February 14, 2010
Johann Nepomuk Hummel (1778-1837) .................Military Septet, Opus 114
I. Allegro con brio
II. Adagio
III. Menuetto: Allegro
IV Finale: Vivace
George Appelbaum, flute
Steve Chambers, clarinet
Jeff Chambers, trumpet
Dagenais Smiley, violin
Judy Thompson, cello
Henry Gonzalez, bass.
Ron Brickman, piano
Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) ........................Tzigane, Rapsodie de Concert
Dagenais, Smiley, violin
Ron Brickman, piano
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) ...................... Liebeslieder Waltzes, Opus 52 (1-16)
Sonora Master Chorale directed by Melina cherling
Diane Day, piano
Ron Brickman, piano
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) ...................... Hungarian Dances
Diane Day, piano
Ron Brickman, piano
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) ...................... Abendlied and O Schone Nacht
Sonora Master Chorale directed by Melina cherling
Program notes -
The Septet will open the program with the Military Septet, Opus 114 by Johann Nepomuk Hummel (1778-1837)
Johann Nepomuk Hummel was one of the most celebrated pianists and composers of his day. A child prodigy,
he excelled on both violin and piano. As a boy, he lived and studied with Mozart in Vienna and also studied
with Clementi and Haydn. He later enjoyed a series of court appointments. The Septet is a relatively late work,
paying homage to the brief fashion of incorporating the trumpet in chamber ensembles. The first movement,
Allegro con brio, immediately establishes an effective instrumental balance with the piano dominating in
technical brilliance but the other instruments, especially the treble instruments of violin, flute and
trumpet taking their turn. The clarinet introduces the wistful second subject. The second movement, Adagio,
dispenses with all military connotations, as the trumpet remains silent. The third movement, Menuetto,
is a vigorous, Beethoven-like scherzo in C minor, with the trumpet taking the lead in the trio, a
good-humored German dance in C major. The Finale, the fourth movement, is both a parting nod to the
classical era of Beethoven and Mozart and a look forward to the Romantic era of Mendelssohn and Schumann.
In contrast to expectations, the movement dies away unobtrusively, like a military band retiring into the
sunset.
The program continues with the Tzigane of Maurice Ravel (1875-1937), performed by Dagenais Smiley.
The Tzigane, composed in 1924, was originally written for violin with accompaniment by the lutheal,
a piano-like instrument, now obsolete, that had several tone color registers engaged by pulling stops
above the keyboard. The accompaniment has since been adapted for both piano and orchestra. The name of
the piece is derived from the generic European term for "gypsy." The piece remains a staple of the virtuoso
violinist?s repertoire. It opens with a lengthy cadenza for the solo instrument: a declamatory monologue of
a gypsy?s life, passions and dreams. With the entry of the piano, the listener is transported to communal
gypsy life with festive and often frenzied dances.
Third on the FOUR IN ONE program is a selection of Liebeslieder Waltzes, Opus 52 (1-16) by Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
featuring the Sonora Master Chorale under the direction of Melina Cherling with Diane Day and Ron Brickman, piano four-hands.
The waltzes are sunny, emotionally uncomplicated and highly evocative of the Viennese spirit. For his texts, Brahms chose
poems compiled in Daumer?s Polydora, a collection of translations and imitations of folk poetry from Russia, Poland, and
Hungary, with joy and rapture the predominating sentiments. Brahms labeled the opus 52 for "piano duet with voices ad libitum,"
and indeed the piano part can stand alone. However, the vocal parts, whether a quartet or small ensemble, achieve an independence
and integrity of their own.
We hear next the Hungarian Dances, again by Brahms, which are based largely on Hungarian themes. Brahms originally wrote
the pieces for piano four-hands, in the version performed here, but he later arranged several of the pieces for solo and orchestra.
The program closes with the Sonora Master Chorale performing two pieces by Brahms: Abendlied and O Schone Nacht.
The Performers -
Dagenais Smiley grew up in Camion, where she started her violin studies with Linda Reams. She completed her
undergraduate education in music last year at Oberlin College in Ohio, where she was concertmaster of the Opera Orchestra
and the Commencement Orchestra under the baton of David Zinman. She has won numerous competitions and awards and has studied
with Robin Sharp, Alexander Barantschik and James Stern (who, with his wife, Audrey Andrist, will be the featured artists for
the St. James Concert Series April 11, 2010 program: Andrist Duo.)
Steve Chambers holds a B.A. in music from
San Jose State University with extensive experience in jazz and musical theater as well as classical music.
Jeff Chambers
studied trumpet with Charles Daval and Eddie Hauge of the San Francisco Symphony and was included in the nation-wide America
Youth in Concert. He is a specialist in the Native American flute, which he both makes and performs.
Judy Thompson,
resident of Murphys, appears in local orchestras and chamber groups. Her credits include: Milwaukee?s Memorial Youth Orchestra,
All City Orchestra, the Alameda Youth Orchestra and the American Youth Performers Symphony playing in Carnegie Hall.
Henry Gonzales is a founding member of the Mother Lode Friends of Music and principal bass in the MLFM orchestra.
George Applebaum is a regular performer with MLFM and serves as Vice President of that organization.
Diane Day holds a Bachelor?s degree in piano performance from Biola University. This resident of Murphys is active in
teaching, accompanying and performing with area musicians. She has served on the faculties of both California State
University, Stanislaus and Columbia College.
Melina Cherling, director of the Sonora Master Chorale, received her
music degree from Temple University. She has served as choir director of the St. James Episcopal Church, director
of the Sonora Bach Festival and chairperson of the St. James Concert Series.
Ronald Brickman is a native
Californian and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University and a Doctorate in Political Science from
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. A professional- level pianist, he has performed in concerts throughout the
US and Europe. He currently serves as President of the Mother Lode Friends of Music. He teaches piano in Amador and
Calaveras Counties and tutors privately in academic subjects.
Tickets for the concert may be purchased at The Mountain Bookshop in the Junction, Sonora Music on Washington St.
in Sonora. at the door, or by calling (209) 984-0704. Individual tickets are $12.00; students under 18, $5.00.