Chamber Orchestra

 

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Sinfonia IX in C, Mvt. #1.......Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy

 

Mendelssohn's Sinfonia No. 9 might never have been enjoyed by audiences had it not been for its appearance in 1950, when manuscripts of 13 previously unknown Sinfonias for strings were discovered within the State Library in East Berlin. All thirteen of these Sinfonias were not written in Mendelssohn's heyday but between 1821 and 1823, his twelfth and fourteenth years. These mature and assured pieces of music may have been composition exercises requested by his teacher, Carl Friedrich Zelter, but despite their educational purpose they far transcend any limits of a musical exercise and are a series of pieces that show Mendelssohn's writing to be admirably advanced for his age.

In the opening movement, a slow, emotionally clouded introduction leads to a brisk, sunny allegro, showing Mendelssohn's command of tone and atmosphere.

 

English Suite.............................................. C. Hubert H. Parry

1. Prelude, 3. Saraband, 7. Frolic

 

Hubert Parry (1848-1918) was one of the fathers of the English Musical Renaissance. Although he was overshadowed in his lifetime, by Elgar and then Vaughan Williams, he was a fine composer and most people remember him today by Jerusalem, and the moving choral works Blessed Pair Sirens and / Was Glad. Parry's five symphonies are seldom heard, but the English Suite and Lady Radnor's Suite, both for string orchestra, make a useful addition to English string orchestra repertoire. The English Suite consists of seven short movements, most of which are jolly and tuneful. The Saraband, however, is a noble utterance of considerable beauty. The Air is a charming number with an Irish flavor.

 

Symphony Strings

 

October.....................................................Eric Whitacre

 

"October is my favorite month. Something about the crisp autumn air and the subtle change in light always make me a little sentimental, and as I started to sketch I felt that same quiet beauty in the writing. The simple, pastoral melodies and subsequent harmonies are inspire by the great English Romantics (Vaughn Williams, Elgar) as I felt that this style was also perfectly suited to capture the natural and pastoral soul of the season. My deepest thanks to Paul Lavender for this gorgeous transcription." Eric Whitacre