NOVEMBER 2014
A
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Fellow MPRO Members,
One of the delights of playing Adieu mes Amors and other pieces from the Franco-Flemish School is in their imitative counterpoint and rhythmic subtlety. Another comes from knowing something about the artists and their time.
Josquin des Prez was certainly one of the most talented and influential composers of the period, at a time when an unusually large number of such people were on the scene.
A glimpse of these circumstances comes to us in a letter from an Italian courtier, who suggested his patron hire Josquin’s renowned countryman Heinrich Isaac instead, since Isaac was 40 percent cheaper, had a better disposition and was more prolific. “It is true that Josquin composes better,” he said, “but he composes when he wants to and not when one wants him to."
Josquin got the job, but the historical record has not been kind to him. Aside from that letter, little else has survived which gives any indication of the man himself. Many of the works originally attributed to him have since been assigned to other composers. And despite his fame throughout Europe, this woodcut is the only portrait we have of him.
Regards,
Dana
CONDUCTOR’S CORNER
Dear members of
the Mid-Peninsula Recorder Orchestra,
Listed below is the
music for the orchestra’s next three meetings. Please note that the meeting on Monday, December 1, will take place at
Grace Lutheran Church, 3149 Waverley Street in Palo Alto at 7:30 P.M. as will
the meeting on Thursday, December 4,
which is the dress rehearsal for the orchestra’s holiday concert. The holiday concert will take place at Grace
Lutheran Church on Saturday, December 6, at 2:00 P.M. All those planning on taking part in this
performance are expected to attend the dress rehearsal on December 4.
As in the past, small ensembles are encouraged to appear in this
concert. Those groups that intend to
perform at the holiday concert are asked to send me the following information
by November 21: the title(s) of the
music to be performed, the name(s) of the composer(s), the name of the ensemble
(if any) and the names of the ensemble's members.
Regarding the upcoming meetings, Irene Beardsley will be attending
those on November 19 and December 1. Since this will be the final opportunity before the dress rehearsal to
play the selections scheduled for those evenings with all instruments present I
encourage all MPRO members to attend these meetings.
Please
note that at the November 19 meeting there will be sectional seating for the Telemann Concerto in B flat Major,
with those playing Soprano Recorder 1-3, Alto Recorder 1 and Tenor Recorder 1-2
sitting on the right as they face the conductor and those playing Alto Recorder
2, Tenor Recorder 3-4 and Bass Recorder on the left. Please observe this seating arrangement when
you choose your place at the beginning of the meeting on November 19. Seating charts will be used for the meetings
on December 1 and December 4 as well as the holiday concert on December 6. Please note as
well that sopranino and contrabass recorders, as well
as krummhorns and bassoon, will be needed at all
three meetings and that great bass recorders will be needed for the meetings on
December 1 and December 4.
November 19
Telemann: Concerto
in B flat Major
Mainerio: Caro Ortolano
Guerrero: Adiós mi amor
Josquin: Adieu mes amors
Monday, December 1
MPRO meeting
Grace Lutheran
Church.
3149 Waverley
Street in Palo Alto, 7:30 P.M
Telemann: Concerto in B flat Major
Jarzebski: Berlinesa
Elfers and Johansson: Pippi Långstrump
Bach: Passepied I and II
Thursday, December
4
Dress rehearsal for
the MPRO holiday concert
Grace Lutheran
Church, 7:30 P.M.
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear; Silent
Night;
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Telemann: Concerto in B flat Major
Mainerio: Caro Ortolano
Jarzebski: Berlinesa
Bach: Passepied I and II
Guerrero: Adiós mi amor
Josquin: Adieu mes amors
Elfers and Johansson: Pippi Långstrump
I look forward to seeing you
at these upcoming meetings.
Sincerely, Fred Palmer
ADAM JARZEBSKI (c. 1590-1649)
recording of the work is posted at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mu0KgQ_UZZw.
YouTube recordings of MPRO repertoire/provided or approved by Fred or Greta
Bach: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0-exRudWEE
Elfers, etc: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYFnBBAm6eU
Guerrero: not available
Josquin:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZYevmiGfLw
Mainerio: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFfXS59UQs4&list=PLNXElSU2O2lIy-drZodvg8pWCDKnM0Pq4
Telemann: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4Irg4S70xkand http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmtpIGal3po
u u u u u u u u u u
Reminder: DUES ARE DUE
The Board: President: Dana Wagner; Treasurer: LouAnn Hofmann; Recording Secretary: Helen Shamble; Membership: Chris Flake; Publicity: TBD; Graphics: Mary Ashley; Newsletter Editor: Mary Ann Field; Workshop Coordinator: Laura Gonsalves, Stuart Elliott; Hospitality: Judith Unsicker; Music Sales: Laura Gonsalves; Historian: vacant; Webmaster: Dan Chernikoff; Facilities Mgr: Grace Butler; Music Director: Fred Palmer; Assistant Music Director:Greta Haug-Hryciw. MPRO website: http://www.mpro-online.org