Orpheus Club men’s ChOrus Spring ConCertS
Cowboys
and Music of the American West John Palatucci Director Ron Levy Pianist / Assistant Conductor Justin Kemp Associate artist / percussion Michael S. Caldwell Pianist / baritone Tom Purwin Guitar Dotti Fucito Visual producer Members of the cast of
Wild West City
April 28, 2018
Saturday • 4:00 p.m.
April 29, 2018 Sunday • 4:00 p.m. Ridgewood United Methodist Church 100 dayton St. • ridgewood ushers: Friends of the Orpheus Club
ridgewoodorpheusclub.org
2
Welcome! Welcome to the spring concerts of the Orpheus Club. At these programs we celebrate the music of the American West both traditional and as envisioned by composers of diverse origins. One of the oldest male choruses in the Northeast, Orpheus was established in 1909 by a group of eight Ridgewood businessmen and is dedicated to the continuance of men’s choral singing, fellowship and to providing audiences with an eclectic repertoire of enjoyable music. Our singing membership is made up of men from all walks of life drawn together by the common bond of music. Our singers now come from throughout northern New Jersey. We welcome your inquiries about singing with us. If singing is not for you but you enjoy attending our concerts, we invite you to consider becoming a subscribing member. As such, you will be kept apprised of our upcoming concerts and will enjoy significant savings on the cost of tickets. For more information feel free to speak with any singing member after the concert, visit our website (www.ridgewoodorpheusclub.org), or write to us (PO Box 114, Ridgewood). .
In the fall of 1990, John Palatucci became music director of the Orpheus Club Men’s Chorus, Ridgewood’s oldest civic musical organization. His efforts to uphold and enhance the OCMC's proud history, tradition, and reputation, most recently include conducting a June 2017 performance of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana with the OCMC, the Summit Chorale (also founded in 1909) two NJ high school choruses, professional soloists and instrumentalists but also include Johannes Brahms’ Rinaldo with the Ridgewood Symphony Orchestra, Brahms’ Alto Rhapsody with the Adelphi Chamber Orchestra, Randall Thompson's The Testament of Freedom and Giuseppi Verdi's Hymn to the Nations with the Orchestra of Saint Peter-by-the-Sea, and the Maroon Men a cappella group from Ridgewood HS as well as several commissions of new music for male chorus which are dedicated to him and the OCMC. Since 1993 the OCMC and the Ridgewood Concert Band have collaborated on Howard Hanson's Song of Democracy, Ottorino Respighi's Laud to the Nativity, Aaron Copland's Old American Songs, the revised finale to Richard Wagner's opera Tannhäuser, and most recently the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album arranged for male chorus and concert band. In the spring of 2005, Mr. Palatucci led the OCMC in its Lincoln Center debut, performing at the Lincoln Center Library with the Palisades Virtuosi chamber ensemble. The OCMC became a charter member of the New Jersey Choral Consortium in 2008 where Mr. Palatucci sat on the board of directors and served as vice president. In January 2009, he was honored by his colleagues at Montclair State University by being 3
selected as speaker at the annual Dr. Jack Sacher Memorial Lecture. Also in 2009, during the OCMC’s centennial year, he led a Ridgewood community choral festival which culminated in a performance with orchestra and soloist Ron Levy of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy. In 2011, his setting of Percy Grainger’s Sussex Mummers’ Christmas Carol for male chorus and piano was published by the International Percy Grainger Society. With Mr. Levy, he prepared the OCMC and its sister ensemble, the Ridgewood Choral, for a performance of the Beethoven Choral Fantasy with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. Under the auspices of the NJCC, with the OCMC and the Rutgers University Glee Club, in 2012 he helped organize and oversee an inaugural state-wide men’s chorus workshop and concert at Rutgers University. A 2013 debut performance at Carnegie Recital Hall with members of the OCMC included the NYC premieres of Peter Findley’s Ubi caritas and Godfrey Schroth’s Orpheus with his lute. This past December Mr. Palatucci conducted at the National Chorale’s 50th annual Messiah Sing-In at Lincoln Center’s Geffen Hall and at Morristown’s 5th annual Merry Tuba Christmas. Mr. Palatucci holds a BA in music education and an MA in music performance from Montclair State College along with Med in educational leadership from NJ EXCEL. For more information about Mr. Palatucci, please visit the Orpheus Club Men’s Chorus web site: http://www.ridgewoodorpheusclub.org/the-director.html Ron Levy, internationally acclaimed pianist, has been called "first-class" by the New York Times. He regularly appears as a soloist, and in partnership with many of the world's leading singers and instrumentalists. A graduate of Oberlin, Mr. Levy is a founding member of the Hudson Trio, Kaleidoscope, the New World Trio, the Manchester Chamber Players, the Breucklen Trio and the award-winning Palisades Virtuosi, resident chamber ensemble at Bergen Community College, the University of Hawaii and The Ridgewood Conservatory. He has been pianist and harpsichordist of the Oberlin Orchestra, the Adelphi Chamber Orchestra, the New Jersey and North Jersey Philharmonics, the Westchester Symphony, the Albany Symphony and the All Seasons Chamber Players. For over 20 years, Mr. Levy was associated with the Manchester (VT) Music Festival, of which he was a faculty and Board member. While living in Vermont, he was Music Director & Conductor of the Opera Theatre in Weston, and impresario of the "Third Saturday" chamber music series at the historic Equinox Hotel, as well as the "Music on the Hill" series at the Southern Vermont Art Center. A champion of new music, he has been the recipient of a considerable number of works written for him by prominent composers. Mr. Levy has taught at numerous colleges, and is currently an instructor at Montclair State University; he maintains an active and on-going affiliation with the Manhattan School of Music, Juilliard, and NJ PAC. Mr. Levy conceived two "mini-festivals" which were presented by the NY Public Library at Lincoln Center. In 2008 Mr. Levy played in St. Petersburg, Russia, and at the venerable Stratford (CA) Summer Music Festival (with Palisades Virtuosi). In November of 2013, Ron presented a concert at Carnegie, per4
forming sixteen works written for him (including two for the Orpheus Club). That same fall he served on the jury of the Heida Hermanns International Piano Competition. Recently, Mr. Levy was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Rockland and Monmouth Symphony Orchestras; last spring, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of his concerto debut, he soloed with both orchestras, performing concertos of Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Grieg & Beethoven. A two-term President of the Professional Teachers' Guild of NJ, he is a contributing editor to BIM Music Publications, Switzerland. Recordings by Mr. Levy are available on the Albany, Centaur, Eroica, Koch International, MMF and High Point labels; several of the individual CDs comprising Palisades Virtuosi's New American Masters Series (Albany Records) have been submitted for Grammys. Justin Kemp is a drummer and percussionist from Madison, N.J. currently studying music education at Montclair State University. Versed in all genres of music, he can often be seen performing in the various theater companies and high school pit orchestras of New Jersey, as well as subbing for blues, latin, and jazz bands. Justin has performed with many notable choral groups and directors such as The Drew University Singers led by Dr. Jason Bishop, The New Jersey Youth Chorus, and various choirs under the direction of Mark Miller. He also has worked with numerous churches and is currently the on call percussionist at “Church of the Little Flower” in Berkeley Heights. Beyond his experience performing, Justin has been teaching drums and percussion privately for 6 years and recently joined the teaching staff at "In-tune Music School” in Maplewood, NJ. Outside of private instruction, he has also worked as the percussion tech for the Madison High School “Marching Dodgers” and assisted with public school percussion programs from time to time. Michael S. caldwell, pianist and baritone, originally from West Fairfield, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, has degrees in Piano and Vocal Performance from Westminster College (New Wilmington, Pennsylvania) and Hartt School of Music (Hartford, Connecticut), where he studied Opera and performed in leading roles in The Rape of Lucretia, La Traviata, Cosí fan tutte, The Rake’s Progress, and Candide. In 1991, he won the Connecticut Opera Guild Award, and subsequently performed with Central City Opera in Central City, Colorado. Michael has appeared with the Metropolitan Opera chorus in recent productions of Fidelio, Die Meistersinger, Moses und Aron, Lohengrin, Götterdammerung and Samson et Dalila. His concert and oratorio appearances have included Bach Cantata (BWV 82) “Ich habe genug” at St. James’ Church, Manhattan. A participant at the Steans Institute at Chicago's Ravinia Festival, Michael also has extensive background in art song and lieder, both as pianist and singer. As a pianist, he enjoyed working with amazing singers, teachers, and directors at the International Institute of Vocal Arts in Chiari, Italy. He is currently on the faculty of Montclair State University. . 5
orpheus club scholarship program The Orpheus Club is proud to sponsor a scholarship program designed to honor and assist a graduating high school senior who has demonstrated extraordinary accomplishment in music and who intends to continue musical studies on the collegiate level. Since the program took on its current form in 1993, we have been pleased to recognize students from more than a dozen area high schools with grants exceeding 27,000. These outstanding young musicians have gone on to study at colleges and universities across the country. Earlier this year, application packets were sent to area high schools. Additional information was made available on our web site and through the press. The students from whom we received applications all demonstrated high levels of accomplishment in their musical pursuits as well as in academics and other school activities.
g Roland l. Meyer orpheus club Scholarship We are pleased to announce that the winner of the 2018 Roland L. Meyer Orpheus Club Scholarship award of $2000.00 is Erin Chang from Hillsborough. A senior at Hillsborough High School, Erin is a soprano and a pianist. She has been a member of the Raider Marching Band, the Concert Choir and mixed Chorale. She has been selected to the Regional Mixed Chorus, All State Mixed Chorus, All State Opera Festival and All National Chorus and to the Tri-M music honor society.
Congratulations and Good Luck, Erin! g We thank all the individuals and groups who made donations to this valuable effort. Your support is much appreciated by the club and the student award recipients. Donations of any size are welcomed. Make your check payable to the Orpheus Club Scholarship Fund and give it to any singing member or mail it to: orpheus club, inc. | P.o. Box 114 | Ridgewood, nJ 07451 All contributions are tax-deductible. 6
OFFiCerS Bob Husband .............................................................President Vernon Reed,.............................Vice President, Administration Gary Stark ....................................Vice President, Membership Cliff Hook ....................................................................Treasurer Rick Swanson .............................................................Librarian
BOard OF truSteeS SinGinG memBerS
Greg Farrell
Steven Fell
Clifford Gerenz
Lou Fucito Dave Kerr
nOn-SinGinG memBerS
Dotti Fucito
Marcia Perry
Phillip Raspe
COmmittee Chairmen Paul Berinato ..................................................................................................Music Lou Fucito...................................................................................................Publicity Vernon Reed.......................................................................................Fund Raising paSt preSidentS George U. White Frank F. Knothe George W. Campbell Wilbur Morris Paul J. Howe Herbert R. Talbot George A. Steves Theodore Northrup Robert Nutt, Jr. Ray M. Gidney Harry Wiltshire Richard H. Long Chester S. Lawton William J. Crawford Arthur I. Demarest Leon A. Payne Albert W. Staub Clifford D. Ackerman
Howard R. Leroy Richard G. Mannheim Frederick A. Blanpied Charles R. Dewhurst Stanley M. Staples Howard M. Liechty John Bing Walter C. Doscher Frederick E. Ray Theodore H. Mastin, Jr. Herbert S. Buzzard Otis H. Grendler Jack D. Morrison Oliver H. Hiester Karel V. Ctibor Vincent G. Beck
7
Robert J. Egner Charles B. Hepburn George W. Billings Jerome Wyckoff E. Raymond Greve Carl F. Bilz Robert E. Duane Frank Strobl Roland L. Meyer James W. Rash Paul D. Berinato Dan Williams Lou Fucito Jim Lisanti Pat O’Brien Joe Lisella Robert Silvera Greg Farrell
orpheus club men’s chorus FirSt tenor ROBERT F. SILVERA**, Part Captain CHARLES BROWN JIM LISANTI* MITCHELL G. SHAPIRO
PETE BERNICH* BOB HUSBAND*
JOHN CENTENARO LOU FUCITO* ROBERT GREMILLOT JAMES M. MATTHEWS* ASTER RILEy
SeCond tenor PAUL BERINATO**, Part Captain HERB COHEN* JOHN GALVIN* CLIFF HOOK NEIL NEUBERT* DAVID STRIFE
JOE BURNEy GREG FARRELL* JIM MISKOWSKI JAMES O’ROURKE
BAritone CHARLES AUSTIN*, Part Captain RAy DIJON* ANDREW FERRETTI RUSS MULLER ERIC SCHWARz
BILL AMAzzINI STEVEN FELL** VAN SCHNELLBACHER
NED CENIT VERNON REED*
BILL DE BLOCK CLIFFORD GERENz* JOE LISELLA* RICHARD REHBEIN RICK SWANSON
MATTHEW FAIRCHILD JIM LATHEy PAUL NELSON GARy STARK
BASS SAM SHAW, Part Captain EDWARD J. BROUILLARD** ROGER JACOBSON
BOB CASPARIAN JOHN MCKEON MARLIN TOWNES
ACtive – not Singing in thiS ConCert DAVE KERR* TOM OTT* honorAry MeMBer FRANK STROBL*** * Each star represents ten years of music making
Congratulations! SAM ShAW
H
10 yeArS
Celebrating the Song and Spirit of Orpheus 8
patrons & sponsors pAtronS Mr. Conrad Hirzel* Ms. Marcia Perry* Mr. Robert J. Petretti** Mr. & Mrs. Walter White**
Ms. Heather Fitzsimmons Ms. Alice Kelly Fleckenstein Mr. James Rash & Ms. Marcia Guthrie*
ASSoCiAte MeMBerS
Mrs. Dottie Fucito*
Mr. & Mrs. H. Ralph Kirby***
SuBSCriBing MeMBerS Ms. Margaret Jane Budd Mrs. Alida E. Manley***** Mrs. Marianne S. Neville**
Ms. Roberta A. M. Ragg**** Mr. & Mrs. Steven Steiner* Mr. Frank Strobl
donorS The Orpheus Club gratefully acknowledges the following members and friends who have made donations to the club: Bank of America / Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Mr. Herb Cohen Mr. Clifford Gerenz
Mr. Robert Kaufman Mr. David Kerr Mr. James Matthews Mr. Thomas Ott
Ms. Marcia Perry Mr. Thomas Price Mr. Eric Schwarz Mr. David Strife
We invite your support “in praise of song.” Please make your check payable to Orpheus Club, Inc. and mail it to Post Office Box 114, Ridgewood, NJ 07451. All contributions to Orpheus are fully tax deductible to the maximum extent of the law. rolAnd l. Meyer orpheuS CluB SCholArShip Fund Ms. Margaret Jane Budd
Ms. Alex Rainer-Meyer
Ms. Marcia Perry
ContriButionS toWArd MuSiC purChASeS
The Orpheus Club thanks our members and friends who have made donations which have enabled the club to purchase new music for our performances. Mr. Bob Casparian Mr. Louis Fucito
Ms. Marcia Perry
Mr. Phil Raspe Mr. Aster Riley
a new way tO SuppOrt OrpheuS
Now you can support as you shop! Amazon.com has a program whereby they will donate ½ percent of the purchase price of whatever goods and services you purchase to Orpheus. You pay nothing extra for this program and it looks exactly as you’re used to seeing when you access the regular Amazon web site. To login to Amazon Smile mereScan this code to ly reference this link: http://smile.amazon.com/ch/22-3597641 and go directly to the you will see our name displayed at the top of the screen. Shop exactly Orpheus link. the same as you would under regular Amazon. There is also a download link that will install an icon on your PC that will start you in Amazon Smile: http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=utF8&docid=1002402211 9
orpheus program Spring 2018 i
Salutation. ...................................................................................William P. Bentz America, the Beautiful ...................Katherine Lee Bates and Samuel A. Ward arranged by Ladislas Helfenbein The audience is invited to sing along.
Riders In The Sky ...................................................................... Stan Jones Arranged by Norman Luboff
Back in the Saddle Again ................................ Gene Autry and Ray Whitley Arranged by Jon Nicholas Vernon Reed, Mitchell Shapiro, Van Schnellbacher, Lou Fucito Charles Austin, Paul Nelson, Ed Brouillard, Bob Casparian
They Call The Wind Maria................. Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe From Paint Your Wagon
Arranged by William Stickles Andrew Ferretti, baritone El Valle.................................................................................... Richard Lane ii
Members of the cast of Wild West City iii
Hoe-down from Rodeo ........................................................ Aaron Copland Michael Caldwell and Ron Levy, pianists
Charlie Rutlage......................................................................... Charles Ives Michael Caldwell, baritone
Don’t Fence Me In .................................................................... Cole Porter Arranged by Philip Hagemann Lou Fucito, Andrew Ferretti, Paul Nelson, Van Schnellbacher, Pete Bernich
Overture and Che faranno i vecchi miei là lontano ........ Giacomo Puccini From La Fanciulla del West Sam Shaw, bass Charles Brown, tenor
Oklahoma .................................. Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II Arranged by Clay Warnick 10
orpheus program Spring 2018 There will be a fifteen-minute Intermission. iv
Presentation of the 2018 Winner Roland L. Meyer Orpheus Club Scholarship Lovers ........................................................................ Shigeru Umebayashi From House of the Flying Daggers Erin Chang, soprano
Cool Water ..................................................................................Bob Nolan Arranged by Harry R. Wilson Mitchell G. Shapiro, tenor
Desperado ............................................................Don Henley and Glenn Fry Arranged by John Palatucci
Our Favorite Cowboys ..................................... Arranged by John Palatucci Gary Stark, baritone v
Oh, Susanna! ....................................................................Stephen C. Foster Arranged by Glenda E. Franklin
Members of the cast of Wild West City vi
Shoshone Love Song .......................................................... Roger Emerson Traditional Native American Lyric
Home on the Range ................................................................... Traditional Arranged by David Guion and Wallingford Reigger Matthew Fairchild, baritone Stomp Your Foot ................................................................. Aaron Copland From The Tender Land Joe Burney, Lou Fucito, Vernon Reed, tenors Charles Austin, Matthew Fairchild, baritones Bob Casparian, bass This program is made possible in part by a grant administered by the Bergen County Division of Cultural & Historic Affairs from funds granted by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. 11
program notes April 2018 GhOSt riderS in the Sky By Stan Jones, arrangement by Norman Luboff
It’s an old cowboy legend; change your ways or be doomed to ride forever chasing ghostly, red-eyed cattle through a dark and windy night. Burl Ives recorded the song in 1949, but it was the version by Vaughn Monroe that same year that took off and was Billboard magazine’s number one song for that year. Bing Crosby and Peggy Lee also had top-of-the-charts records that same year. We of the Orpheus Club Men’s Chorus pay homage with the 1960 version recorded by the famed Norman Luboff Choir, released on the hit album, “Songs of the Cowboys.” BaCk in the Saddle aGain Words and music by Gene Autry and Ray Whitley, arrangement by Jon Nicholas for the Barbershop Harmony Society.
When Gene Autry, “The Singing Cowboy,” recorded this song in 1939, it quickly became his theme song and later opened his extremely popular radio show “Gene Autry’s Melody Ranch,” and the “The Gene Autry Show” on television. The Western Writers of America, authors focusing on the American west, called it one of the top western songs of all time. This arrangement, written for a barbershop quartet is from the Barbershop Harmony Society. they Call the wind maria (From “Paint Your Wagon”) Words by Alan Jay Lerner, music by Frederick Lowe
“Paint Your Wagon” opened on Broadway and in London’s West End theater district in 1951. The song reappeared during the folk music revival of the late 1950s and was on the first album recorded by the Kingston Trio. The Smothers Brothers and Burl Ives also had hit recordings. Harve Presnell sang it in the 1969 film version of “Paint Your Wagon,” which also starred Clint Eastwood and Jean Seberg. el Valle By Richard Lane
Compositions by the late Richard Lane, accompanist for the Orpheus Club for 42 years, often had a magical way of touching many things and mystically eluding the obvious. El Valle, “The Valley,” is one of those compositions. Where is this hidden valley and why must the singer hurry to reach it “like the light on the mountain” or the “breeze from the sea”? Today, we see the valley as an arroyo in the American west, a refuge for a lonesome rider. dOn’t FenCe me in Words and music by Cole Porter, arranged by Philip Hagemann
This song made its debut in 1934 in a musical called “Adios, Argentina.” Cole Porter bought a poem from Robert Fletcher for $250, rearranged the text and took full credit for the work. Roy Rogers picked it up in 1944 for a movie called “Hollywood Canteen,” and that same year Kate Smith sang it on her radio show. 12
Then it was the title of a 1945 Roy Rogers movie. With its longing for “land, lots of land, under starry skies above,” the song represents the expansiveness and appeal of the American West. Che FarannO i VeCChi miei By Giacomo Puccini
Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924) took an American play, “Girl of the Golden West,” by David Belasco and turned it into an Italian opera, “La Fanciulla Del West.” It premiered at New York’s Metropolitan Opera in 1910, but never became one of Puccini’s most-produced operas. The story of Gold Rush miners in 1849 includes this chorus, sung as the miners try to collect enough money to send one of them home. Pensively, the homesick miners wonder if they will ever return to their homes and mothers (or their dogs), and fear that their mothers are weeping as they weave the shrouds for their burial. “My home far away!” they cry, “Shall I ever see you again?” OklahOma lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein, music by Richard Rodgers
It was 75 years ago that “Oklahoma” opened on Broadway and changed the nature of American musical theater. “Oklahoma” began in 1931 as “Green Grow the Lilacs,” a play by Lynn Riggs, set in Oklahoma territory in 1906. Rodgers and Hammerstein turned it into a musical in 1943, and it became an instant hit, winning a special Pulitzer Prize for the music team in 1944. It was revived on Broadway in 1951 and 1979. The 1955 film adaptation, which won Academy Awards for music and sound, starred Gordon MacRae and was the film debut for Shirly Jones. COOl water Words and music by Bob Nolan, Arranged by Harry R. Wilson
Who doesn’t remember singing about a man and his mule, Dan, facing “the barren waste” of the American desert in desperate need of “cool, clear water”? Written in 1936, the song was first recorded in 1941 by the Sons of the Pioneers, the musical group backing up Roy Rogers. Vaughn Monroe and the Sons of the Pioneers made it a big hit in 1948, where it rode the top of the charts for 13 weeks. Our FaVOrite COwBOyS arrangements by John Palatucci
Didn’t we love them, those TV westerns we watched on our tiny black and white sets in the 1950s? And those western movies we saw at Saturday matinees (admission 25 cents)? The television and movie cowboys and their songs are as much a part of American culture as apple pie, blue jeans and rodeos. Orpheus Club musical director John Palatucci has arranged those nostalgic themes in this medley of memories. Oh, SuSanna By Stephen Foster
First published in 1848, this became one of Foster’s most famous compositions, and is one of the best-known American songs. It was popular with minstrel shows and became the theme of the “Forty-niners” seeking gold in California, who traveled “with a washpan on my knee.” The song was copyrighted, and at first earned Foster only $100. But a publisher offered him a royalty of two cents per copy, which made him one of the country’s first professional songwriters. 13
14
ShOShOne lOVe SOnG By Roger Emerson
This ballad from the Shoshone tribe comes to us through Mary Austin (18681934), a prolific American novelist, poet and playwright who studied the culture of Native Americans, who discovered this love poem in Shoshone. Part of the art colony at Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, she also established a theater in Santa Fe and was active in preserving and protecting Native American and Hispanic culture. In this romantic song, reverence for nature is reflected in human love and the “heart’s friend.” hOme On the ranGe By Brewster M. Higley and Daniel E .Kelly, arranged by David W. Guion and Wallingford Riegger
This is the unofficial anthem of the American West. The lyrics were written in 1872 by Dr. Brewster M. Higley of Kansas, in a poem titled “My Western Home,” which did not contain the words, “home on the range.” His friend Daniel E. Kelly added the music; Higley revised his lyrics and the song was first published in 1910, but without credit to Higley or Kelly. In a 1925 publication, Texas composer David Guion took credit for the work. Bing Crosby had a hit recording in 1933 and recorded it again in 1938 and 1989. “Home On the Range” is in the repertoire of dozens of singers, and, although there are not many buffalo roaming in New England or southern California, it is often considered an American “patriotic” song. StOmp yOur FOOt (From “The Tender Land”) words by Horace Everett, Music by Aaron Copland
This song is part of Copland’s 1954 opera, “The Tender Land.” The opera was not well-received and Copland made numerous revisions for the next ten years. It tells the story of Laurie, a young woman in a Midwest farm family dealing with the Depression of the 1930s, a topic audiences of the time might have found, well, depressing. “Stomp Your Foot” comes from a second-act party celebrating a high school graduation. A “period piece,” it draws distinctions between the roles of men and women as Laurie sets aside the traditional woman’s role (churning butter, milking cows) and sets off on her own, rejecting two men seeking her hand in marriage. The rhythms and musical phrases are typical of Copland’s creative work. happy trailS Words and music by Dale Evans, Arranged by Kirby Shaw
The theme song for Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, “Happy Trails” always closed their popular radio program in the 1940s and 1950s. The RCA Victor recording in 1952 was a hit single that year. The original song was by Foy Willing, (1914-1978), who also wrote “Tumbling Tumbleweeds,” and music for western movies, but it is the Dale Evans version that made its way into western music history. Program notes by Charles Austin
Keep up with the
Orpheus Club
www.ridgewoodorpheusclub.org 15
Special ThankS to the ownership and management of Care One at the Cupola W. 100 Ridgewood Avenue, Paramus, NJ
Perry’s Florist 660 Harristown Rd., Glen Rock, NJ
Daily Treat Restaurant 177 Ridgewood Ave., Ridgewood, NJ
Mango Jam 41 N. Broad Street, Ridgewood, NJ
Benny’s Luncheonette 11-04 Saddle River Road, Fair Lawn, NJ
Rock Ridge Pharmacy 191 Rock Road, Glen Rock, NJ
Wine & Spirit World 626 North Maple Ave., Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ
Matthews Diner 4 Franklin Turnpike, Waldwick, NJ
The Orpheus Club appreciates your help and support!
16
more on the program "hoe-down" from Rodeo Aaron Copland Though Copland was initially reluctant to compose "another Cowboy ballet" after Billy the Kid, legendary choreographer Agnes De Mille persuaded him that Rodeo would mark a significant departure from his previous work. The famous "Hoe-down" brings the work to a rollicking, raucous finale. Charlie rutlage Charles Ives New Englander Ives wrote some 114 art songs. This example will well satisfy those familiar with his exploratory composing style. Sung by our friend Michael Caldwell, a narrator recounts the accidental demise of cowpoke Charlie Rutlage. Please take special note of Mr. Levy's OCMC "singing" debut. the Girl of the Golden west Act 1 Jake: How are my old folk out yonder? Do they wonder when I'll come again? Some of the Miners (from the balcony of the floor above): And my dear old faithful dog. Jake: Will he know me? Some of the Miners (from above): And my dog Tray, will he know me still? (A desperate homesickness overcomes them all. Someone starts accompanying the song with muffled fist thumps on the table, stops short.) Harry (breaks into a despairing sort of sob): Dear old home beside the river The Miners (at the table): Far away, over yonder! The Miners (from above): Far away, over yonder! ALL (softly): Shall I ever see you more? (The song dies away in an anguished silence. Larkens, roused from his mournful lethargy by the homesick song, has risen. At the last words of the chorus, he bursts out weeping aloud.)
Nick (appearing in the doorway): Here, boys, here he is! Jake Wallace, the camp minstrel! (But the homesick refrain has caught hold of all these rough grasping souls: heads are raised, ears strained. They gradually stop gambling. Those on the upper floor crowd out to hear better: in the silence the soft tinkling of the counters dies away: Jake Wallace, the minstrel, appears in the doorway singing and accompanying himself on his banjo.) Enter Jake Wallace. Jake: "My old mother — (He stops, amazed at the silence which greets him. All the miners, their faces turned towards him, signal to him to continue.) How she'll fret for her sonny, for her sonny. How she'll weep for him!" Some of the Miners (from the card table): I can see her at her loom, weaving linen for the winding sheet to cover her — 17
wild weSt City We welcome to our concerts members of the cast of Wild West City, a western heritage theme park recreating 1880's life in Dodge City, Kansas. With 22 different live-action shows, crowd participation, stagecoach, train and pony rides, plus special events, museum-quality exhibits, and a whole lot more, there is truly something for everyone. Come join us as we celebrate our 61st year! Wild West City stands as one of the last examples of post-war tourist culture in the Skylands region of New Jersey. Each season the town presents an exciting, action packed program similar to Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. One can step back into time as the old west unfolds before their eyes! Twenty-two different live action shows are presented each day bringing to life the history, legends and lore of the western frontier upon which America's identity has been built. The "Old 97" narrow gauge train still makes regular trips through "Arapaho Territory", the stagecoach winds through town approximately every 15 minutes and the younger cowpokes can still ride on a real pony. The legendary Gunfight at the O.K. Corral takes place every day as does Jesse James' famous Northfield, Minnesota bank raid. The Marshall deputizes his posse of buckeroos and heads the stagecoach robbers off at the pass as the wild and wooly west still thrills young and old alike. The buildings which line the street contain various souvenir shops and museums. Food can be purchased at the Golden Nugget Saloon, which also has a full service bar. Grab a bite to eat at the Silver Dollar Saloon or Frontier Frankie's Pizza. Guests are also welcome to bring a picnic lunch and enjoy themselves in our spacious picnic grove. Play a round of pint sized golf at our 18 hole golf course; visit the barnyard zoo or pan for gold. Palaver with the mountain man, school marm and chuckwagon cook to learn about life on the frontier or take a quiet moment to reflect in our Chapel. For more information, please visit www.wildwestcity.com
18
SAve the dAteS!
The annual Orpheus Club
holiday concerTS
Saturday, december 8, 2018 • 7:30 pm Sunday, december 9, 2018 • 4:00 pm Mark your calendars now so you won’t miss this delightful way to celebrate the season.
Wanted!
Men SingerS for orpheus
H
H
Our Wednesday evening rehearsals start again September 12, 2018 8 to 10 p.m. the Georgian room Care One at the Cupola w. 100 ridgewood Avenue, Paramus
Call for more information! Bob husband 201-602-9092 Vernon reed 973-349-5895 lou Fucito 201-445-0027
• Enjoy the Camaraderie • It’s a great weekly break • Come to rehearsal—try us out!
Keep up with the Orpheus
Club!
ViSit Our webSite www.ridgewoodorpheusclub.org
660 Harristown Road Glen Rock, NJ 07452 201-445-5668 www.perrysflorist.net