A NIGHT OF EXTRAORDINARY MUSIC

AYO Program.FEB.concert_4.inddA NIGHT OF EXTRAORDINARY MUSIC FEBRUARY 28, 2017 AT 7 PM • DISCOVERY THEATRE
Established 1935
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M I S S I O N S T A T E M E N T
The mission of the Alaska Youth Orchestras is to build musicianship, inspire our youth to love music, offer enriching opportunities for music performance, and create a musical legacy that will sustain arts throughout the lives of our members and our communities.
C O N T A C T I N F O R M A T I O N
Alaska Youth Orchestras P.O. Box 240541 • Anchorage, Alaska 99524
Email | [email protected] • alaskayouthorchestras.org
Chamber Music Director – Laura Koenig
B O A R D O F D I R E C T O R S
P E R F O R M I N G M E M B E R S
A C K N O W L E D G M E N T S Anchorage School District
ASD Music Teachers Bruce Wood, Music Coordinator
University of Alaska Anchorage, Music Department East High School
P H O T O S Photography generously provided by Northern Lens Photography, Marcus Biastock
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Tanguy Libbrecht, Board President Sandi Lowther, Vice President
Kim Morris, Treasurer Kristi Brown, Secretary
Tina Barela
Katerina Soloview Bob Amos, Director Emeritus
Charlie Latimer Amber Pike
Isabelle Libbrecht Aaron Jenkins Jenna Morris
Alaska Youth Orchestras is supported, in part, by a grant from the Alaska State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional support from the Municipality of Anchorage, the Rasmuson Foundation, and the Alaska Arts and Culture Foundation.
D E W E Y E H L I N G – A N A P P R E C I A T I O N
Former Anchorage Youth Symphony Music Director Dewey Ehling passed away on August 7. He was AYS’s conductor from 1978 to 1986 while also Music Director of the Anchorage
Concert Chorus as well as Director of Music for the Anchorage School District.
Having served in the Korean conflict in the Marine Corps, he received his music education degree from Bethany College in his home state of Kansas. After a brief time in San Francisco, he moved to Anchorage in 1968.
His tenure with AYS was marked by an expansion of the orchestra’s repertoire as well as AYS’s first international tour to England, and then later a thirty-day tour to Australia and New Zealand.
After retiring from the School District, he moved with his wife Lauretta to Port Towsend, WA, swearing that he was done with music directing: within a short time the community discovered his immense talent and warm, humane personality, and he became music director of a local chorus and orchestra.
He was the recipient of several awards, including Teacher of the Year for the State of Alaska, as well as awards for his philanthropic work. The city declared “Dewey Ehling Day” on the day he retired.
My connection with Dewey came after we met him when my wife and I were looking to move back to Alaska in 1984. He immediately hired Mary to work in the school system, and had me take over some of the duties of conducting AYS as Assistant Conductor. He became a great friend to both of us: he was always encouraging, warm and gracious. I learned many lessons from him, and I enjoyed every minute that we worked together. I particularly remember both of us getting ready for a concert in Christchurch, NZ soon after arriving after a 20 plus hour trip, both of us wondering how we – and the orchestra - would overcome our jet lag. I remember that the concert was stellar, perhaps because we were so tired that it took care of any nervousness!
We are dedicating this season to this important figure in our history, and to a great friend of the orchestra.
Linn Weeda
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A N O T E F R O M T H E M U S I C D I R E C T O R
The orchestra sings!
No, you won’t hear anyone vocalizing in tonight’s concert! But you will hear works that are based on song: opera, folk song, and liturgical music.
It is said that there are two aspects to music – song and dance. Dance is about the movement of the body to music – the sometimes impossible to resist need to move to the beat. Song touches us at our core. It is the
soul of music. The singing human voice is one of the most direct ways that we communicate with each other. The orchestra has a great capability to imitate this, with the incredible aural color that only a symphony can give.
As was mentioned on our fall program, we are dedicating our season to former Music Director Dewey Ehling, who passed away last fall. Please find an appreciation of this remarkable man elsewhere in this program.
I hope your hearts will soar as you hear this remarkable music tonight, performed by remarkable young musicians.
Linn Weeda Music Director, Alaska Youth Orchestras
LINN WEEDA ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
LINN WEEDA ANCHORAGE YOUTH SYMPHONY CONDUCTOR
A lifelong Alaskan, Linn Weeda received his baccalaureate from UAF, where his trumpet teacher was James Kowalsky and his conducting teacher was Gordon Wright. He received his Master’s from Boston University, where he studied trumpet with Armando Ghitalla and Roger Voisin, won the concerto competition, and was student of the year.
Further studies were with Julio Tancredi in trumpet, Larry Scripp in solfege, Charles Bruck and Gunther Schuller in conducting. He has also studied with
the principal trumpeters of the Atlanta, London, Los Angeles, and Rotterdam orchestras.
As a freelancer in Boston, he was a member of a number of orchestras and was heard nationally on National Public Radio performing on baroque trumpet with the Smithsonian Chamber Players. He has given recitals and performed concertos throughout the country and in Asia.
He has appeared with most of the orchestras and festivals in Alaska as soloist – most recently appearing with the Anchorage Symphony, performing a world premier of a trumpet concerto written for him by Boston composer Louis Stewart.
“He has appeared with most of the orchestras and festivals in Alaska as soloist – most recently appearing with the Anchorage Symphony, performing a world premier of a trumpet concerto written for him by Boston composer Louis Stewart.”
As a conductor, Weeda led orchestras in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and Germany. He has been Music Director of the Fairbanks Youth Symphony and founded the Tupelo (Mississippi) Community Orchestra. He was Staff Conductor of the Greater Boston Youth Symphony. He regularly conducts the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra in the annual Halloween concert and in Young People’s Concerts. He has led the AYS on tours within Alaska and on international tours to Australia and, in the summer of 2010, to China.
Currently Weeda is Music Director of the Anchorage Youth Symphony, Assistant Music Director and Principal Trumpet of the Anchorage Symphony, Principal Trumpet of the Anchorage Opera. In addition to his many credits as a performer, Weeda has taught at King’s Lake Music Camp, University of Alaska Fairbanks Summer Fine Arts Camp, and the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival. In addition he teaches classes in ear training, solfege, and trumpet at the University of Alaska Anchorage.
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TEVYA ROBBINS ANCHORAGE YOUTH PHILHARMONIC
Mr. Tevya Robbins received two Bachelor of Arts Degrees in Music Education and Political Science from Humboldt State University. He has earned a M.M. in Instrumental Conducting from Portland State University. He has had opportunities to conduct the Beaverton
Community Band and the Portland State University Wind Ensemble. Mr. Robbins is currently the Band Director at East Anchorage High School. He has a love of music and a love of being involved in the education of young people.
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VIOLIN 1 Charlie Latimer, principal
Julia Koehler Jennifer Tollefsen Katherine Brown
Jacob Morris Jose Abdelnoor Vasily Soloview
William Son Yohei Fujimoto
Elena Kamal Jessica Yang Collyn Kim Estelle Son Amber Pike
Naomi Ratcliffe Abigail Luiken
Janpal LaChapelle Charles Panigeo
Judy Park
CLARINET Krista Stapleford, principal
Nicole Rieser Arthur Welsh
TRUMPET James Kim, principal
TROMBONE Patrick O'Brien principal
HARP Kailey Gates principal
ANCHORAGE YOUTH SYMPHONY
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VIOLIN 1 Lily SlatonBarker, principal
Elijah Carricaburu Kyla Potter
VIOLIN 2 Ryan Williams, principal
Abby Carothers Isabelle Watkins Leo McNicholas
Lucas Ruda Ella Flood
Sharon Song Katerina Baumgartner
VIOLA Brandon Hansen, principal
Alice Prentice Edward Hazelton
CELLO Amaya Reid, principal
William Bittner Jasmyn Bednar
BASS Michelle Turchetto, principal
CLARINET Grey Sato, principal
Takuma Inoue Jessica Craig
with AYP
ANCHORAGE YOUTH PHILHARMONIC
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S E N I O R P R O F I L E
ARTHUR WELSH
SCHOOL: South Anchorage High School INSTRUMENT: Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Alto Sax
HOW LONG YOU HAVE PLAYED WITH AYO? WHAT ORCHESTRA ? Four years; Freshman year with phil, next three with symphony
MUSICAL AWARDS, ACCOMPLISHMENTS, OR HONORS: All-State Music Festival Participant for four years, two years on B flat clarinet and two years on bass clarinet, and first chair medallion on bass clarinet senior year; received 'Outstanding Soloist Award' for jazz piano solo at Anaheim Heritage Festival; Regional Solo and Ensemble participant all years of high school; State Solo and Ensemble participant junior year; multiple awards from South Anchorage High School Symphonic and Jazz Bands
OTHER AWARDS, ACCOMPLISHMENTS, OR HONORS: AP scholar award; top ten percent of high school class; National Honor Society Member; Academic Awards and an Academic Letter from SAHS; Lettered in Cross Country Running
HOBBIES AND OTHER INTEREST: Running, skiing, baseball, exercising, sleeping, sketching, journaling, transcribing jazz/R&B/ funk songs, sleeping more, taking photos, and being with my friends.
HOW DID MEMBERSHIP IN AYO BENEFIT YOU? The Anchorage Youth Symphony has benefited me by introducing me to a new, yet old, style of music that gives me an appreciation for my instrument and music as a whole. Linn Weeda's music selections have broadened my understanding of symphonic pieces and orchestras immensely.
FUTURE PLANS: I plan to go to college this year, however I do not not know what I will study or where I will go. I will keep music in my life no matter where I end up. You are most likely to find me in a jazz club somewhere swinging away my days.
IS THERE ANYONE YOU WISH TO THANK THAT HELPED YOU MUSICALLY: I would like to thank Joy Blumell, Lee Pulliam, John Damberg, Robert Arms, Wendy McCabe, Mark Manners, Carolyn Valiquette, Crystal Hanson and all of my musician friends and colleagues!
GANNON LAWLEY
SCHOOL: West High School NSTRUMENT: Bass
HOW LONG YOU HAVE PLAYED WITH AYO? WHAT ORCHESTRA ? Four years
MUSICAL AWARDS, ACCOMPLISHMENTS, OR HONORS: 2015 All-State
OTHER AWARDS, ACCOMPLISHMENTS, OR HONORS: ACTR Russian Scholar Laureate-2016
HOBBIES AND OTHER INTEREST: Theater, reading, drumming
HOW DID MEMBERSHIP IN AYO BENEFIT YOU? Expanded bass technique and let me play songs from famous composers that I may otherwise not have played
FUTURE PLANS: University, study physics
JARED LOWTHER
SCHOOL: Service High School INSTRUMENT: Oboe
HOW LONG YOU HAVE PLAYED WITH AYO? WHAT ORCHESTRA ? I played the oboe in AYP for three years and this year I'm playing oboe in AYS.
MUSICAL AWARDS, ACCOMPLISHMENTS, OR HONORS: I have lettered in Music at Service High School, participated in High School Solo and Ensemble three times and made it to state twice.
OTHER AWARDS, ACCOMPLISHMENTS, OR HONORS: Some of my high school accomplishments include lettering in both Academics and Riflery all four years and being the Team Captain
my Senior year for the Riflery team. I competed for three years at the Anchorage School District level for Battle of the Books, placing in the top three every year. One of my proudest accomplishments is earning my Eagle Scout rank with Troop 210 in August 2016. My Eagle project was at the Hilltop Disc Golf Course, where I made tee signs for all 18 holes out of old rental skis.
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HOBBIES AND OTHER INTEREST: Some of my interests are playing Magic: The Gathering with my fellow boy scouts, fishing in Prince William Sound, hunting off the Denali Highway, downhill skiing, hiking and riding my bike. I also like to challenge my family and friends to board games and cards every chance that I can get.
HOW DID MEMBERSHIP IN AYO BENEFIT YOU? The benefit of being in AYO is seeing other friends that do not attend my school. It also challenged me to be a better oboe player. Due to scheduling conflicts I was unable to take band at school my senior year; AYO has given me a place to continue to play my oboe.
FUTURE PLANS My plans are to attend college out of state and major in Aerospace/Aeronautical Engineering. I am still undecided on where I will be attending, I have a few colleges to hear back from. I am hoping the college I attend has a music club.
IS THERE ANYONE YOU WISH TO THANK THAT HELPED YOU MUSICALLY I would like to thank Margo Sorum, whom I started lessons with in 6th grade and helped me through my middle school and high school as a musician. She was always encouraging me to participate in Solo and Ensemble and to audition for AYO.
Krista Stapleford
SCHOOL: South Anchorage HS INSTRUMENT: Bb Clarinet
HOW LONG YOU HAVE PLAYED WITH AYO? WHAT ORCHESTRA ? All four years
MUSICAL AWARDS, ACCOMPLISHMENTS, OR HONORS: Runner-up for Command Performance on Clarinet State Solo/ Ensemble 2016 Selected for All-Northwest Band Twice Selected for All-State Band Four Times Selected for All-State Orchestra Three Times Have Been Principal Clarinet in the AYS
OTHER AWARDS, ACCOMPLISHMENTS, OR HONORS: State Champion in Congressional Debate Academic All-American in the National Speech and Debate Association Presidential Scholar Nominee Four-time Regional Debate Champion Team Captain for the Speech and Debate Team for Three Years
HOBBIES AND OTHER INTEREST: Sleeping, socializing, reading, drinking coffee
HOW DID MEMBERSHIP IN AYO BENEFIT YOU? : I enjoyed the opportunity to play with fellow young adult musicians around Anchorage on literature that is both interesting and difficult. It has always been very enriching and fulfilling to see how the group comes together to shape and create music of a variety of forms by performance time.
FUTURE PLANS: I plan to double major in Economics and Public Policy and get a minor in Applied Mathematics, and then go on to law school! I hope to continue playing music in college and in my adult life as well.
IS THERE ANYONE YOU WISH TO THANK THAT HELPED YOU MUSICALLY: I would like to thank Crystal Hanson, who has been my private teacher for seven years, and the clarinet coach with AYS for my four years in the organization. She has always remained dedicated to helping me succeed and flourish as a musician, and she has always gone above and beyond to encourage and help me, even taking extra time out of her busy schedule to do so.
Noah Greene
SCHOOL: East Anchorage High School INSTRUMENT: Percussionist
HOW LONG YOU HAVE PLAYED WITH AYO? WHAT ORCHESTRA ? Three years, Percussionist, AYS and AYP
MUSICAL AWARDS, ACCOMPLISHMENTS, OR HONORS Member of East High Music Honor Society Vice President of East High School Band Council
OTHER AWARDS, ACCOMPLISHMENTS, OR HONORS Sign Language Honor Society
HOBBIES AND OTHER INTEREST Noah performs with East Anchorage High School’s Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, and Full Orchestra. He also played in the pit for East High’s productions of “Little Shop of Horrors” and “Into the Woods”.
HOW DID MEMBERSHIP IN AYO BENEFIT YOU? (ANSWERS MAY BE USED IN OTHER PUBLICATIONS) AYO has deepened my appreciation for musicians and classical music.
FUTURE PLANS Noah Attends East Anchorage High School, and plans on studying accounting at University of Alaska Anchorage.
IS THERE ANYONE YOU WISH TO THANK THAT HELPED YOU MUSICALLY I would like to thank my Mom and Dad for supporting me in the last six years of my musical experience. I would like to thank all of my musical educators, especially Mr. Robbins, who introduced me to AYS and who has put up with my shenanigans for the last four years.
Serena Inoue
SCHOOL: Dimond High School INSTRUMENT: Violin
HOW LONG YOU HAVE PLAYED WITH AYO? WHAT ORCHESTRA ? I have played in AYO for four years.
HOBBIES AND OTHER INTEREST: My hobbies include not only playing the violin but also playing the piano. I also love to play sports and go to the gym often.
HOW DID MEMBERSHIP IN AYO BENEFIT YOU? Being a member in AYO helped me discover that there were many other students who loved playing their instrument. Within the
similarities of loving their own instrument, many people had their own special characters. AYO has helped me meet new people who has similar interests.
FUTURE PLANS: In the future, I plan on going into Pharmacy to study pharmaceuticals to become a Pharmacist. I would like to help people use drugs in a safe manner.
IS THERE ANYONE YOU WISH TO THANK THAT HELPED YOU MUSICALLY: I would like to thank my parents for pushing me into learning and practicing the violin. Without their help I would not have been able to get this far with playing the violin. I would also like to thank my past violin teachers Mrs. Whitfield and Ms. Olessya for teaching me new skills to develop to become a better violin player.
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A laska Youth Orchestras Program Linn Weeda, Music Director
February 28 at 7PM, Discover Stage, Alaska Center for the Performing Arts
"The Orchestra Sings"
Juventino Rosas (arr.Winter) .................................................Sobre Las Olas ("Over the Waves") Girolamo Frescobaldi (arr. Kindler) ..................................................................................Toccata Johann Sebastian Bach ....................................................................Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov ............................................................................ Dubinushaka, op. 62
Georges Bizet ................................................................................................Carmen Suite No. 1 John Barnes Chance (arr. Longfield) ....................................... Variations on a Korean Folk Song Percy Grainger ...............................................................................Irish Tune from County Derry Wallingford Riegger……………………… ............................................Dance Rhythms, op. 58 Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov…………… ..........Russian Easter Overture (Svediy prazdnik), Op. 36
Program Notes by Linn Weeda
Anchorage Youth Philharmonic
Tevya Robbins, conductor
Sobre Las Olas
Juventino Rosas Born January 25, 1868, in Santa Cruz, Guanajuato, died July 9, 1894, in Surgidero de Batabanó, Cuba. First published in 1888.
Juventino Rosas started working as a street musician early in his life. Recognized for his ability as a violinist and as a composer, he worked with dance bands and in salon music for most of his short life, traveling once to Chicago for the Columbian Exposition World’s Fair, and once to Cuba, where he died after developing major health problems.
His most famous work is the lovely waltz Sobre Las Olas (Over the Waves). It has become a standard tune used in Jazz, Bluegrass, and Tejano music. Many people will associate this with trapeze artists, because it was programmed into a popular organ used during those acts.
Toccata
Girolamo Frescobaldi Born in Ferrara, Italy in September, 1583. Died in Rome on March 1, 1643. Orchestration for orchestra by Hans Kindler, 1942.
Girolamo Frescobaldi was a keyboard virtuoso and composer, whose influence extended for well over 100 years after his death. J. S. Bach studied his work, and he was recognized in his own lifetime as one of the brilliant musicians working in Italy.
The Italian term “Toccata” literally translates as “touch”. Originally meant as a work for keyboard, the characteristic style of the Toccata was one of improvisation and virtuosity. The Toccata heard tonight is probably based on an arrangement by the cellist Gaspar Cassado in the 1920’s.
Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring from Cantata BWV 147
Johann Sebastian Bach Born in Eisenach, Germany in 1685. Died in Leipzig in 1750. Composed in 1716 and expanded in 1723.
This famous piece is from one of Bach’s Cantatas – works written as part of the Lutheran Service. The cantata (Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, BWV 147 “Heart and Mouth and Deed and Life” was expanded seven years after its first composition.
The movement heard tonight is based on a chorale (or Hymn) tune, composed by the violin virtuoso Johann Schop, and is surrounded by gently moving triplets. The work has been arranged for innumerable ensembles.
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Dubinushka, op. 62
Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov Born March 6, 1844, in Tikhvin, Russia, died June 8, 1908, in Lyubensk, near Luga, Russia. Composed 1905, revised in 1906. First performance St. Petersburg on November 18, 2005, Alexander Siloti conducting.
Rimsky-Korsakov was one of Russia’s greatest composers when late in his life he became embroiled in the first of many skirmishes with the Tsar that ultimately led to the Russian Revolution. This event occurred in January of 1905 when workers and their families were fired upon by the Tsar’s troops during a peaceful march in St. Petersburg, killing many. Riots erupted throughout Russia. The St. Petersburg Conservatory, where Rimsky-Korsakov was director, was affected: students were in turmoil, and many meetings were called. Rimsky- Korsakov sided with the students, who in turn sided with the worker’s protest. The composer was fired from the school.
During this time, Rimsky-Korsakov and fellow composer Alexander Glazunov wrote works that memorialized these events: Dubinushka is the results of Rimsky-Korsakov’s effort. Based on a folksong that had long been associated revolutionary movements and for a time had been prohibited.
Anchorage Youth Symphony
Suite No. 1 from Carmen
Georges Bizet Born in Paris in 1838. Died in Bougival, France 1875. Composed in 1874. Premiered in Paris (Opéra Comique) in 1875.
Most likely the most famous and loved of all operas, Carmen was Georges Bizet’s last complete work: he died some three months after the premier after years of chronic overwork. At its premier in 1875, it was moderately well received by the public; critics on the other hand were savage in their condemnation.
The concert suite heard tonight is one of two that Bizet made by juggling the different preludes and arias to make a coherent symphonic statement. The opera, set in Seville around 1830, is a familiar story: it concerns the passionate love of Corporal Don José for the tempestuous gypsy Carmen. He deserts the army to accompany her into the mountains to live the life of a smuggler. Carmen abandons Don José for the bullfighter Escamillo. In the last scene of the opera, a crazed Don José kills Carmen.
The theme of fate runs all through the opera: musically it is represented by the first music heard. This proceeds directly into the “Aragonaise” (a typical quick dance found through Spain) that completes the opening movement. This bright dance music occurs before the final
bullfight scene. The quietly meditative second movement depicts nighttime at the smugglers hideout. The “Seguidilla” (a type of dancing song in fast triple meter) is the only movement in this suite that is not a prelude. This first act aria begins when Don José orders Carmen to be quiet; instead of obeying she sings this alluring song that captures Don José’s heart. “Les Dragons d’Alcala” (The Soldiers of Alcala) praises the mounted soldiers of Alcala. The famous bullfighters music completes the suite. This music is featured throughout the opera, especially in the last act of the opera. During this brilliant music Don José murders Carmen is murdered: the contrast of the loud brilliant bullfight music with the dark death of Carmen closes the opera with a heavy drama that is unforgettable
Variations on a Korean Folk Song
John Barnes Chance Born November 20, 1932 in Beaumont, TX. Died August 16, 1972 in Lexington, KT. Composed for band in 1965. First performance, March, 1966. Arranged for orchestra by Robert Longfield in 2006.
John Barnes Chance was active as both a often performed composer and as an educator. Several of his compositions from his relatively short list of works are staples of the band literature – none more so than his Variations on a Korean Folk Song. In addition to his concert works, Chance wrote extensively for education institutions, and was a college educator.
While stationed in Seoul, South Korea with the 8th Army Band, he heard the famous folk song Arirang. This song is described as the unofficial national anthem of Korea. This song is the basis for his Variations heard tonight. After the initial statement of the theme, five variations a presented. Chance is innovative in his use of percussion instruments, his use of inversion (the melody played up-side down), and other compositional techniques.
The arranger of this work for symphonic orchestra is Robert Longfield. He is currently the director of the Greater Miami Concert Band, and is a published author and composer.
Irish Tune from County Derry
Percy Grainger Born July 8, 1882 in Brighton, Melbourne, Australia. Died February 20, 1961 in White Plains, NY. Composed for wordless chorus in 1904. Setting for string orchestra completed in 1913.
Percy Grainger was a brilliant pianist who forged a unique career as a composer and arranger. Born in Australia, he studied in Germany before settling in London, where he concertized extensively while studying composition. By 1915 he had immigrated to the United States joining the Marine Band in Washington, D.C. and soon after became an American citizen. His later career was spent concertizing and composing.
The origin of the Irish Tune from County Derry (known also as Londonderry Air) is shrouded in ancient mystery. It was first collected in 1855 and published in Dublin, and it was from this collection that Grainger made his stunning arrangement. Many lyricists have set the tune – the most famous was in 1910 when F.E. Weatherly set the words “Danny Boy” to the tune.
Grainger went on to arrange this for a variety of ensembles – originally set for wordless chorus, he made a two piano arrangement, the string arrangement heard tonight, a wind band arrangement, and an arrangement for full symphonic orchestra.
Russian Easter Overture (Svediy prazdnik), Op. 36
Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov Born March 6, 1844, in Tikhvin, Russia, died June 8, 1908, in Lyubensk, near Luga, Russia. Composed 1888. First performance St. Petersburg on December 15, 1888, composer conducting.
Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov was a Naval Officer who was plucked from the service to teach at the newly founded St. Petersburg Conservatory of Music. His new careers was based partly on his membership in the Kushka – a group of composers who were determined to utilize Russian folk song, subject matter and mythology in their compositions.
Rimsky-Korsakov is most well known for three remarkable works written during a break from his teaching duties: Russian Easter Overture, Capriccio Espagnol, and the symphonic suite Scheherazade. These works marked the composer’s emergence as one of the finest orchestral sound-colorists in history.
The poetic basis of the Russian Easter Overture taps into the church music and folk rituals Rimsky-Korsakov had grown up with during a country childhood spent close to a monastery. With the proviso that only those listeners who had ever attended an Easter Sunday vigil in the Orthodox Church could fully appreciate the Overture’s atmosphere, he succinctly summed up his aims in his autobiography:
This legendary and heathen side of the holiday, this transition from the gloomy and mysterious evening of Passion Saturday to the unbridled pagan-religious merry-making of Easter Sunday, is what I was eager to reproduce in my overture.
Rimsky-Korsakov based the overture on three chants found in the Obikhod – a collection of ecclesiastical music. As the composer describes, the work opens with lugubrious unison woodwind intoning the melody “Let God Arise!” after which a solo violin plays a short cadenza – perhaps depicting the accent to heaven. The flute, harp and violins imitate the fluttering of angel wings while the solo cello sings “An Angel Cried Out.” More cadenzas for the violin, flute and cello are intersperse with the two themes in different settings: for instance “Let God Arise” is reset for the bassoons and tuba to depict the Holy Sepulcher. At the end of this rather long introduction, an amazing bit of magic occurs: the orchestra shines as if light is let into the tomb.
The fast and energetic main part of the overture is based on the second part of “Let God Arise” at the lyrics “Let Them That Hate Him Flee Before Him” and is full of exciting rhythms and virtuosity. This leads to the tune of “Christ is Arisen,” (accompanied again by fluttering angel wings!) which will be featured at the end. The livelier music celebrates the “unbridled pagan-religious merrymaking,” which is the flipside of the Russian Easter. However there are pauses - one for an eloquent trombone recitative that conjures priests intoning an ancient chant and another, final violin cadenza. The composer manages to save his best for last: the work concludes with the tune “Christ is Arisen” set amidst a riotous clamor of bells, trumpet blasts and triumphant high energy.
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History of the AYO
In the early 1960’s many individuals recognized the need for an orchestra for the youth of Anchorage. Forerunners of what became known as the Anchorage Youth Symphony were organized and conducted by such prominent local musicians and educators as Kurt Pasch, Jeanne (Ray) Bruhn, Charles Gorsuch, and Marlow Thomas. Young musicians of that period were trained in the Anchorage schools and gave many concerts throughout the city.
“The AYO encourages and supports the music program within the schools in the belief that great music played well instills in young people discipline and the joy of great musical ideas.”
In 1965 the Anchorage School District hired Frank Pinkerton as its director of music. In that position he formally organized the Anchorage Youth Symphony. As its music director, Mr. Pinkerton oversaw the expansion of opportunities to perform throughout the state, and the youth symphony’s reputation grew steadily.
Dewey Ehling replaced Frank Pinkerton as music director of both the Anchorage School District and the youth symphony. The Anchorage Youth Symphony Association became a 501(c)(3) non-profit in 1981. Until his retirement in 1986, he expanded the touring schedule, traveling and performing nationally and internationally.
In 1986 and 1987 Linn Weeda led the orchestra. In 1987, John Duff was appointed Music Director. During his tenure the orchestra toured Scotland. In 1991 Russell Guyver succeeded Duff, instituting a series of retreats to encourage the social interaction of members, as well as concerts in the Matanuska-Susitna valley.
Linn Weeda was again engaged as the Music Director in 1992, and continues in that position. In recent years the orchestra’s program has expanded to include coaching by local professional musicians, many who were in the youth symphony as young players. Other
LIKE our Facebook page! For more information on upcoming auditions and the 2016-2017 season,
please visit www.alaskayouthorchestras.org
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activities under Weeda have included an annual recording project, a chamber music series, the formation of the Anchorage Youth Philharmonic, an alumni association, scholarships, and extensive touring.
In 2012, the non-profit Anchorage Youth Symphony Association became Alaska Youth Orchestras.
Members of the orchestras are chosen each year during auditions in the spring, and are drawn from every public and private school in the area as well as from the Matanuska-Susitna valley. In previous years, students have flown in from Kodiak, Homer, and Kenai to rehearse and perform with the orchestras.
Without great music, education is not complete. Music education has long been an educational priority of the Anchorage School District with classes in orchestra, band, and chorus offered at the elementary, junior, and senior high levels. The AYO encourages and supports the music program within the schools in the belief that great music played well instills in young people discipline and the joy of great musical ideas.
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T H A N K - Y O U ! Alaska Youth Orchestras would l ike to extend i ts thanks to the fol lowing
donors who helped make our 2016-2017 events and season concerts possible.
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SUMMIT $7500 or more
Municipality of Anchorage The Anchorage Robert Burns
Appreciation Society
CONDUCTORS PODIUM
Municipality of Anchorage The Koelsch Family
PATRONS $500 to $999 ConocoPhillips Barbara Garner
SUPPORTER $100 to $499
Fred Meyer Juliana Osinchuk
BLOCK FOUNDATION, MATCHING FUND DONORS
Kristi Brown Joseph Flynn Deborah Guris Harold Heinze
Kirby Kauffman Celia Koelsch
John Ripley Robert Ripley
Carla SlatonBarker Gene Strid
Robert Taylor Sharon Tonjes
John VanAlstine Richard Williams
Upcoming Events for Alaska Youth Orchestras
" M U S I C A N D D R A M A " MAY 6TH, 2017, ATWOOD HALL, 7PM
A N N U A L A Y O A L U M N I R E C E P T I O N & A N N U A L A Y O A U C T I O N MAY 6TH, 2017, ATWOOD HALL
A Y O A U D I T I O N S M A Y 8 T H & 9 T H , 2 0 1 7 Auditions for the 2017/2018 season, East High School.
Register on our website between April 1-midnight May 1
LIKE our Facebook page! For more information, please visit alaskayouthorchestras.org
YOU CAN HELP ALASKA YOUTH ORCHESTRAS EARN DONATIONS JUST BY SHOPPING WITH YOUR FRED MEYER REWARDS CARD!
Fred Meyer is donating $2.5 million per year to non-profits in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington, based on where their customers tell them to give. Here’s how the program works:
• Sign up for the Community Rewards program by linking your Fred Meyer Rewards Card to (non-profit) at www.fredmeyer.com/communityrewards. You can search for us by our name, Alaska Youth Orchestras, or by our non- profit number, 85901. • Then, every time you shop and use your Rewards Card, you are helping (non- profit) earn a donation! • You still earn your Rewards Points, Fuel Points, and Rebates, just as you do today. • If you do not have a Rewards Card, they are available at the Customer Service desk of any Fred Meyer store. • For more information, please visit www.fredmeyer.com/communityrewards.
T H A N K - Y O U ! Alaska Youth Orchestras would l ike to s incerly thank the
Atwood Foundat ion for their generous support!

Documents

A NIGHT OF EXTRAORDINARY MUSIC