SEPTEMBER 2019
WELCOME TO OUR 2019-2020 SEASON!
Coming events. See Fred Palmer’s column for information about MPRO’s 2020 workshop. Our next Holiday Concert is scheduled for Saturday, December 7, 2019.
The San Francisco Early Music Society’s upcoming concert season will include two ensembles performing medieval and Sephardic music, baroque music from England’s Academy of Ancient Music, exploration of various settings of Dowland’s “Lachrimae” by a Canadian viol consort, and “Airs of Caledonia” by Musica Pacifica. For more information, see: https://sfems.org/19-20-concert-season/.
Dues are due. Returning MPRO members should print and fill out the membership form in the “Joining MPRO” section of our website, http://mpro-online.org. Bring the form with your check to give to Membership Chair Chris Flake at a rehearsal, or mail them to Chris at the address on last season’s membership list. The form should include any changes in your contact information or your list of preferred instruments. Note that the list is for instruments that you would be willing to play at a concert, not all of the instruments you play. These preference lists are used to assign parts.
New members (including associate and student members) are always welcome. Membership is open without audition to anyone who knows the basics of his or her instrument and is able to read and play our music. Prospective new members are encouraged to bring their instruments and music stands to rehearsals as guests before deciding whether to join. See the “Frequently Asked Questions” section under the “Joining MPRO” link on our website for more information. - Judith Unsicker
CONDUCTOR’S CORNER
Dear members of the Mid-Peninsula Recorder Orchestra,
Welcome back to MPRO and another season of fine music making. Selections for the orchestra’s holiday concert will include an Italian song by the 15th-century Burgundian composer, Guillaume Dufay, an anonymous court dance from 16th-century Poland and a motet by Mozart. We will also be repeating two selections from last season: the Incidental Music to A Mid-summer Night’s Dream by Purcell and my composition, The Glass Elevator. I am also pleased to let you know that Irene Beardsley will be joining the orchestra again to share her keyboard skills with us at the orchestra’s upcoming performances.
Early next year the orchestra will present a workshop directed by Judith Linsenberg, who is well known for her consummate performing skills as well as a popular workshop leader. Further details regarding this workshop will appear in upcoming issues of Upbeat. Also, MPRO holds its regular meetings in Angus Hall at Trinity Church, 330 Ravenswood Ave (at the corner of Laurel) in Menlo Park. Please remember to bring a music stand to these meetings since none will be available at Angus Hall and plan to arrive early to allow for parking and getting from your car to the meeting room. [Editor’s note: The church has an arrangement for overflow parking across Ravenswood Avenue at SRI.]
Listed below is the music for the first three meetings of the orchestra. Music can be purchased at these meetings for those who did not download and print it from the PDF files sent to the orchestra’s membership. Those returning from last season can use the music they already have for the Incidental Music to A Mid-Summer Night’s Dream and The Glass Elevator. Please note that sopranino and contrabass recorders as well as bass viola da gamba and bassoon will be needed at all three meetings and that krummhorns are called for on September 11 and October 9. Finally, everyone is asked to practice and become familiar with the scheduled music, particularly the new selections, before the first meeting in September.
September 11
Purcell: Incidental Music to A Mid-Summer Night’s Dream
Mozart: Ave Verum
Anonymous: Rex
Palmer: The Glass Elevator
September 25
Purcell: Incidental Music to A Mid-Summer Night’s Dream
Dufay: Quel fronte signorille
Mozart: Ave Verum
Palmer: The Glass Elevator
October 9
Purcell: Incidental Music to A Mid-Summer Night’s Dream
Dufay: Quel fronte signorille
Anonymous: Rex
Palmer: The Glass Elevator
I look forward to working with you again in September and encourage you to let any of your friends who play early instruments know about the orchestra's activities this season and invite them to attend our upcoming meetings, workshop and concerts.
Sincerely, Fred Palmer
MORE COMING EVENTS
Foothill Community Concert Series. This season’s program (in San Jose) will include three different concerts by the South Bay Philharmonic, and performances by the Korean-American Ensemble Ari and the Hawaiian music group Ho’omana. For the complete schedule, see: http://www.foothillpc.org/concerts2019-2020.
The East Bay Recorder Society’s Fall Workshop will be held October 19, 2019 in Albany with director Hanneke van Proosdij. More information is available at http://www.eastbayrecorders.org/special.html.
IN MEMORIAM: STUART ELLIOTT
Stuart Elliott died on May 4, 2019 at the age of 91. He received his Ph.D. from Stanford University and taught physics at Occidental College in southern California. He joined MPRO after moving to Palo Alto in 2010. Stuart served on the MPRO Board of Directors as co-workshop coordinator. His obituary is online at: https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/pasadenastarnews/obituary.aspx?n=stuart-elliott&pid=193218531
The Board: President: Judith Unsicker; Treasurers: Chantal Moser and Mary Ashley; Recording Secretary: vacant; Membership: Chris Flake; Publicity: vacant; Graphics: Mary Ashley; Newsletter Editor: vacant; Workshop Coordinator: vacant; Hospitality: vacant; Music Sales: Laura Gonsalves; Historian: vacant; Webmaster: Dan Chernikoff; Music Director: Fred Palmer; Assistant Music Director: Greta Haug-Hryciw. MPRO website: http://www.mpro-online.org
MPRO Archives: http://www.mpro-online.org/MPROArchives.htm
