for rocket = recapitulation

  12. Classical Symphony • 2 mvt – slow & dainty – some unusual harmony • 3rdmvt – Dance – but not minuet • 4th – Sonata form – very fast, light, & bubbly

  13. Camille Saint-Saëns • Born 1835 – Paris • Dad = government clerk • Married, son born and died all w/in 1 year • Raised by Mother and Great Aunt • Aunt started teaching him piano at 2 ½ years old • 3 yrs – first piano piece • 7 yrs – new teacher • 10 yrs – playing Beethoven & Mozart piano concertos • Learned all subjects quickly

  14. Camille Saint-Saëns • 12 yrs – Begins at Paris Conservatory • Friends w/Rossini, Berlioz, Gounod and others • “He knows everything, but lacks experience” – Berlioz • “Greatest organist in the World” – Liszt • Interest in old composers – promoted revivalof Mozart and Handel • Taught Faure and became life-long friends

  15. Camille Saint-Saëns • Described as • prominent nose, • short, • peculiar walk (bird-like strut) • Produced music “as an apple tree produces apples”

  16. Camille Saint-Saëns • 40 yrs – married (she was 19) • Mom dissaproved, Saint-Saëns hard to live with • 2 sons – both died w/in 6 weeks of each other • One fell out of 4th story window • Other died of childhood illness • Saint-Saëns blamed wife – separated • 53 yrs – Mother died leaving Saint-Saëns with no family • Traveled widely

  17. Cello Concerto in A minor • Experimental form – no break between movements • Or all one movement? • Rachmaninov admired its “delicacy and beauty” • 1stmvt – loosely in sonata form • 2ndmvt, or section – more like 3rdmvt of a symphony • Triple meter dance

  18. Cello Concerto in A minor • 3rdmvt – return of 1stmvt opening theme • Descending triplet figure. • Returns many times • http://www.pierce.ctc.edu:2058/catalogue/item.asp?cid=BBCL4198-2

  19. Felix Mendelssohn • Born - 1809 in Hamburg • Dad = banker in Paris – moved to Hamburg after marriage • Mom = very wealthy family • 4 children, Felix = #2 • Family to Berlin to avoid Napoleon conflict • Educated by parents. • Mom taught piano – moved on to prominent teachers • Family converted to Christianity and added Bartholdy name

  20. Felix Mendelssohn • 10 yrs old – tutor and new prominent piano teacher • Studied classical models and composed • Attended University • Interested in literature and politics as well – friends with Goethe • 20yrs – Parents send him on 4 year travel abroad • 1st England & Scottland • 2nd Italy

  21. Mendelssohn • In Italy visited Naples and Pompeii • Impressed by artistic treasures • Not impressed by state of music in Italy • Moved by poverty of Neapolitans • Witnessed a carnival and dances • Begins Italian Symphony • Completed during winter stay at home in Berlin • Premiered in London and remains his most popular symphony

  22. Italian Symphony • 1stmvt – inspired by “crazy” festival • Sonata form – but with many returns of 1st theme • http://www.pierce.ctc.edu:2058/catalogue/item.asp?cid=PACSNAXOS0006# • 2ndmvt – inspired in part by election and coronation of Pope Gregory XVI • 3rdmvt – perhaps inspired by visual arts • 4thmvt – “Saltarello” = a dance from Napoles featuring hopping and jumping • Listen for a big extended crescendo • quote

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