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May
1998 - Franz Joseph Haydn's
MASS
IN C MAJOR. A Mass in Time of War - 1796
The title of this Mass is self-evident; at this time, Austria was engaged
in a disastrous war with Napoleon, who was winning battle after battle
in Italy and invading other European strongholds. Though the Mass was designed
as a prayer for peace, years later as Haydn lay dying in Vienna in 1804,
the city was occupied by the French. Of all the charming movements, graced
with techniques of the classical composing, the Agnus Dei is without doubt
one of Haydn's most famous movements. The famous timpani solo (in Austria
they call this the "Paukenmesse" or "Kettledrum Mass") which enters
unexpectedly is a stroke of genius and the huge climax with trumpets blaring
is somewhat frightening in its intensity. The usually soft comtemplative
nature of a movement entitled "Lamb of God" seems more like a demand
for peace. Equally important is the beautiful cello obligato in the bass
aria "Qui tollis peccata mundi" and the quick concerted styles of
call and response lines with soloists. The four short a cappella motets
done at the beginning of this concert were only recently unearthed and
are very unusual in that they were written for all in unison instead of
the more traditional tenor and baritone divisi. But the original language
is English and their texts are very spiritual.
 December
1998 - A Centennial Celebration George Gershwin
George Gershwin was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. in 1898. He became
one of America's foremost and respected composers. Gershwin wrote his first
largely successful musical piece, Rhapsody in Blue (1924) in less
than three weeks. He had a deep desire to create an American opera which
he achieved in 1935 with Porgy and Bess. This concert, performed
at the lovely Avalon Theatre, begins with "A Gershwin Portrait" including
an opening of Strike Up the Band and
I Got Rhythm. The
"Swing Set" includes dance tunes, followed by "Fascinating Rhythm", "Gershwin
in Love" and "Showstoppers". The second half of the program features renowned
soprano, Kishna Davis and baritone, Gregory Gardner, presenting the most
stirring and unforgetable moments from Gershwin's Porgy and Bess.
Gershwin's music is marked by uncommon harmonic inventiveness with twists
of "fascinating rhythm" laced with jazz idioms. It is said that George
Gershwin made an "honest woman" out of jazz and brought her to the sacred
halls of classical art music. |
