The enjoyment of music requires a fertile imagination, a child's imagination. Music of every genre has the ability to change directions and emotions instantly, to go from the calm of a sleeping baby to the alertness of a tin soldier in the bat of an eye. So our program brings you from the rude and silly sounds of the wind players playing on only their mouthpieces to the terrifying eyes of a hungry wolf.
The Thrill of the Orchestra composed in 1985by Russell Peck explains how the rather crude and sometimes funny techniques that musical instruments use to generate sound (blowing into mouthpieces and reeds; hitting things; and scraping bows on strings) are transformed into the beautiful and exciting sounds that have made the orchestra famous. Toward the end of the piece all the instruments of each section are presented one after another on a repeated musical phrase, rising from the lowest sounding instrument to the highest. In addition to illustrating their ranges, the music also shows the contrasting sounds of the instruments in a way that's extremely clear. Our narrator, James Olm from Casper College, will take you on this zany ride from cacophony to symphony. The composer, Russell Peck (born in 1945) is an honors graduate of the University of Michigan, where he also received Master and Doctoral degrees in composition. His teachers have included Clark Eastham, Leslie Bassett, Ross Lee Finney, Gunther Schuller and George Rochberg.
The next three works on the program expand the ideas from The Thrill... by having the different sections of the orchestra play a complete work. We begin with the brass section.
The Fanfare from "La Perí" composed in 1912by Paul Dukas is one of the most popular fanfares for brass ensemble and has been recorded by many groups throughout the world. It is lean in construction with a simple ABA form and exploits the brilliance of the brass sound with characteristic rapid articulations in contrast to linear hymn like sonorities. You will remember Paul Dukas as the composer of "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" from Walt Disney's "Fantasia".
Charles Gounod composed the Petite Symphonie in 1885 for La Societé de Musique de Chambre pour Instruments a Vent. It is one of the gems of composition for winds from the Romantic period. Scored for 1 flute, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 French horns and 2 bassoons, the work is in four movements and displays the richness of sound and lyricism possible from the woodwinds.
The Capriol Suite for String Orchestra composed in 1927 is a fascinating piece both in composition and in the origin of the tunes themselves. The music is taken from Thoinot Arbeau's book, Orchésographie, published in 1589, the most detailed and authentic record of fifteenth and sixteenth century dances that has come down to us. It deals with what we should call today the ballroom dances of the period, considered by both Arbeau and his pupil, Capriol, to be an essential part of the education of every well-bred young man. Through a dialogue between teacher and pupil, Arbeau explains in detail the steps and the appropriate music (which is printed on the side of the corresponding page) to be used. The English composer Peter Warlock (real name Philip Heseltine) chose 6 melodies to orchestrate. He initially uses the original harmonies then adds a distinctive 20th Century flair to give a modern touch to these ancient pieces of music.
Finally we have James Olm returning to narrate the perfect introduction to the grown up world of classical music, Sergei Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf that has become a classic beloved by generations of children and adults. Composed in 1936 the story takes place in Russia over a hundred years ago in a meadow behind Peter's grandfather's house. Peter was staying with his grandfather, and in his room he had a view of the wide green meadow that overlooked a mysterious forest. Early one morning as the first rays of light crept in the window of Peter's room, Peter woke up and got dressed as fast as he could. Peter was very energetic and couldn't wait to go outside and play. In his grandfather's back yard was a gigantic tree that Peter loved to climb and a tall stonewall with a strong metal gate that kept Peter out of the dangers that lurked in the forest beyond the meadow... Well, you'll have to listen to the performance to find out what happens to Peter, the Bird, the Cat, Grandfather, the Wolf and the Duck.
A concert for "Children of All Ages" -- imagination required. Give yourself the freedom of imagination and dream with us in this concert of splendiferous music that explores the magical sounds of the Powder River Symphony.
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