10.15.2020 ENS Symphony Orchestra

OPENING NIGHT! West Chester University Symphony Orchestra Joseph Caminiti, Director

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020 WCU FOUNDATION BALLROOM 202 CARTER DR., WEST CHESTER, PA 8:15 PM

PROLOGUE Starting in the mid-nineteenth century, composers took particular note of music from the past. Felix Mendelssohn and Schumann were instrumental in reviving the music of J.S. Bach, and Brahms grew interested in music of the Renaissance. Such interests continued into the first part of the twentieth century, when even the seemingly unlikely serialist composer, Webern, penned his Ph.D. dissertation in 1906 about the music of Renaissance composer, Heinrich Isaac. Respighi’s Ancient Dances and Airs, Suite III is based on lute songs of the Renaissance, and while it is orchestrated for bowed stringed instruments, the sound-world of the Renaissance is beautifully reincarnated.

King George I had twice before organized boating excursions down the river. The third such trip of 1717 is remembered most, largely due to Handel’s Water Music written for the occasion. The music was so popular, it reportedly accompanied the boating trip from 8:00 in the evening until past midnight. The composition has been organized into three suites, the second of which is performed this evening. All of the movements evoke a majestic nobility fitting for a king and his entourage. The Lentement is a lovely lilting slow movement that offers a balancing reprieve to the surrounding sprightly movements.

Of Dmitri Shostakovich’s 15 string quartets, the 8th has ever been held with the deepest respect. In 1960, Shostakovich traveled to Dresden to compose music for the Russian film “Five Days—Five Nights”. On this trip, during the days of July 12 to 14, Shostakovich wrote this gripping piece. Constantly surrounding his compositions are disputes over their meaning, largely due to Stalin’s censorship of all art, and the possibility of death for those non-compliant. By 1960, however, Stalin had been dead for seven years, and Shostakovich disclosed that the piece was autobiographical. Indeed, he quotes many of his own pieces, including Symphonies Nos. 1 and 5, his first Cello Concerto, and his opera Lady MacBeth of Mtsensk. The spirit of the whole work is one of tremendous gravity, sometimes violent, sometimes desolate and numb. It is an expressive tour de force that demands the performers’ whole being—body, mind, and spirit. The Chamber Symphony version of the quartet retains every bit of Shostakovich’s music, adding the double bass and some minor reorchestrations to suit the larger forces.

PROGRAM ANTICHE DANZE ED ARIE PER LIUTO, SUITE III (1931) ................................... O. Respighi (1879–1936) I. Ignoto: Italiana (fine del sec. XVI) II. Giov. Batt. Besardo: Arie di corte (sec. XVI) III. Ignoto: Siciliana (fine sec. XVI) IV. Lodovico Roncalli: Passacaglia (1692)

WATER MUSIC, SUITE II IN D MAJOR, HWV 349 (1717?)..................................G. F. Handel (1685–1759) I. Allegro II. Alla Hornpipe III. Coro IV. Lentement V. Bourée

Olivia Choi, graduate conductor

CHAMBER SYMPHONY FOR STRING ORCHESTRA, OP. 110a (1960) ........... D. Shostakovich (Transcribed for string orchestra by Rudolph Barshai) (1906–1975) I. Largo II. Allegro molto (attacca) III. Allegretto (attacca) IV. Largo (attacca) V. Largo (attacca)

MUSICIANS

VIOLIN I Ben Weaver, Concertmaster Manuela Isabel Romero Gonzalez, Associate Concertmaster Abigail Stratton Millie Slifer Carlos Rubio VIOLIN II Olivia Choi, Principal Sharon Chen Madeline DeBlois Kat Norman Anastasia Galante VIOLA Priscilla Paino, Principal Robert Cutler John Griffin Rosie Wilson Valerie Miller CELLO Lily Eckman, Principal Ceara Caisido Lia Criscuolo Carlos Martinez Simon Perez Torres Ally Paino Bonnie Calhoun Grace Rich Michael Repko Lliam Shaw DOUBLE BASS Saven Wright, Principal Tim Ragsdale Grace Wible Sarah Rentz

OBOE John Johnston, Principal John DeBiase BASSOON Meghan Freer, Principal HORN Matt Hontz, Principal Felicia Quinn PICCOLO TRUMPET Maeve Bartra, Principal Chloe Francis

UPCOMING WELLS SCHOOL OF MUSIC EVENTS For full event details visit wcupa.edu/music or call (610) 436-2739

COVID-19 STATEMENT In Person Audiences Are Not Permitted for Fall 2020 Events Thursday, October 15, 2020, 8:15 PM Symphony Orchestra Concert Joseph Caminiti, director WCU Foundation 202 Carter Drive

Wednesday, October 21, 2020, 8:00 PM Wind Symphony Concert M. Gregory Martin, director Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre Performing Arts Center

Friday, October 30, 2020, 7:30 PM Fall Choral Festival David P. DeVenney & Ryan Kelly, directors Emilie K. Asplundh Concert Hall Philips Memorial Building

Sunday, November 1, 2020, 3:00 PM Wind Ensemble Concert Andrew Yozviak, director Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre Performing Arts Center

Thursday, November 5, 2020, 12:00 PM Madeleine Wing Adler Concert Series: Jazz Division Jonathan Ragonese Ware Family Recital Hall Swope Music Building

Saturday, November 7, 2020, 8:00 PM Friends of Jazz Concert featuring the WCU Criterions Jazz Ensemble and special guests Jonathan Ragonese, director Emilie K. Asplundh Concert Hall Performing Arts Center

Monday, November 9, 2020, 7:30 PM Faculty Recital: Igor Resnianski, piano Philips Autograph Library Philips Memorial Building

Tuesday, November 10, 2020, 8:15 PM Keyboard Honors Recital Emily Bullock, director Ware Family Recital Hall Swope Music Building

*Tickets required for this event.

Events at the Wells School of Music are often supported by individual donors and organizations.

Contributions to the Wells School of Music may be made out to: WCU Foundation, 202 Carter Drive, West Chester, PA 19382 Please include “School of Music Deans Fund� in the memo line.

For further information, please call (610) 436-2868 or visit wcufoundation.org A majority of performances are available to watch via live stream at Facebook.com/ArtsAtWCUPA and LiveStream.com/wcupa.

Mr. Robert Rust, Audio & Visual Technician Steinway & Sons Piano Technical, Tuning and Concert Preparations by Gerald P. Cousins, RPT If you do not intend to save your pr ogram, please recycle it in the baskets at the exit doors.

The Wells School of Music | West Chester University of Pennsylvania Dr. Christopher Hanning, Dean