Monica Martinez, horn

PRESENTS

MONICA MARTINEZ, HORN

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19TH, 7 PM UTRGV PERFORMING ARTS COMPLEX, EDINBURG

PROGRAM Andante and Polacca for Horn and Piano

Friedrich Kuhlau (1786-1832)

Sonata for Horn and Piano

Gina Gillie

I. Allegro Moderato

(b.1981)

II. Melodie III. Rondo Intermission Bagatelle for Low Horn and Piano

Hermann Neuling (1897-1967)

Pale Blue Dot for Solo Horn and Fixed Media

Odyssey for Two Horns and Fixed Media

Gina Gillie

James Naigus (b. 1987)

PROGRAM NOTES Andante and Polacca for Horn and Piano, Kuhlau Andante and Polacca for Horn and Piano is a two‐movement work of contrasting styles. The opening is filled with grand‐like gestures that soar above the high register of the horn, which is then followed by a charming polonaise dance. This short and sweet composition is a fun work for both the natural and valved horns due to its exploration of complementary styles, techniques and wide range.

Sonata for Horn and Piano, Gillie Sonata for Horn and Piano was written in January 2018 on a commission from Steven Cohen. The first movement of the work is an exercise in writing a fairly straightforward sonata-allegro form in a German Romantic style. The opening is similar to Richard Strauss’ first Horn Concerto in that it begins with a triumphant ascending arpeggio which then works its way down two octaves. In the following two movements, the first theme from the exposition undergoes a thematic transformation using two contrasting national flavors. The second movement is a singing mélodie in the style of Gounod. The ABA form features an undulating 12/8 meter which sweeps the song ever forward. The third movement presents the transformed theme in a rondo with grooving AfroCuban rhythms. The music challenges the dexterity of the players with fast moving scales and athletic arpeggios. Sections switch between major and minor keys, and the piano and horn trade the melody back and forth before culminating in a final triumphant celebration.

Bagatelle, Neuling Hermann Neuling’s Bagatelle is designed to showcase the horn’s low register and the flexibility of the performer. It is based on the range and technique used by the second horn players of earlier centuries, and it has been frequently requested in second and fourth horn auditions of the European orchestras. The main technical difficulties include: flexibility, ability to navigate large ascending and descending leaps, rapid articulations, strong articulation in the low register, and duplet and triplet rhythms. This piece also requires that the horn player be able to read the frequent shifts between treble and old-notation bass clef.Beyond its technical demands, the greatest artistic challenge in this work lies in creating the atmosphere of a solo instead of an etude with

PROGRAM NOTES piano accompaniment.

"Pale Blue Dot for horn and fixed media", Gillie "Pale Blue Dot for horn and fixed media" is inspired by the 1991 photograph taken by the Voyager 1 spacecraft at the request of Carl Sagan, as well as Sagan's prose reflecting on said image. In the image, Earth appears as a single pixel - "a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam." Sagan's reflections describe the earth and humans' relationship to this lovely and lonely planet as well as the planet's relationship to the great vastness of space.

This composition for horn and fixed media is a journey through space, both sonically and visually. The accompanying video begins with the Pale Blue Dot photo and expands outwards to the great vastness of space. Images from the James Webb telescope remind us that earth is "a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena."

A lonely and ethereal motif played by struck water glasses is a sonic representation of the twinkling of stars spread across the heavens. In a journey past the planets, the music utilizes a water glass choir underneath a weaving and reaching horn solo. Once we reach Earth, the music transitions to a jubilant melody that celebrates the beauty of our plant. Beautiful images of landscapes, animals, and nature are accompanied by animal sounds and salutations in different languages from the Voyager's Golden Records. Together, they represent Earth's biodiversity.

The second half of the piece reflects on humanity's impact on our environment. The last Voyager greeting, in English ("Hello from the children of planet Earth"), recorded by Sagan's own son, is gradually fragmented until a single "Hello?" sounds like a plea. The music turns darker and more rending, accompanied by images of various environmental and climate challenges.

At the end of the work, the camera pulls back from the earth and fades out to the Pale Blue Dot photo. The audience is reminded of our relative cosmic smallness but with the understanding that Earth is all we have. In Sagan's words, he calls for us to "deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known."

PROGRAM NOTES Odyssey for Two Horns and Fixed Media, Naigus Odyssey for Two Horns and Fixed Media was written for and commissioned by Dr.Nicholas Kenney and Dr. Jordan Redd. The title of the piece refers to the spirit of a journey. As such, the piece is rhapsodic in nature, and takes the players and listeners through several musical vignettes on a path towards new horizons.

BECOME A PATRON ABOUT THE PERFORMER

UTRGV Patron of the Arts has a renewed purpose, allowing you to invest in the present and future of the Arts in the Rio Grande Valley! With your support, Dr. Monica C. Martinez is U TARs sGi sVt a n t wPirl ol f e s sc oorn at ti nTuhee to bring world-class p eUr nf o r m a n c e s a n d e v e n t s t o t h e V a l l e y and train iversity of Texas Rio f uG t ur ar en dVe aVl lael yl e ya .r tSi hs et s . currently holds the third

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Dr. Martinez has presented as a soloist, adjudicator, and chamber performer at the SHE Festival of Women 6 i0n%M ou sf fi c e vents $25/month , Southeast Horn Workshop, Mid-South Horn Workshop, International Women’s Brass Conference, 70 a n% d tohfef I en v t eernntast i o n a l H o r n S o c i e t y ’ s H o r n S y m$p5o0s /i ummos n. t h She has also been a contributing artist with the 8C 0 h%r oomf fa tei cv eBnr at ss s C o l l e c t i v e , T e x a s A l l - S t a r H o$r n6 0 / m o n t h Professors Horn Choir, PHAT Big Band, and Corni 9A 0 n%g eolfi cf uesv. eTnh tes U T R G V H o r n C h o i r h a s b e e n f e$a7t u0r/em d onth as a music showcase for the Texas Music Educators Association Clinic/Convention and at the 53rd and 54th International Horn Society’s Horn Symposiums.

on P r i o r t o h e r t i m e Qa u t eUsTtRi G V s, ?D rC. a Ml al rut isn!e z t a u g h t p u b l i c s cbhuorogl :f o( 9 r 5 P6 o i)n 6 t 6 I s5a -b3e 8 l I8S1DB , rGor w a dnessv3i l-l5e :a t( 9D5e6 r r)y 8 8 2 - 7 0 2 5 Edin Elementary and private school, Grades 6-12 at San Marcos Baptist Academy. She has held Adjunct Horn Instructor positions for Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi and Prairie View A&M University. She taught as a private Horn instructor for Austin ISD, Pflugerville ISD, and Dripping Springs ISD. As an active freelance musician, she’s performed with the San

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BECOME A PATRON ABOUT THE PERFORMER

UTRGV Patron of the Arts has a renewed purpose, allowing you to invest in the present and future of the Arts in the Rio Grande Valley! With your support, Antonio Symphony, Corpus Christi Symphony U TORr G V will continue to bring world-class chestra, Mid-Texas Symphony, Symphony of the p eHr ifl o r m a n c e s a n d e v e n t s t o t h e V a l l e y l s - K e r r v i l l e , L a r e d o P h i l h a r m o n i c O r c h e s t r aa, n d t r a i n f u Tt ue m r ep lVeaSl lyemy pahrotni syt O s .r c h e s t r a , B r a z o s V a l l e y S y m p h o n y Orchestra, Round Rock Symphony Orchestra, Central

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Education from Texas A&M University at Kingsville. Her mentors have included Patrick Hughes from The I GUN DnA n iIvT e rEs i tTy H oE f TA e xRa sT aSt ! AJ u sOt iInN , DT r .O Je n iY fer RatchfordSholtis from Texas A&M University at Kingsville, and Robert Ward, Principal Horn of the San Francisco 50 % off events $10/month Symphony and Horn instructor at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

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Questions? Call us!

Edinburg: (956) 665-3881 Brownsville: (956) 882-7025

@utrgvarts

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BECOME A PATRON UTRGV Patron of the Arts has a renewed purpose, allowing you to invest in the present and future of the Arts in the Rio Grande Valley! With your support, UTRGV will continue to bring world-class performances and events to the Valley and train future Valley artists.

We are able to bring these amazing performers and feature our own UTRGV faculty and students because of generous donors like you. By donating as little as $10.00 per month, you will become a member of the Patron of the Arts, our premiere circle of supporters of UTRGV ARTS. With this membership, you will receive discounted tickets to all of our events – the more you donate, the greater your discount! Click here to become a Patron of the Arts.

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60% off events

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70 % off events

$50/month

80% off events

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90% off events

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Questions? Call us!

Edinburg: (956) 665-3881 Brownsville: (956) 882-7025

@utrgvarts

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