MARCH, 2012
A copy of this letter crossed my desk
recently. I thought it be of
interest to the music community.
The Editor
WHY MOZART LOST HIS
JOB
Dear Dean Etchemendy,
I write in
response to your suggestion of an appointment to our faculty for a Mr. W A Mozart,
currently of Vienna, Austria. While our Music Department appreciates your interest, faculty are sensitive about their prerogatives in the selection of
new colleagues.
While the list of works submitted is impressive, Mr.
Mozart does not have an earned doctorate; indeed, very little in the way of formal training or teaching experience. And while we have no church connections,
as chairman I must voice concern over the incidents with the Archbishop of
Salzburg. They hardly confirm his
abilities to be a good team player.
The
musicology faculty reported that Mr. Mozart seemed to have little knowledge of
music before Bach and Handel. If he
were to teach only composition, this might not be a serious impediment, but we
expect all our faculty to assume some of the burden of
large undergraduate survey classes in music history.
One of my
colleagues was present a year or two ago at the premiere of a violin sonata,
and discovered afterward that Mr. Mozart had indeed not fully written out the
piano part before he played it.
This might be all very well in that world, but it sets a poor example
for students in their assignments.
Naturally, he
proved to be an entertaining guest at dinner and spoke amusingly of his
travels. We are glad as a faculty to have had the opportunity to meet the
visitor, but do not see our way towards recommending him for a position on our
musical staff. Our first need, as I
have emphasized to your office, is a specialist in music education primary
methods.
Yours sincerely,
ConductorÕs Corner
Dear members of the Mid-Peninsula
Recorder Orchestra,
Listed below is the music for the
orchestra's next three meetings.
Please note that there will be sectional seating for the Stradella Sonata, with those playing the Soprano 1 and 2, Alto
1 and Bass 1 parts sitting on the right as they face the conductor and those
playing Alto 2, Tenor, Bass 2 and Contrabass on the left. Please observe this seating arrangement
when you choose your place at the beginning of these three meetings. Please also note that bass viola
da gamba as well as great bass and contrabass recorders will be needed at all
three meetings and sopranino recorder, dulcien and krummhorns, on March 21 and
April 11.
March 21
Stradella: Sonata
Hovhaness: Let
them praise the name of the Lord
Brade: Allmand
Schmelzer: Sonata ˆ 7
March 28
Dunstable: Sancta Maria
Piazzolla: Resurrecci—n del Angel, Un Dia de Paz,
Los
Paraguas de Buenos Aires
Stradella: Sonata
April 11
Stradella: Sonata
Hovhaness: Let
them praise the name of the Lord
Brade: Allmand
Schmelzer: Sonata ˆ 7
I
look forward to seeing you at these upcoming meetings and working on this music
with you.
Sincerely,
Fred Palmer
The South Bay Recorder Society Presents
A Spring Workshop: From Minne to Max to
Maute: German Music through the
Centuries. Directed by Letitia Berlin. Saturday, March 31, 2012, 9:00 AM to
4:30 PM. First Congregational
Church of San Jose,
1980 Hamilton Avenue (corner of Leigh), San Jose, CA 95125.
In this tour of German music, we'll explore the monophonic love songs
of 13th century minnesingers Neidhart von Reuental and Walther von der
Vogelweide, the wonderful polyphonic works in the 15th century songbooks, a
fugue or two by Johann Sebastian Bach, a rewarding example of mid-20th century
writing for recorders by the Austrian Hans Ulrich Staeps, and finally a work by
a favorite living composer for the recorder, Matthias Maute.
Workshop participants may choose between all-day (9:00 AM Ð 4:30 PM) or
half-day sessions,
9:00 AMÐ12:30 or 1:30Ð4:30 PM. (9:00 AM Ð Registration; 9:30 AM Ð
Downbeat). In addition to recorders, all soft instruments (viols, harps, soft
reeds) and instrumentalists who like to sing are welcome. Please bring your
instruments, music stand, and your lunch.
Hot and cold beverages and snacks will be provided during breaks.
For information about the SBRS chapter or workshop, contact Liz
Brownell at (650) 223-7139 or visit our website at: http://sfems.org/sbrs.
u u u u u u u u u u
Foothill Presbyterian Church Music Series
Saturday,
March 3, 2012 Ð 7:30 PM
Monteverdi
Brass Quintet: Richard Roper & Robert Wilkins (trumpets), Don Benham,
Brendan Lai-Tong, Mike Cushing (trombones) sounds of Renaissance and Baroque
composers such as Praetorius, Palestrina, and des Pres.
Saturday,
March 10, 2012 Ð 3:00 PM
Camerata
Moresca: Alana Mailes
(soprano), Glen Shannon (traverso/recorder), Eric Finley (violin), Hallie Pridham (cello/viola dagamba), and Bernadette Arnold
(harpsichord) perform dynamic and extravagant instrumental and vocal music from
the English, Italian, and German baroque: Frescobaldi, Merula, Marini, Biber,
Buxtehude, Telemann, Bach, and more!
Saturday
March 17, 2012 Ð 3:00 PM
Flauti
Dolci & Amici I: A
collection of recorder consorts and mixed ensembles from around the Bay Area,
including Camerata California, SDQ, Ensemble Sonoma and the Peralta Consort.
Saturday,
March 24, 2012 Ð 3:00 PM
Flauti
Dolci & Amici II: More
recorder consorts and mixed ensembles from around the Bay Area including, the
Belmont Consort, Quintessence, Bona Speranza, Concerto Celestini, and Quartetto
Paradiso.
Suggested Donation for all concerts is $10 per
person. Reception
to follow each concert.
Foothill Presbyterian Church is located at 5301 McKee Road in San
Jose. Wheelchair
accessible. For further
information email
FoothillPC@gmail.com or call
408.258.8133.
Where I Have Been
I have been in many places, but
I've never been in Cahoots.
Apparently, you can't go alone.
You have to be in Cahoots with someone.
I've also never been in
Cognito. I hear no one recognizes
you there.
I have, however, been in
Sane. They don't have an airport;
you have to be driven there. I have
made several trips there, thanks to my friends, family and work.
The Board: President: Amy Booth; Treasurer: Leslie Pont; Membership: Chris Flake; Publicity: Marguerite Dilley;
Newsletter Editor: Dick Davies; Music Sales: Laura Gonsalves; Graphics: Mary Ashley; Webmaster: Dan Chernikoff;
Workshop Coordinator: TBD; Consort Coordinator: TBD; Hospitality: Claire Heinzelman; Historian: TBD;
Music
Director: Fred Palmer. MPRO website: < http://www.mpro-online.org >