Program for April 17, 2016 First Baptist Church
Videorecording of this concert
Procession of the Nobles from “Mlada” (1889–1890) Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844–1908), arr. (1938) Erik W. G. Leidzén
Toward the end of his life, Russian composer Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov wrote several operas, including Mlada, which predictably features royalty, envy, deception, death by poison, and supernatural intervention. From the opera comes Procession of the Nobles, a ceremonial funeral march.
First Suite in E-flat for Military Band, p. 28, No. 1 (1909) Gustav Holst (1874–1934)
1. Chaconne
2. Intermezzo
3. March
British composer Holst crafted this suite, one of the first serious works originally composed for band. Other composers who heard it became persuaded they also might treat the concert band as a viable artistic medium. A “chaconne” is built on a short melody that is always present, in this case passing around the band as it recurs sixteen times. The lively intermezzo highlights solo voices. The march features two melodies that are then layered atop one another in the finale.
Satiric Dances for a Comedy by Aristophanes (ca. 1975) Norman Dello Joio (1913–2008)
I. Allegro pesante; piu mosso (lively and fast, yet weighty; faster)
II. Adagio mesto (slow and mournful)
III. Allegro spumante (lively, fast, and sparkling)
Dello Joio’s Mediterranean-influenced suite is based on background music he had written for a comedy by Aristophanes, an Athenian citizen born about 445 BC, whose plays commented on the political and social issues of fifth century Athens and frequently employed satire.
The American Way (1947) Robert Surplus (1923)
In 1947, when now-retired EKU music professor Robert Surplus was 23 years old, he was the high school band director in Red Lion, Pennsylvania. That year he wrote this tuneful march for his high school band. He left Red Lion in January 1956 to join the faculty of Shippensburg State College. In the early 60s he taught at the University of Minnesota, and later in the decade he joined the music faculty at EKU.
The Symphonic Gershwin George Gershwin (1898–1937), arr. Warren Barker
Prolific American composer and pianist George Gershwin, born “Jacob Gershwine,” was very popular during his own lifetime. This medley includes “An American in Paris” (1929), “Rhapsody in Blue” (1924), and “Cuban Overture (1932).
The Whistler and his Dog, Caprice (1932) Arthur Pryor (1870–1942)
Kathy Randles, piccolo
Arthur Willard Pryor, a trombonist in the Sousa band, was the son of a bandmaster, and he took over the Pryor Band after his father’s death in 1902. Of his many compositions, the novelty The Whistler and His Dog is the best known. Piccoloist Kathy Randles, a retired librarian, is a charter member of the Madison Community Band.
Funiculi, Funicula (1880) Luigi Denza (1846–1922), arr. (2001) Yo Goto
A funicular railway is one in which cables connect two cars, one ascending and the other descending. Its name derives from the Latin funiculus, diminutive of funis, meaning "rope." Denza wrote this tune to celebrate the opening of such a cable car at Mt. Vesuvius in Italy. Goto’s variations on the theme are imaginative and delightful.
Toward the end of his life, Russian composer Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov wrote several operas, including Mlada, which predictably features royalty, envy, deception, death by poison, and supernatural intervention. From the opera comes Procession of the Nobles, a ceremonial funeral march.
First Suite in E-flat for Military Band, p. 28, No. 1 (1909) Gustav Holst (1874–1934)
1. Chaconne
2. Intermezzo
3. March
British composer Holst crafted this suite, one of the first serious works originally composed for band. Other composers who heard it became persuaded they also might treat the concert band as a viable artistic medium. A “chaconne” is built on a short melody that is always present, in this case passing around the band as it recurs sixteen times. The lively intermezzo highlights solo voices. The march features two melodies that are then layered atop one another in the finale.
Satiric Dances for a Comedy by Aristophanes (ca. 1975) Norman Dello Joio (1913–2008)
I. Allegro pesante; piu mosso (lively and fast, yet weighty; faster)
II. Adagio mesto (slow and mournful)
III. Allegro spumante (lively, fast, and sparkling)
Dello Joio’s Mediterranean-influenced suite is based on background music he had written for a comedy by Aristophanes, an Athenian citizen born about 445 BC, whose plays commented on the political and social issues of fifth century Athens and frequently employed satire.
The American Way (1947) Robert Surplus (1923)
In 1947, when now-retired EKU music professor Robert Surplus was 23 years old, he was the high school band director in Red Lion, Pennsylvania. That year he wrote this tuneful march for his high school band. He left Red Lion in January 1956 to join the faculty of Shippensburg State College. In the early 60s he taught at the University of Minnesota, and later in the decade he joined the music faculty at EKU.
The Symphonic Gershwin George Gershwin (1898–1937), arr. Warren Barker
Prolific American composer and pianist George Gershwin, born “Jacob Gershwine,” was very popular during his own lifetime. This medley includes “An American in Paris” (1929), “Rhapsody in Blue” (1924), and “Cuban Overture (1932).
The Whistler and his Dog, Caprice (1932) Arthur Pryor (1870–1942)
Kathy Randles, piccolo
Arthur Willard Pryor, a trombonist in the Sousa band, was the son of a bandmaster, and he took over the Pryor Band after his father’s death in 1902. Of his many compositions, the novelty The Whistler and His Dog is the best known. Piccoloist Kathy Randles, a retired librarian, is a charter member of the Madison Community Band.
Funiculi, Funicula (1880) Luigi Denza (1846–1922), arr. (2001) Yo Goto
A funicular railway is one in which cables connect two cars, one ascending and the other descending. Its name derives from the Latin funiculus, diminutive of funis, meaning "rope." Denza wrote this tune to celebrate the opening of such a cable car at Mt. Vesuvius in Italy. Goto’s variations on the theme are imaginative and delightful.